Energy harvesting characteristics of PVDF layers on thin-walled structures with curved surface

• Main Authors: Yahong Zhang, Meng Zhang, Yajun Luo, Xinong Zhang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: JVE International 2016-12-01
• Series: Journal of Vibroengineering
• Subjects: energy harvesting; laminated PVDF layers; curved surface
• Online Access: https://www.jvejournals.com/article/17231

Energy harvesting properties of PVDF layers partially covered on double-curved shallow shells are studied. Firstly, the analytical expressions of voltage on the PVDF layers induced by shell vibration are derived; then the contribution to the voltage from vibrations in different directions is explored and also the effect of geometric parameters is analyzed. The results obtained theoretically indicate that: (1) The PVDF layers used on curved surface possess higher energy harvesting capabilities than those used on planar surface. (2) With the decreasing of radius of the shell, the energy harvesting capability of the PVDF layers is improved. (3) The energy harvesting ability of the laminated PVDF layers is better than that of single layer when laminated layers are connected in series mode. To validate the analytical results, energy harvesting experiments of PVDF layers on a straight beam and a curved beam are carried out comparatively. The voltage induced by vibration of the curved beam is much higher than that produced by the straight beam and the energy harvesting rate of PVDF layers on the curved beam is more rapidly than that on the straight beam. Furthermore, the voltage on the laminated PVDF layers in series connection is almost the summation of the voltages of PVDF layers which work separately. The results obtained experimentally are in agreement with those obtained analytically.