The concurrent suppression of energy harvesting from surface vibrations: experimental investigations

Vibrational energy harvesting devices are oftentimes constructed in a manner identical to classical tuned-mass-dampers used in vibration control applications. However, many applications and models in past work assume that the harvesters will have negligible influence on the host structure (e.g. harvesters on a bridge). In contrast, this work adopts the perspective that the energy harvester is analogous to an electromechanical vibration absorber, attenuating the structural vibrations via a dominant mechanical influence while converting the absorbed energy into electric power. One embodiment of a device serving these two purposes-passive vibration attenuation and energy harvesting-is introduced. The device utilizes a distributed piezoelectric spring layer such that as the spring is strained between the top mass layer and the vibrating host structure the piezoelectric spring generates a voltage potential across its electrodes. Two experimental studies are detailed which investigate the capability for energy harvesting vibration absorbers to meet both goals. It is found that achievement of both objectives may require compromise but with proper device design still yields a viable electrical output.