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

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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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot Watt University Malaysia, No. 1, Jalan Venna P5/2, Precinct 5, 62200, Putrajaya, Malaysia

    Chung Ket Thein

  2. School of Engineering, University of Hull, HU6 7RX, Hull, UK

    Jing-Sheng Liu

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  1. Chung Ket Thein
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  2. Jing-Sheng Liu
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Correspondence to Chung Ket Thein.

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

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00366-016-0460-3

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