Optimal vibration control and energy scavenging using collocated nonlinear energy sinks and piezoelectric elements

Abstract

This paper presents an optimal design for a system comprising multiple nonlinear energy sinks (NESs) and piezoelectric-based vibration energy harvesters attached to a free–free beam under shock excitation. The energy harvesters are used for scavenging vibration energy dissipated by the NESs. Grounded and ungrounded configurations are examined, and the systems parameters are optimized globally to maximize the dissipated energy by the NESs. The performance of the system was optimized using a dynamic optimization approach. Compared to the system with only one NES, using multiple NESs resulted in a more effective realization of nonlinear energy pumping particularly in the ungrounded configuration. Having multiple piezoelectic elements also increased the harvested energy in the grounded configuration relative to the system with only one piezoelectric element.