Piezoelectric energy harvesting from flexible delta wings

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The potential for harvesting energy from a flexible delta wing using a piezoelectric bimorph is experimentally investigated. Different configurations of the proposed harvesting system were tested in a wind tunnel over a broad range of airspeeds. In addition to evaluating the level of harvested power, an analysis is performed to extract critical aspects for the relation between speed, flexibility, geometry and the potential power that can be harvested from a clamped, cantilevered flexible delta wing at low angles of attack and low speeds. This analysis provides an insight into parameters that impact energy harvesting from flexible membranes or elements. Keywords: Energy harvesting, Delta wing, Piezoelectric, Bending stiffness, Mass ratio