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A Piezo Smart‐Braid Harvester and Damper for Multifunctional Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites
Author(s) -
Razavi Seyedalireza,
Iannucci Lorenzo,
Smith Greenhalgh Emile
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
energy technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.91
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 2194-4296
pISSN - 2194-4288
DOI - 10.1002/ente.202000777
Subject(s) - materials science , composite material , energy harvesting , poling , piezoelectricity , composite number , braid , fiber , vibration , voltage , power (physics) , electrical engineering , optoelectronics , acoustics , engineering , physics , quantum mechanics , dielectric , ferroelectricity
The past decade has seen the rapid development of wearable electronics, wireless sensor networks (WSNs), and self‐powered implantable sensors. However, these devices usually require a continuous source of power supply to operate safely and accurately while having the least reliance on conventional battery systems—due to the recharging/maintenance burdens of batteries. Vibration‐based piezoelectric energy harvesting (PEH) from environment, man‐made machinery, and human body movements seems to be a promising solution. Herein, the first integration of a piezoelectric poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) yarn‐braid microgenerator into a fiber reinforced polymer composite (FRPC) structure is reported. It is demonstrated that the developed smart composite exhibits multifunctional performances, including simultaneous structural (with ≈10% increased Young's modulus), energy harvesting, and vibration damping (with a damping factor of 125%). The results show that an average output voltage of 3.6 V and a power density of 2.2 mW cm −3 can be achieved at strains below 0.15%, under cyclic loading tests between 1 and 10 Hz. Moreover, noticeable improvements are made in the crystallinity percentage and β ‐phase content of as‐received PVDF yarns by, respectively, ≈34% and ≈37%, as a result of the applied coreless radial and axial corona poling techniques.