Chapter 1

Simulations in COMSOL and Results

The cantilever with basic dimensions, length 20mm, breadth 4mm, thickness 0.16 mm
is used for both static and dynamic simulations. There is a proof mass at the free end
of the beam having dimensions 4x4x1.7 mm3. The structural layer of the cantilever
and the proof mass is made of steel (The dimensions of the cantilever are adopted from
the energy harvester model proposed by Leifure et al). On conducting simulations, the
length of the beam is varied in the range 14 to 24 mm, thickness is varied in the range
0.1 to 0.2 mm, and the width from 1 to 11 mm. The left end of the beam is fixed and
the right end is free to move. Dimensions of the proof mass are constant and is located
at the extreme right end. For bimorph configuration, piezoelectric layers are deposited
on either side of the structural layer that divides the entire thickness of the beam in the
ratio of 3:2:3. For unimorph configuration, the piezoelectric layer is deposited over the
top of the structural layer that divides the entire thickness of the beam in the ratio of
3:5. Electrodes are deposited on either side of the piezoelectric materials.

Figure 3.2: Cross section of the cantilever: (a) for Unimorph, (b) for Bimorph

3.1 Analysis of Static loading of the cantilevers

Figure 3.1: Piezoelectric energy

1 harvesting cantilever model
Under the static analysis, a point load is applied at the free end of the cantilever, as
a result, the piezoelectric layer undergoes deformation, and the instantaneous voltage
developed across the electrodes due to the point load is measured in the simulation.
First of all the effect of various materials on the electrical response under both
unimorph and bimorph configuration is analyzed, for that different materials like PZT,
PVDF, BT, Zno, Zns, AlN, LiNb, LiTa, CdS, BaNaNb are coated as the piezoelectric
materials. The results obtained then is as shown below(figure) From the results, it is
evident that bimorph provides more electrical output than the unimorph configuration
for every material. Under unimorph configuration, ZnO provides the maximum
voltage, and under bimorph configuration CdS provides maximum voltage.

Figure 3.3: Effect of various materials on voltage developed

Then the effects of various geometric parameters and tip load are analyzed. For
that, the material is fixed as PZT, because it is the most common material in the
piezoelectric energy harvesting field. The length of the cantilever is varied from 14
mm to 24 mm with a step size of 1mm. As the length of the beam increases, there is
an approximately linear increase in the voltage output for both unimorph and
bimorph. (figure) Similarly, the width of the beam is varied from 1 mm to 11 mm
with a step size of 1mm. it is found that width is not having an effect on the voltage
developed(figure). Thickness is varied from 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm with a step size of
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0.01 mm, voltage decreases in a hyperbolic way with an increase in the
thickness(figure). The point load is varied from 1N to 10N with a step size of 1N,
here also voltage increases linearly(figure).

Figure 3.4: Effect of length of beam on voltage developed

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Figure 3.5: Effect of thickness of beam on voltage developed

Figure 3.6: Effect of width of beam on voltage developed

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 Figure 3.7: Effect of tip load on voltage developed

3.2 Analysis of dynamic loading of the cantilevers

Under dynamic analysis instead of applying a point load at the tip, the cantilever is
subjected to ambient vibrations. That is in dynamic analysis the piezoelectric material
undergoes deformation due to the ambient vibrations. It is more likely the practical
situation of energy harvesting. The vibration can be characterized by the acceleration
and frequency of the vibrations. An electrical circuit is also incorporated in this
simulation across the electrodes along with a resistor in series. The voltage and power
available across the electrode are measured in this analysis.
From the static analysis, it is clear that the electrical output of bimorph is superior
to the unimorph. So, from here onwards the analysis is limited to bimorph.

First of all, different materials are coated as piezoelectric materials and the
maximum voltage and power output obtained across the resistor along with the
frequency at which peak occurs in electrical response is listed below. The variation
of electrical response concerning the frequency of ambient vibration for different
materials is graphically represented in the figure.

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 Figure 3.8: Electrical response for different piezoelectric materials

Figure 3.9: graphical representation of electrical response for different piezoelectric materials

From the table, it is evident that BT provides maximum and PVDF provides the
minimum electrical output as compared to the other materials, but the frequency at
which peak occurs is maximum for AlN and minimum for PVDF. So PVDF is the
suitable material to tap low-frequency ambient vibrations, but if there is no limitation
in frequency and we are only interested in the electrical output, then the BT is the best
candidate. For PZT there is a balance between the frequency (low) and the electrical
output (high), it is the best-suited material for energy harvesting from low-frequency
vibrations.

