Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting Methods
Our group develops piezoelectric energy harvesters that convert ambient structural vibrations into usable electrical power for self-powered sensing systems. Special emphasis is placed on exploiting structural nonlinearities, such as prestress and bistability, to broaden the operating bandwidth and increase harvested power. Computational models are validated against experimental prototypes.
- Nonlinear and prestressed piezoelectric beam harvesters
- Electromechanically coupled models and experiments for harvesting under nonlinear vibrations.
- Related Publication(s):
G. Kardarakos, N. A. Chrysohoidis, D. A. Saravanos, “Numerical and experimental investigation of the energy harvesting performance of electromechanically coupled piezoelectric prestressed beams subjected to nonlinear vibrations”, Smart Materials and Structures, 32(3), 035017, 2023.
- Bistable harvesters for wind turbine blades
- Composite beams in post-buckling with bistable response, used for harvesting and for powering wireless fatigue monitoring.
- Related Publication(s):
T. Plagianakos et al., “Piezoelectric energy harvester for wind turbine blades based on bistable response of a composite beam in post-buckling”, Smart Materials and Structures, 33(7), 075031, 2024.
T. Plagianakos et al., “The Design and Ground Test Verification of an Energy-Efficient Wireless System for the Fatigue Monitoring of Wind Turbine Blades Based on Bistable Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting”, Sensors, 24(8), 2480, 2024.
- Harvesting and wireless power transfer concepts
- Related Publication(s):
H. Xie, H. Fu, Z. Wu, N. A. Chrysochoidis, F. Deng, “A bio-inspired multi-directional pendulum energy harvester for autonomous ocean monitoring: theoretical modeling and experimental development”, Applied Energy, 414, 127869, 2026.
H. Fu et al., “Piezoelectric Wireless Power Transfer Using a Halbach Array for the Internet of Implanted Things”, IEEE Internet of Things Journal, 11(24), 41049–41060, 2024.
- Related Publication(s):
Applications
- Self-powered wireless sensor nodes for structural monitoring
- Fatigue monitoring of wind turbine blades
- Autonomous ocean monitoring platforms
- Wireless powering of implanted and IoT devices