Numerical modeling of shape and topology optimisation of a piezoelectric cantilever beam in an energy-harvesting sensor

Thein, Chung Ket; Liu, Jing-Sheng

Abstract

Piezoelectric materials are excellent transducers for converting mechanical energy from the environment for use as electrical energy. The conversion of mechanical energy to electrical energy is a key component in the development of self-powered devices, especially enabling technology for wireless sensor networks. This paper proposes an alternative method for predicting the power output of a bimorph cantilever beam using a finite-element method for both static and dynamic frequency analyses. A novel approach is presented for optimising the cantilever beam, by which the power density is maximised and the structural volume is minimised simultaneously. A two-stage optimisation is performed, i.e., a shape optimisation and then a “topology” hole opening optimisation.

Citation

Thein, C. K., & Liu, J. (2017). Numerical modeling of shape and topology optimisation of a piezoelectric cantilever beam in an energy-harvesting sensor. Engineering with Computers, 33(1), 137-148. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00366-016-0460-3

• Acceptance Date: Jun 15, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Jun 23, 2016
• Publication Date: 2017-01
• Deposit Date: Aug 4, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 4, 2016
• Journal: Engineering with computers
• Print ISSN: 0177-0667
• Electronic ISSN: 1435-5663
• Publisher: Springer Verlag
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 33
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 137-148
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00366-016-0460-3
• Keywords: Piezoelectric; Multi-disciplinary optimisation; Shape and topology optimisation; Energy harvesting; Bimorph cantilever beam
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/441962
• Publisher URL: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00366-016-0460-3
• Additional Information: Authors' accepted manuscript of article: Thein, C.K. & Liu, JS. Engineering with Computers (2017) 33: 137. The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00366-016-0460-3