Optimal Design for Energy Harvesting Vibration Absorbers

Abstract

Energy harvesting vibration absorbers (EHVAs) represent a novel type of vibration absorbers where the dissipated energy is harnessed in the absorber system. Conventional optimization-based methods can be utilized for optimal design of EHVAs, but this usually involves in iterative design procedures, particularly for approaching performance limits. In this note, a visualization technique is proposed. The problem of existence and uniqueness solutions is addressed; the intimate relationship between energy harvesting and vibration suppression performances is disclosed; and the fundamental issue of determining performance limit with this visualized method is solved. These features form solid contributions of the current proposal over those optimization-based design methods. The corresponding design procedures are illustrated and the claims are further validated through real-time simulations to the optimal design of EHVAs.