Topology optimization for the design of manufacturable piezoelectric energy harvesters using dual-MMC method

Abstract This paper presents a new topology optimization scheme for the manufacturable piezoelectric energy harvesters (PEHs). Most of the existing topology optimization schemes for the design of PEHs are difficult to cope with manufacturing constraints producing design results that pose serious challenges for the local poling of the piezoelectric materials. In this work, dual-moving morphable component (dual-MMC) scheme for explicit topology optimization for the design of PEHs is presented. In dual-MMC scheme, two independent sets of MMC are employed to describe the structural topology of the PEH and polarization profile in piezoelectric material in an explicit manner. With the use of the scheme, the shape of electrodes and the opposite polarization directions in the local poling process can be effectively treated as a constraint making the realization of the PEH an easy task. Several examples of the design of cantilever-type PEH are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach. Furthermore, a designed PEH actually manufactured for demonstration of the production process.