Analysis of the Macro Fiber Composite Characteristics for Energy Harvesting Efficiency

In recent years the energy harvesting has a wide development, especially due to increasing demand on the self-powered devices. The research of converting mechanical energy into suitable electrical is intensity develop. The efficiency of energy harvesting systems is usually as crucial purpose of many works. It depends on various input condition parameters. One of them is a load resistance of an electrical subsystem. A loaded piezoelectric by resistor has a significant influence on the dynamics of the mechanical system. It provides optimization of an output electric power, especially while mechanical system vibrating in resonance zone. In present paper the composite cantilever beam is analysed, with attached the piezoelectric Macro Fiber Composite actuator (M-8503-P1). The applied beam consists of ten prepreg M12 layers, oriented to the beam length in accordance with [+45/−45/+45/−45/0]\(_S\). The influence of different load resistances on the system response is reported by both the output beam amplitude—frequency and output power—frequency characteristics of the piezoelectric actuator. The goal of the work is maximising the root mean square of output electrical power and comparison the system behaviours at optimised load resistance levels, while vibrating at resonance zones. The results are simulated by finite element method and also validated by experimental tests.