Impact of Stochasticity in Galloping Force on the Performance of Piezoelectric Energy Harvester

Abstract

The phenomenon of random wind speed fluctuations is an inherent characteristic of natural airflow, and it can significantly impact the power output of galloping-based piezoelectric energy harvesters (GPEHs). In this research, a stochastic model is developed to analyze the system performance considering the random variations in both the wind speed and the aerodynamic parameters derived from quasi-steady theory. Monte Carlo simulations are employed to evaluate the system performance under different degrees of randomness in the wind speed and the aerodynamic coefficients, accounting for quasi-steady theory assumptions. The findings of this study reveal that random variations in the galloping force coefficients exert a more pronounced influence on the electrical power output compared to wind speed. Moreover, the non-linear galloping force coefficient has a more significant influence on power output compared to the linear coefficient.