Underwater energy harvesting from a heavy flag hosting ionic polymer metal composites

Alberto Giacomello; Maurizio Porfiri

doi:10.1063/1.3569738

Underwater energy harvesting from a heavy flag hosting ionic polymer metal composites

Alberto Giacomello, Maurizio Porfiri

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

In this paper, we analyze underwater energy harvesting from the flutter instability of a heavy flag hosting an ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC). The heavy flag comprises a highly compliant membrane with periodic metal reinforcements to maximize the weight and minimize the bending stiffness, thus promoting flutter at moderately low flow speed. The IPMC is mechanically attached to the host flag and connected to an external load. The entire structure is immersed in a mean flow whose intensity is parametrically varied to explore the onset of flutter instability along with the relation between the vibration frequency and the mean flow speed. Manageable theoretical models for fluid-structure interaction and IPMC response are presented to inform the harvester design and interpret experimental data. Further, optimal parameters for energy scavenging maximization, including resistive load and flow conditions, are identified.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	084903
Journal	Journal of Applied Physics
Volume	109
Issue number	8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3569738
State	Published - Apr 15 2011

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Physics and Astronomy

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10.1063/1.3569738

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title = "Underwater energy harvesting from a heavy flag hosting ionic polymer metal composites",

abstract = "In this paper, we analyze underwater energy harvesting from the flutter instability of a heavy flag hosting an ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC). The heavy flag comprises a highly compliant membrane with periodic metal reinforcements to maximize the weight and minimize the bending stiffness, thus promoting flutter at moderately low flow speed. The IPMC is mechanically attached to the host flag and connected to an external load. The entire structure is immersed in a mean flow whose intensity is parametrically varied to explore the onset of flutter instability along with the relation between the vibration frequency and the mean flow speed. Manageable theoretical models for fluid-structure interaction and IPMC response are presented to inform the harvester design and interpret experimental data. Further, optimal parameters for energy scavenging maximization, including resistive load and flow conditions, are identified.",

author = "Alberto Giacomello and Maurizio Porfiri",

note = "Funding Information: The research was supported in part by the National Science Foundation under Grant Nos. CMMI-0745753 and CMMI-0926791 and in part by the Honors Center of Italian Universities. The authors wish to thank Professor Paolo Cappa from the “Sapienza” University of Rome that coordinated the exchange program of the first author and Mr. Matteo Aureli for careful revision of the manuscript and thoughtful discussions. Also, the authors are grateful to Mr. Shashank Varma and Mr. Emre M. Basaran from the Dynamical Systems Laboratory for useful suggestions and help with the experiments and to Prof. Jun Zhang and student members of the Applied Mathematic Laboratory at the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences for useful discussions.",

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doi = "10.1063/1.3569738",

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AU - Giacomello, Alberto

AU - Porfiri, Maurizio

N1 - Funding Information: The research was supported in part by the National Science Foundation under Grant Nos. CMMI-0745753 and CMMI-0926791 and in part by the Honors Center of Italian Universities. The authors wish to thank Professor Paolo Cappa from the “Sapienza” University of Rome that coordinated the exchange program of the first author and Mr. Matteo Aureli for careful revision of the manuscript and thoughtful discussions. Also, the authors are grateful to Mr. Shashank Varma and Mr. Emre M. Basaran from the Dynamical Systems Laboratory for useful suggestions and help with the experiments and to Prof. Jun Zhang and student members of the Applied Mathematic Laboratory at the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences for useful discussions.

PY - 2011/4/15

Y1 - 2011/4/15

N2 - In this paper, we analyze underwater energy harvesting from the flutter instability of a heavy flag hosting an ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC). The heavy flag comprises a highly compliant membrane with periodic metal reinforcements to maximize the weight and minimize the bending stiffness, thus promoting flutter at moderately low flow speed. The IPMC is mechanically attached to the host flag and connected to an external load. The entire structure is immersed in a mean flow whose intensity is parametrically varied to explore the onset of flutter instability along with the relation between the vibration frequency and the mean flow speed. Manageable theoretical models for fluid-structure interaction and IPMC response are presented to inform the harvester design and interpret experimental data. Further, optimal parameters for energy scavenging maximization, including resistive load and flow conditions, are identified.

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Underwater energy harvesting from a heavy flag hosting ionic polymer metal composites

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