Abstract
A piezo-magneto-elastically coupled distributed-parameter model of a bistable piezoelectric cantilever generator is developed by using the generalized Hamilton principle. The influence of the spacing between two adjacent magnets on the static bifurcation characteristics of the system is studied and the range of magnet spacing corresponding to the bistable states is obtained. Numerical and experimental studies are carried out to analyze the bifurcation, response characteristics, and their impact on the electrical output performance under varying external excitations. Results indicate that interwell limit cycle motion of the beam around the two centers corresponds to optimum power output; interwell chaotic motion and multiperiodic motion including intrawell oscillations are less effective. At a given frequency, the phenomena of symmetric-breaking and amplitude-phase modulation are observed with increase of base excitation. Both period-doubling bifurcation and intermittency routes to chaotic motion in the bistable system are found. It can be observed that the power output is not proportional to the excitation level because of the bifurcation behaviours.
Highlights
Wireless sensor networks have been widely used in many fields, such as environmental monitoring, military defence, and medicine, in view of their convenience of signal transmission
The analysis indicates that there are two typical routes to chaos which occurred in the bistable piezoelectric cantilever generator (BPCG)
The interwell oscillation corresponds to the optimal power output, the chaotic motion is less effective, and the intrawell oscillation is the worst
Summary
Wireless sensor networks have been widely used in many fields, such as environmental monitoring, military defence, and medicine, in view of their convenience of signal transmission. As we know sensor nodes are in large quantities and located dispersedly. Traditional power sources such as batteries are far from perfect for sensor nodes on account of the limited life and regular recharging. The power consumption of wireless sensor nodes is decreasing with the development of the MEMS technique, which makes the selfpowered nodes possible [1]. The typical transduction from ambient vibration to electricity may be electrostatic, electromagnetic, or piezoelectric. Piezoelectric transduction is regarded as the most hopeful way for MEMS devices due to the merits of the simple structure, high-energy density, and long lifetime, free from contamination and electromagnetic interference, as well as being easy to integrate [2]
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