Design of mechanical metamaterials for simultaneous vibration isolation and energy harvesting

Ying Li, Evan Baker, Timothy Reissman, Cheng Sun, Wing Kam Liu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

128 Scopus citations

Abstract

Through finite element analysis and a 3D printing assisted experimental study, we demonstrate a design of mechanical metamaterials for simultaneous mechanical wave filtering and energy harvesting. The mechanical metamaterials compromise a square array of free-standing cantilevers featuring piezoelectric properties being attached to a primary structural frame. A complete bandgap has thus been created via the strong coupling of the bulk elastic wave propagating along the structural frame and the distributed local resonance associated with the square array of piezoelectrically active cantilevers. Operating within the stop-band, external vibration energy has been trapped and transferred into the kinetic energy of the cantilevers, which is further converted into electric energy through mechano-electrical conversion of its integrated piezoelectric elements. Therefore, two distinct functions, vibration isolation and energy harvesting, are achieved simultaneously through the designed mechanical metamaterials.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number251903
JournalApplied Physics Letters
Volume111
Issue number25
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 18 2017

Funding

The support of this research by National Science Foundation (IDR-1130948) is gratefully acknowledged. This research was supported in part through the computational resources and staff contributions provided for the Quest high performance computing facility at Northwestern University which is jointly supported by the Office of the Provost, the Office for Research, and Northwestern University Information Technology. Y.L. is grateful for support from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Connecticut.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)

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