Energy Harvesting Capability of Multifunctional FML and Hybrid Composite Beams Under Various Loading Conditions

Abstract

Composite materials possess excellent wear resistance, fatigue strength, strength, stiffness, and corrosion resistance; therefore, they are frequently employed in the aerospace, defence, and related industries. Materials such as aluminium alloys and fiber-reinforced composites used in such structures have advantages and disadvantages relative to each other. Similarly, combining carbon fiber and glass fiber in a hybrid composite offers a balance of properties from both materials. By combining these two materials, engineers can create a composite that takes advantage of carbon fiber's strength and stiffness while also benefiting from the impact resistance and cost-effectiveness of glass fiber. In the present study, the energy harvesting capability of these multifunctional fiber metal laminate (FML) and hybrid composite beam integrated with piezoelectric materials is calculated. For this purpose, a precise mathematical model is formulated for the coupling of electro-structural terms. The accuracy of the present model is validated with available literature. To evaluate the output energy, the multi-layer FML and hybrid composite beams are attached with piezoelectric materials. Initially, the natural frequency response of the bimorph beams is calculated, and the multifunctional beams are excited near the fixed end to obtain the output response. Additionally, different parameters like ply orientation, sequencing of layers, number of layers, and thickness ratios are taken into account to determine their effect on energy output. It is found that a smart FML system's energy harvesting capability is greater than a smart CFRP beam. Similarly, the output voltage response of the system improves when the top and bottom layers of the substrate laminated beam are carbon fiber, and the middle two layers are glass fibers.