Modeling and characterization of multilayered d15 mode piezoelectric energy harvesters in series and parallel connections. (14th June 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhu, Y K; Yu, Y G; Li, L; Jiang, T; Wang, X Y; Zheng, X J
• Is Part Of: Smart materials and structures. Volume 25:Number 7(2016:Jul.)
• Publication Date: 2016-06-14
• Subjects: d15 mode -- energy harvesting -- cantilevered piezoelectric bimorphs -- Timoshenko beam model; Smart materials -- Periodicals; Strucural design -- Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1088/0964-1726/25/7/075027
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0964-1726

Abstract

Abstract: A Timoshenko beam model combined with piezoelectric constitutive equations and an electrical model was proposed to describe the energy harvesting performances of multilayered d 15 mode PZT-51 piezoelectric bimorphs in series and parallel connections. The effect of different clamped conditions was considered for non-piezoelectric and piezoelectric layers in the theoretical model. The frequency dependences of output peak voltage and power at different load resistances and excitation voltages were studied theoretically, and the results were verified by finite element modeling (FEM) simulation and experimental measurements. Results show that the theoretical model considering different clamped conditions for non-piezoelectric and piezoelectric layers could make a reliable prediction for the energy harvesting performances of multilayered d 15 mode piezoelectric bimorphs. The multilayered d 15 mode piezoelectric bimorph in a series connection exhibits a higher output peak voltage and power than that of a parallel connection at a load resistance of 1 MΩ. A criterion for choosing a series or parallel connection for a multilayered d 15 mode piezoelectric bimorph is dependent on the comparison of applied load resistance with the critical resistance of about 55 kΩ. The proposed model may provide some useful guidelines for the design and performance optimization of d 15 mode piezoelectric energy harvesters.