Vibrational energy harvesting devices for Structural Health Monitoring – Design optimization

Starting from a previous realized piezoelectric vibrational harvesting device and its associated model, we present in this paper a design optimization approach that starts form both sides, customer needs (Voice of Customer) - translated in product / device requirements - and manufacturing process capability; we use Design Of Experiment (DOE) tool as analytical experimental strategy. The device requirements are given by the vibrational sources from the environment (frequency and acceleration) and by its purpose, which is, in our case, to provide electrical power to different sensors for Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) of airplanes or bridges. The results is an optimal design of our devices for different effective vibrational frequencies from environment, providing harvesting piezoelectric devices with adequate frequency resonance and the maximum possible (optimal) output electrical power, considering also available technological processes (Process Capability).