Low-cost orbit jump in nonlinear energy harvesters through energy-efficient stiffness modulation

Abstract

This paper aims at exposing a nonlinear piezoelectric vibration energy harvester which can achieve low-cost orbit jump and therefore improve its energy harvesting capability through energy-efficient transient stiffness modulation using Synchronized Switch Stiffness Control (SSSC) technique. The proposed orbit jump concept is numerically and experimentally studied with a softening harvester. Corresponding experimental results validate the jump orbit concept and confirm the significant enhancement of the harvested energy. While the presented softening Duffing system is used as demonstration example, the proposed approach can be implemented to hardening Duffing oscillator as well.