Combined electrical and electromechanical simulations of a piezoelectric cymbal harvester for energy harvesting from walking

In this article, simulation combining real-life mechanical input energy with electromechanical and electrical behavior of piezoelectric energy harvester and electronics is demonstrated. A finite element method model for a piezoelectric cymbal harvester is developed and compared to measurements from an actual prototype. The measurements were taken using a piston imitating a measured walking pressure profile, which was also used in the simulations as an arbitrary input signal. The finite element method model was used to calculate the electrical power of the prototype under a resistive load. These results were then compared to the measured results, which showed that the error in the generated power between the model and the actual prototype was below 7% for stroke displacements below 1.3 mm. Such accurate modeling of full chain from mechanical to electrical energy will be an essential tool in optimization of the mechanics, electronics, and materials of the future energy harvesting devices.