Modeling the Power Generation from Multi-Cell Metamaterial Energy Harvesters

Abstract

Continuous Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) is vital for ensuring the safety of aerospace and naval structures by reducing maintenance costs. While SHM systems typically rely on sensors, they require continuous power, often supplied by batteries or on-board power source. This may increase the power demand with the growing number of sensors. To address the energy demand, localized energy harvesting offers a promising alternative by enabling self-powered sensor networks. This study introduces a novel metamaterial energy harvester designed to capture ambient vibrations during various flight phases to power SHM sensors. Existing vibration-based energy harvesters are not optimized for changing operation conditions. The proposed design addresses this gap using a metamaterial-inspired configuration that operates efficiently in a broader frequency range between 800–1200 Hz range. This frequency range aligns with the power needs of typical SHM sensors, such as ultrasonic actuators requiring approximately 500-800 W. A comprehensive numerical study using Multiphysics simulation tools evaluates and optimizes the harvester’s power output. These results confirm the harvester’s capability to power SHM sensors reliably, significantly reducing battery dependence. This work demonstrates a feasible and efficient energy harvesting approach, supporting the development of self-sustaining SHM systems for aerospace applications and contributing to greener, more autonomous aircraft maintenance technologies.