BRIGE: Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting Shock Absorber

这项工程拓宽参与研究启动基金（bridge）为压电能量再生减震器的评估提供资金。压电能量再生器由多个压电陶瓷（PZT）单晶组成，可以抑制振动并从振动中产生能量。基于非线性复合薄梁理论和非线性本构律建立了非线性复合薄梁的机电模型。通过参数化研究，得到了优化设计方案。随着能量再生器系统参数的变化，如几何尺寸和材料性能的变化，将分析产生的能量的变化。研究了压电合金的机电非线性和几何非线性对能量再生效率的影响。为了从压电发电机中获得最大的能量，设计了一种新型的可在两种模式下工作的机电联合能量收集电路。本研究的总体目标是更好地了解压电材料的机电特性；设计一种抑制振动效果好、能量回收效率高的减振器。压电能量收集作为一种绿色能源创造方法，为缓解世界能源压力提供了另一种选择。这项研究的成功，将为新一代节能减排的汽车带来生机，从而改善我们的环境状况。本研究将提供对压电材料机电特性的全面了解。非线性动力状态下的功率特性研究将对材料科学产生重要影响，并为未来压电发电机的设计带来新的思路。研究本构模型的非线性域切换行为将促进边值问题和域壁动力学的发展。这个项目的成果可能会在机械、生物医学和信息技术领域得到应用。该项目为不同层次的代表性不足的学生提供服务：a)将为非裔美国高中生及其教师开发讲习班，b)将招募女研究生和少数民族本科生参与该项目，c)将组织一个工程研究中的女性研讨会，作为女学生的职业指导工具。

This Broadening Participation Research Initiation Grant in Engineering (BRIGE) provides funding for the evaluation of a piezoelectric energy regeneration shock absorber. The piezoelectric energy regenerator, composed of several piezoceramic (PZT) unimorphs, will provide vibration suppression and generate energy from vibration. An electromechanical model is developed based on nonlinear composite thin beam theory and nonlinear constitutive law. An optimized design is obtained via parametric study. As system parameters of the energy regenerator vary, such as the geometric dimensions and the material properties, the variations in the amount of generated energy will be analyzed. The effect of the electromechanical nonlinearity and the geometric nonlinearity of the PZT unimorph on the efficiency of energy regeneration will be investigated. A novel electrical-mechanical combined energy harvest circuit, which can operate under two modes, is designed for obtaining maximum energy from a piezoelectric generator. The overall objective of this research is to better understand the electromechanical properties of piezoelectric materials; to design a shock absorber with good vibration suppression as well as high energy recovery efficiency.Piezoelectric energy harvesting as a green energy creation method provides an alternative option for alleviating the world energy stress. The success of the proposed study will bring to life a new generation of high energy efficiency cars with emission reduction, and hence improve our environmental conditions. This research will provide a comprehensive understanding of the electromechanical properties of piezoelectric material. The study of the power performances in nonlinear dynamical regime will especially impact material science and bring novel ideas to the design of future piezoelectric generators. The study of the nonlinear domain switching behavior of the constitutive model will accelerate the development of boundary value problems and domain wall dynamics. Results from this project may find applications in areas of mechanical, biomedical, and information technology. This project serves underrepresented students at different levels: a) workshops for African-American high school students and their teachers will be developed, b) female graduate students and a minority undergraduate student will be recruited to work on this project, and c) a women in engineering research symposium will be organized to serve as a career mentoring tool for female students.