From the figure, it is clear that the electrical output is maximum when the frequency
of ambient vibrations matches the natural frequency of the cantilever. So it is important
to analyze the variations in the natural frequency of the cantilever with various
geometric parameters for different materials, which is done as Objective 4.
Then the effects of various geometric parameters and acceleration of external
vibrations are analyzed. For that, the material is fixed as PZT as in static analysis,
because it is the most common material in the piezoelectric energy harvesting field.
The length of the cantilever is varied from 14 mm to 24 mm with a step size of
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1mm. As the length of the beam increases, there is an increase in the voltage output
and electrical power output. (figure) Similarly, the width of the beam is varied from 1
mm to 11 mm with a step size of 1mm. it is found that width is having a negligible
effect on the voltage developed and electrical power as compared to other geometric
parameters, that is why in objective 4 the effect of width is neglected(figure). Thickness
is varied from 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm with a step size of 0.01 mm, voltage and power output
decrease with an increase in the thickness(figure). The acceleration associated with
the vibrations is varied from 0.25g to 2g with a step size of 0.25g, a linear increase in
voltage output, and a parabolic variation in pow er is observed then. (figure).

Figure 3.10: Effect of length of cantilever on electrical response

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Figure 3.11: Effect of thickness of cantilever on electrical response

Figure 3.12: Effect of width of cantilever on electrical response

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 Figure 3.13: Effect of acceleration of external vibrations on electrical response

Figure 3.13: Effect of acceleration of external vibrations on electrical response

From the study conducted in PZT, it is concluded that the width of the beam has
the least effect on the natural frequency of the cantilever, so the study is limited to the
variations of length and thickness of the beam, by fixing the width of the beam as 4
mm.

By knowing the frequency of ambient vibrations that is to be harvested, it is

possible to define the horizontal planes in the above surface graphs. the curve of
intersection of such a plane and the graph surface will provide the possible dimensions
of the cantilever, to provide maximum electrical output. So, it will be helpful to
predict whether a given set of length and thickness which are usually subjected to the
space constraints and the material is suitable or to harvest vibrations having a specific

frequency.

The variation of natural frequency of the cantilever bimorph with piezoelectric

materials as PZT, PVDF, BT, Zno, Zns, AlN with the length and thickness is plotted as
surface graphs in figures

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Figure 3.14: Variation of natural frequency of cantilever with thickness and length with PZT as material

Figure 3.15: Variation of natural frequency of cantilever with thickness and length with AlN as material

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Figure 3.16: Variation of natural frequency of cantilever with thickness and length with BT as material

Figure 3.17: Variation of natural frequency of cantilever with thickness and length with ZnS as material

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Figure 3.18: Variation of natural frequency of cantilever with thickness and length with ZnO as material

Figure 3.19: Variation of natural frequency of cantilever with thickness and length with PVDF as material

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Figure 3.20: Comparison of various material’s variation of natural frequency of cantilever with thickness and
length

Conclusions
• Under static loading of the cantilever, the voltage developed across the
piezoelectric materials,
1) Is maximum for ZnO for unimorph configuration.
2) Is maximum for CdS for bimorph configuration.
3) Increases linearly with an increase in length for both unimorph and
bimorph configuration.
4) Increases hyperbolically with a decrease in thickness for both
unimorph and bimorph configuration.
5) Remains almost constant with variations in width for both
unimorph and bimorph configuration.
6) Increases linearly with applied tip load for both unimorph and
bimorph configuration
• Under dynamic loading of the cantilever bimorph,
1) Both voltage and electrical power output are maximum under
resonance condition,

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 So, by knowing the frequency of vibrations available, it is possible
to predict whether a given set of dimensions and materials for
cantilever bimorph is suited for that particular application and if
any modifications in the dimensions will give more power than
before.
2) BT provides the maximum voltage and electrical power output, but
at higher frequency vibrations are needed for that. PVDF can
extract energy effectively from low-frequency vibrations, but the
magnitude of voltage and electrical power is less. PZT can be used
to harvest low-frequency vibrations with a considerable amount of
voltage and electrical power output.
3) Both voltage and electrical power output Increase linearly with an
increase in length.
4) Both voltage and electrical power output Increase hyperbolically
with a decrease in thickness.
5) Both voltage and electrical power output Remain almost constant
with variations in width.
6) Voltage Increases linearly and electrical power output increases
parabolically with acceleration associated with the external
vibrations.

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