Engaging nonlinearity for enhanced vibratory energy harvesting
This article discusses inherent and purposefully integrated nonlinear phenomena within electroelastic energy harvesting devices. Specifically, the authors discuss recent results highlighting the importance of modeling nonlinear piezoelectricity and review the attributes and challenges of two piezoelastic systems featuring nonlinear magnetic dipole interactions. In addition, we numerically investigate a new device configuration excited by a periodically disappearing saddle node. Although nonlinear design and prediction is more challenging in comparison to the mainstream linear strategies, the nonlinear interactions yield broadband response in environments with varying but deterministic spectral content. This provides for a passive and possibly robust solution for harvesting energy in more realistic mechanical environments.
