Energy harvesting from ambient vibrations using piezoelectric polymeric materials: computational insights for structural monitoring applications

Advances in sensing technologies and wireless transmission can facilitate the large-scale implementation of sensor networks for structural monitoring applications, thereby allowing assessment and intelligent management of the civil constructions throughout their lifetime. On the other hand, the massive implementation of wireless nodes also poses new and challenging technological issues, such as the search for energy-efficient sensing devices and the use of energy harvesting technologies. In this perspective, advanced, yet efficient, modelling of electro-mechanical systems for energy harvesting and sensing is a fundamental task in order to develop reliable self-powered autonomous electronic devices designated for structural monitoring applications. In the present talk, therefore, we address some important computational issues related to the analysis and optimum design of vibrational energy harvesting devices made of piezoelectric polymeric materials, with focus on electrospun PVDF nanofibers. Specifically, the talk will cover the advanced finite element-based numerical modeling of piezoelectric systems as well as the semi-analytical probabilistic analysis of piezoelectric beams subjected to random vibrations by means of reduced-order models.