We analyze coupled flexural vibration of two elastically and electrically connected piezoelectric beams near resonance for converting mechanical vibration energy to electrical energy. Each beam is a so-called piezoelectric bimorph with two layers of piezoelectrics. The 1D equations for bending of piezoelectric beams are used for a theoretical analysis. An exact analytical solution to the beam equations is obtained. Numerical results based on the solution show that the two resonances of individual beams can be tuned as close as desired by design when they are connected to yield a wide-band electrical output. Therefore, the structure can be used as a wide-band piezoelectric power harvester.
Harvesting longitudinal ultrasonic energy from the surroundings has been highlighted as an alternative to conventional batteries. The energy can be used to power portable electronics and wireless sensors operating at remote locations. In this paper, an ultrasonic energy harvester made of a 1-3 piezoelectric composite is proposed. This harvester could convert longitudinal-mode ultrasonic vibrations into electrical energy. A theoretical analysis of a 1-3 piezoelectric composite harvester operating with thickness-stretch modes is performed. The results show that maximum output power dissipated in the load can be achieved when the load resistor is equal to the impedance of the harvester. Under such conditions, two peaks of maximum output power occur at the antiresonance frequency and resonance frequency. An experimental study following the theoretical model confirms the feasibility of extracting certain amounts of ultrasonic vibration energy using a 1-3 piezoelectric composite harvester. Both the experimental and theoretical studies show that the output voltages for different pure resistive loads peak at different operating frequencies. As the pure resistive load increases, the operating frequency varies from the resonance frequency to the antiresonance frequency.
Using the Stevens–Tiersten equation for slowly varying thickness modes in doubly rotated quartz plate piezoelectric resonators, we determine optimal electrode shape and size for these resonators. The electrodes obtained are optimal in that they satisfy Bechmann’s number in every direction.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.