Parametric analysis to investigate the modal response of PZT cantilever beams

Abstract

This study investigates the parametric influence of physical dimensions and material properties of a composite cantilever beam on its modal response under fixed-free boundary conditions. The considered beam was made of PZT and aluminium materials. Euler-Bernoulli beam theory was used to investigate the modal response of a simple beam first and later expanded to the composite beam. Different combinations of physical dimensions and material properties, including the moment of inertia, length, area, young modulus and density, were used to analyse their influence on the obtained modal response. The obtained results showed that the density, the area of the beam cross-section, and the length of the beam have an inverse effect on the natural frequency. While the moment of inertia and modulus of elasticity has a positive influence on the values of the natural frequency. The analysis provides valuable insights into the dynamic behaviour of the beam and the effects of different parameters on its resonance characteristics, paving the way for optimising energy harvesting systems and enhancing their performance.