A Vibro-Impact Oscillator-Based Energy Harvester

This study analyses the dynamics and energy generation from a vibro-impact based piezoelectric energy harvester. The configuration comprises of primary bimorph undergoing base excitation and impacts two secondary unimorphs on either side. Hamilton’s principle is used to develop governing equations of piecewise smooth linear dynamical system. The dynamics and harvesting performance of the system under study are characterized through numerical simulations. The impact is modelled as spring on contact. The effect of gap between the unimorphs and stiffness of contacting spring on the power and bandwidth are discussed in this study.