A novel multimodal and multidirectional energy harvester by asymmetric 3D skeletal frame structures

Abstract

Designing multimodal and multidirectional energy harvester (EH) topologies with high-strain areas is among the most demanding and critical obstacles encountered in powering small electronics and wireless sensor networks. These deficiencies are highly considerable by utilizing the conventional cantilever beam EHs. In order to overcome these challenges, effective structural design is required. In this paper, two different 3D asymmetric skeletal frame topologies are designed and introduced for energy harvesters. The vibrational behaviors of the proposed structures are investigated using finite element method and compared to corresponding 1D beam and 3D symmetric frame topologies. Furthermore, the electromechanical responses of the aforementioned EHs are obtained showing the advantages in more detail. The results imply that the asymmetric frames can simultaneously solve the main problems of EHs in a successful manner.