Self‐Powered Smart Vibration Absorber for In Situ Sensing and Energy Harvesting

Abstract

Vibration signals are essential data for the health monitoring of structures and the cyber–physical system. However, commercial vibration sensors are generally installed on struts/surfaces to gather raw data, which affects the result or causes the detachment problem. This study uses a facile 3D printing method to fabricate a smart vibration absorber with an interior multifunctional multimaterial elastic lattice (MMEL). These lattices, which work as vibration absorbers, have been demonstrated to possess the functions of self‐powered sensing and energy harvesting via the triboelectric effect. The triangular geometry parameter, materials type, etc. have been investigated to illustrate their basic mechanical and triboelectric properties and their coupled influence. Further, the results of the shock test show that MMEL can decrease the peak force from approximately 625 to 90 N and convey the Voc impulse signal simultaneously. The vibration signal has been collected through the MMEL to detect the vibration frequency and charge a watch simultaneously, demonstrating the feasibility and practical potential of the MMEL. The research provides a new method for constructing a multifunctional vibration absorber for applications.

Keywords

• 3D printing
• energy harvesting
• multifunctional
• self‐powered vibration sensing