Energy harvesting from base excitation of a biomimetic fish tail hosting ionic polymer metal composites

Youngsu Cha, Matteo Verotti, Horace Walcott, Sean D. Peterson, Maurizio Porfiri

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

In this study, we seek to understand the feasibility of energy harvesting from the tail beating motion of a fish through active compliant materials. Specifically, we analyze energy harvesting from the undulations of a biomimetic fish tail hosting ionic polymer metal composites (IPMCs). The design of the biomimetic tail is specifically inspired by the morphology of the heterocer-cal tail of thresher sharks. We propose a modeling framework for the underwater vibration of the biomimetic tail, wherein the tail is assimilated to a cantilever beam with rectangular cross section. We focus on base excitation in the form of a superimposed rotation about a fixed axis and we consider the regime of moderately large-amplitude vibrations. In this context, the effect of the encompassing fluid is described through a nonlinear hydro-dynamic function. The feasibility of harvesting energy from an IPMC attached to the vibrating structure is assessed and modeled via an electromechanical framework. Experiments are performed to validate the theoretical expectations on energy harvesting from the biomimetic tail.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationMechanics and Behavior of Active Materials; Structural Health Monitoring; Bioinspired Smart Materials and Systems; Energy Harvesting
PublisherAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers
ISBN (Print)9780791856048
DOIs
StatePublished - 2013
EventASME 2013 Conference on Smart Materials, Adaptive Structures and Intelligent Systems, SMASIS 2013 - Snowbird, UT, United States
Duration: Sep 16 2013Sep 18 2013

Publication series

NameASME 2013 Conference on Smart Materials, Adaptive Structures and Intelligent Systems, SMASIS 2013
Volume2

Other

OtherASME 2013 Conference on Smart Materials, Adaptive Structures and Intelligent Systems, SMASIS 2013
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySnowbird, UT
Period9/16/139/18/13

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Civil and Structural Engineering

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Energy harvesting from base excitation of a biomimetic fish tail hosting ionic polymer metal composites'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this