Theoretical and Experimental Investigations on the Nonlinear Dynamic Responses of Vibration Energy Harvesters in Ambient Environments

Book excerpt: This research also advances the understanding of how magnetic force interactions in vibration energy harvesting systems may convert impulsive environmental energies into DC power, and closes additional knowledge gaps on the effective integration of such system characteristics. A model is constructed of a multi degree-of-freedom energy harvesting systems and rectification circuitry that converts impulsive inputs into rectified voltage. By studying the roles of the magnetic coupling and dynamic response, the advantages of asymmetries are revealed and quantified with respect to conventional nonlinear energy harvesting structures and symmetric system compositions. All together, the results of this research may be used to advance continued efforts that investigate the interaction between structural and electrical nonlinearities of energy harvesting systems operated in practical, complex excitation environments. The practical knowledge created from this research may also guide the transfer of the fundamental design and dynamics principles studied here into concepts for future energy harvesting technologies.