Document Type

Thesis

Date of Award

7-2018

Keywords

Applied sciences, Bi-stability, Energy harvesting, Nonlinear, Numerical simulation, Shock sensor, Triboelectricity

Degree Name

Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME)

Department

Mechanical Engineering

First Advisor

Shahrzad Towfighian

Subject Heading(s)

Mechanical engineering

Abstract

The prevalence of triboelectricity as a transduction mechanism has increased rapidly in recent years. We will discuss two uses for triboelectric generators. One design is a tunable wideband energy harvester. An axial force and amplitude limiter work together to create an energy harvester that can accommodate various frequency sources and have a large operating bandwidth. The addition of the compressive axial force also softens the system, which allows for higher voltage outputs. A proof of concept of a threshold shock sensor is proposed that incorporates bi-stability along with the triboelectric effect. A clamped-clamped buckled beam will switch stable states when a threshold shock amplitude is experienced and a voltage peak will occur during this switching of states. Levels of input acceleration can be related to voltage output, which increases the value of the concept. Thorough continuous electro-mechanical models will be produced for each design and the validity of these models will be tested.

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