Piezoelectric resonator design and analysis from stochastic car vibration using an experimentally validated finite element with viscous-structural damping model

Within the Vibration Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting (VPEH) framework, this paper investigates and designs an optimal piezoelectric harvester (PH) under stochastic real-time vibrations using a step-by-step guideline from an electrical and mechanical perspective. A stochastic-excitation high-order-shear-deformation finite element (FE) method, with experimental verifications, analyzed the trapezoid non-uniform piezoelectric resonator under random base vibration. The significance of the contact layer and proper viscous-structural combined damping model is reported for precise power estimation. Based on modal sensitivity, a fast and effective model-updating method for structural modulation is developed. Parametric studies of the optimum load–frequency and natural frequency-geometrical parameters relationships are investigated. Modeling results indicate that ignoring the contact-layer effect will create inaccuracies in the resonant frequency estimation. Besides, a combined viscous-structural damping model is mandatory for proper resonant power estimation. The matched resistance loading is slightly different under stochastic vibration than the harmonic analysis. The presented method is applied on a real-time stochastic vibration, i.e., car vibration. Electrical power of 1.32 mW with density of 495.92 µW/cm³ are produced by installing one PH undergoing random excitation from gravity-direction. This power can be enough to power a low-power autonomous wireless vibration sensor demonstrating the VPEH usage in autonomous sensors for future intelligent cars.