Investigating the Potential of Singly Curved Thin Piezoelectric Transducers for Energy Harvesting and Structural Health Monitoring

Over the past two decades, piezoelectric materials have become an integral part of structural health monitoring (SHM) and energy harvesting. These materials are available in various forms and configurations, yet the potential of curved configurations remains largely unexplored. This article experimentally explores the performance of singly curved thin piezoelectric transducers compared to their straight configuration when embedded in reinforced concrete (RC) structures for energy harvesting and SHM applications. The research includes a side-by-side comparison of these configurations based on (a) the open-circuit voltage generated by them under pure harmonic excitations, (b) the power generated under the impedance matching conditions, and (c) their potential for power storage in capacitors under real-life erratic vibrations with impedance mismatch conditions. Additionally, the article investigates the damage detection capabilities of curved piezo transducers using the electromechanical impedance (EMI) technique, an area that has not been thoroughly explored. The results from all four experiments demonstrate that the curved piezo transducers outperform their straight configurations in both SHM and energy harvesting applications. Therefore, the findings from these investigations are crucial for the effective utilization of curved piezoelectric transducers in real-world RC structures, enhancing both energy harvesting and structural health monitoring, which in fact, leads to the economic maintenance and safe operation of RC structures.