Optimization of energy harvesting from vibration of beam coupled with magnetic shape memory alloys

In recent years, energy harvesting from ambient sources in order to use for low-powered electronics has been considered by many researchers. Wind energy, solar energy, water energy, mechanical energy from vibrations, etc are common sources of ambient energy. In this paper, optimization of energy harvesting from ambient vibration using magnetic shape memory alloy is presented. To this end, a clamped-clamped beam coupled with MSMA units is considered. A shock load is applied to a proof mass which is attached to the middle of the beam. As a result of beam vibration a longitudinal strain is produced in the MSMA. This strain changes magnetic flux inside the coil connected to MSMA and as a result, an AC voltage is induced in the coil. To have a reversible strain in MSMA, a bias magnetic field is applied in the transverse direction of MSMA units. The Euler-Bernoulli model with von Kármán theory and a thermodynamics-based constitutive model are used to predict the non-linear strain and magnetic response .Finally, Faraday's law of induction is used to predict the output voltage. After obtaining the governing equations, a design optimization is performed to find the optimal shape and configuration of the energy harvester together with the effects of proof mass and bias field.