Composite Piezoelectric Energy Harvesters with Symmetric Angle‐Ply Stacking Sequences and Variable Through‐the‐Thickness Poisson's Ratios

Abstract

Herein, the effect of symmetric carbon fiber composites laminates with angle-ply stacking sequences ([AEβ/AEθ ] S) in the design of composite piezoelectric energy harvesters (PEHs) is evaluated. Some of those specific stacking sequences also feature negative Poisson's ratio (NPR) or near zero Poisson's ratio (NZPR) through the thickness for ply angles θ < 45. Six different architectures with similar in-plane elastic modulus E 1 and different positive Poisson's ratio and NPR v 13 values are considered here. Finite element models are developed to understand the distribution of the voltage density of the laminates with the different stacking sequences and their bending properties. Experimental tests (three-point bending and vibration) are also performed. Both the simulations and the experimental results show that the PEH with the stacking sequences of near zero v 13 generate the highest power compared with the other composite energy harvesters. The maximum voltage frequency response function (FRF) happens at the fundamental resonance, and the PEH with near zero v 13 has also the lowest resonance frequency compared with the other stacking sequences.

Auxetics and Other Systems with “Negative” Characteristics

“…Fossil‐based epoxy/carbon fiber composites with symmetric angle‐play stacking sequences and used as piezoelectric energy harvesters are described by Qingqing Lu et al in ‘Edge Effects of a Hexagonal Honeycomb on the Poisson's Ratio and Young's Modulus’. [ 7 ] The authors consider there classical stacking sequences first proposed by Herakovitch to obtain through‐the‐thickness positive, zero and negative Poisson's ratios, and use these composites as platforms for energy harvesters with lead‐zirconate‐titanate patches. They use classical laminate theory, FE method and experiment to explore the effect provided by the through‐the‐thickness Poisson's ratio due to the composites stacking sequence on the energy harvesting efficiency of the laminates.…”