Modeling of Small DC Magnetic Field Response in Trilayer Magnetoelectric Laminate Composites

We consider a magnetoelectric laminate which comprises two magnetostrictive (Ni) layers and an in-between piezoelectric layer (PZT). Using the finite-element method-based software COMSOL, we numerically calculate the induced voltage between the two faces of the PZT piezoelectric layer, by an external homogeneous small-signal magnetic field threading the three-layer Ni/PZT/Ni laminate structure. A bias magnetic field is simulated as being produced by two permanent magnets, as it is done in real experimental setups. For approaching the real materials’ properties, a measured magnetization curve of the Ni plate is used in the computations. The reported results take into account the finite-size effects of the structure, such as the fringing electric field effect and the demagnetization, as well as the effect of the finite conductivity of the Ni layers on the output voltage. The results of the simulations are compared with the experimental data and with a widely known analytical result for the induced magnetoelectric voltage

Experimental and Numerical Analysis of PZT Bonded Laminated Composite Plate

In this work, the bending and vibration behaviour of the PZT bonded laminated composite plate is investigated. The structural responses computed using a simulation model with the help of ANSYS and compared with experimental results. In this analysis, the maximum central deflections and the natural frequencies of PZT bonded laminated composite plate for close and open circuit conditions have been computed numerically with the help of present simulation model and compared with the result of the published literature. Further, the efficacy of the simulation model has been checked for different geometrical parameters (thickness ratio and support conditions) and discussed in detail

Multi-physics simulation of laminates with piezoelectric layers for energy harvesting

In this paper, a refined, yet simple, model is considered with the aim of providing fast and insightful solutions to the multi-physics problem of piezoelectric energy harvesting by means of laminate cantilevers. The main objective is to retain a simple structural model (Euler-Bernoulli beam), with the inclusion of effects connected to the actual three-dimensional shape of the device. The obtained results are validated by the comparison with 3D analysis carried out with a commercial code, and the procedure is finally applied to the case of a realistic MEMS harvester

A low-power circuit for piezoelectric vibration control by synchronized switching on voltage sources

In the paper, a vibration damping system powered by harvested energy with implementation of the so-called SSDV (synchronized switch damping on voltage source) technique is designed and investigated. In the semi-passive approach, the piezoelectric element is intermittently switched from open-circuit to specific impedance synchronously with the structural vibration. Due to this switching procedure, a phase difference appears between the strain induced by vibration and the resulting voltage, thus creating energy dissipation. By supplying the energy collected from the piezoelectric materials to the switching circuit, a new low-power device using the SSDV technique is proposed. Compared with the original self-powered SSDI (synchronized switch damping on inductor), such a device can significantly improve its performance of vibration control. Its effectiveness in the single-mode resonant damping of a composite beam is validated by the experimental results.Comment: 11 page

Improved one-dimensional model of piezoelectric laminates for energy harvesters including three dimensional effects

The application of piezoelectric composites in energy harvesters is continuously increasing even at the microscale, with the immediate corollary of a fundamental need for improved computational tools for optimization of performances at the design level. In this paper, a refined, yet simple model is proposed with the aim of providing fast and insightful solutions to the multi-physics problem of energy harvesting via piezoelectric layered structures. The main objective is to retain a simple structural model (Euler–Bernoulli beam), with the inclusion of effects connected to the actual three-dimensional shape of the device. A thorough presentation of the analytical model is presented, along with its validation by comparison with the results of fully 3D computations

Modeling of macro fiber composite actuated laminate plates and aerofoils

© 2019 Sage Publications . The final, definitive version of this paper has been published in the Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures by Sage Publications Ltd. All rights reserved. It is available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/1045389X19888728This article investigates the modeling of macro fiber composite-actuated laminate plates with distributed actuator patches. The investigation details an analytical and finite element modeling, with experimental validation of the bending strain and deflection of an epoxy E-glass fiber composite laminate. An analytical approach is also developed to estimate the plate deflection from the experimental strain measurements. The analytical method uses direct integration of single dimensional plate bending moments obtained by strain-induced shear moments from the macro fiber composite actuators. Finite element analysis software was used with the composite laminate modeled in ANSYS ACP. The results from both analytical and numerical models show good agreement with the experimental results, with strain values agreeing within 20 ppm and the maximum difference in deflection not exceeding 0.1 mm between models. Finally, an application of the analytical model for developing morphing aerofoil designs is demonstrated.Peer reviewe

Intrinsic electromechanical dynamic equations for piezoelectric power harvesters

This paper discusses, compares and contrasts two important techniques for formulating the electromechanical piezoelectric equations for power harvesting system applications. It presents important additions to existing literature by providing intrinsic formulation techniques of the harvesting system for the two different electromechanical dynamic equation-based voltage and charge-type systems associated with the standard AC–DC circuit interface developed using the extended Hamiltonian principle. The derivations of the two analytical methods rely on the fundamental continuum thermopiezoelectricity concepts of the electrical enthalpy energy and Helmholtz free energy. The benefit of using analytical charge-type modelling is that the technique shows more compact formulation for developing simultaneous derivations by coupling the mechanical and electromechanical systems of the piezoelectric devices and electronic system so that the frequency response functions (FRFs) and time wave form systems can be formulated. On the other hand, the analytical voltage-type modelling is obviously convenient but can show tedious derivation process for joining with the electronic circuit part. To tackle this situation, the analytical voltage type with mechanical and electromechanical forms of the piezoelectric structure can be derived separately from the electronic system where they can be combined together after applying further derivations to formulate the FRFs. In this paper, the two analytical techniques also show particular benefit and even further development of how to model the power harvesting scheme with the combinations of piezoelectric structure and electronic system. Moreover, validations of the two analytical methods show good agreement with previous authors’ electromechanical finite element analysis and experimental works. Further parametric electromechanical energy harvesting behaviours have been explored to study the system responses