Self-Biased Dual Field Energy Harvesting Systems for Structural Health Monitoring Sensors

We have shown how the current strategy of using highly compliant 2D beam shapes to harvest energy from low frequency vibrations creates performance reducing torsion. Through analytical and finite element modeling, and experimental measurements, we have shown that through deliberate design, the Elephant Harvester was able to yield a 2,675 increase in power production with only a 4 increase in resonance frequency, compared to the Zigzag harvester. Moreover, the Elephant harvester has a large effective beam tip whereby large tip mass may be placed while retaining a low profile, resulting in a low volume harvester, and subsequently large power density.