Frequency Tuning of Vibration Energy Harvesters using Compressive and Tensile Axial Loads

Abstract

In this paper the performance in terms of resonant frequency and output power of cantilever-based vibration energy harvesters under different mechanical axial loads will be compared providing a comprehensive assessment of this method as a way of increasing the operational frequency range through tuning. Two types of axial loads were used in the test, i.e. tensile and compressive force. To eliminate the effect of any other mechanical loads on performance of the energy harvester and minimize external damping, a contactless force, i.e. magnetic force, was applied to the cantilever. It is found that although resonant frequency tuning by applying compressive force is more sensitive than tuning by tensile force, the reduction in Q-factor under compressive loads makes it less useful than tuning by applying tensile loads. Axial compressive loads can, however, be used to achieve a bi-stable structure which can also be a solution to wideband energy harvesters.

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Identifiers

ORCID for Dibin Zhu: orcid.org/0000-0003-0517-3974

ORCID for John Tudor: orcid.org/0000-0003-1179-9455

ORCID for Steve Beeby: orcid.org/0000-0002-0800-1759

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