Topology Optimization of the Thickness Profile of Bimorph Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting Devices

Author(s)

de Almeida, Breno Vincenzo ^[1] ; Pavanello, Renato ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Estadual Campinas, Sch Mech Engn, Dept Computat Mech, BR-13083970 Campinas, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF APPLIED AND COMPUTATIONAL MECHANICS; v. 5, n. 1, p. 113-127, WIN 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

Due to developments in additive manufacturing, the production of piezoelectric materials with complex geometries is becoming viable and enabling the manufacturing of thicker harvesters. Therefore, in this study a piezoelectric harvesting device is modelled as a bimorph cantilever beam with a series connection and an intermediate metallic substrate using the plane strain hypothesis. On the other hand, the thickness of the harvester's piezoelectric material is structurally optimized using a discrete topology optimization method. Moreover, different optimization parameters are varied to investigate the algorithm's convergence. The results of the optimization are presented and analyzed to examine the influence of the harvester's geometry and its different substrate materials on the harvester's energy conversion efficiency. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/00075-4 - Topology optimization of periodic piezoelectric materials for energy harvesting devices
• Grantee: Breno Vincenzo de Almeida
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 13/08293-7 - CCES - Center for Computational Engineering and Sciences
• Grantee: Munir Salomao Skaf
• Support type: Research Grants - Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers - RIDC