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Advances in Energy Harvesting Methods pp 3–14Cite as

Introduction and Methods of Mechanical Energy Harvesting

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Abstract

The harvesting of various forms of mechanical energy, ranging from kinetic and surface strain energy to flow-induced aeroelastic and hydroelastic vibrations, has been investigated extensively over the last decade. The goal of this book is to cover the state-of-the-art research advances in energy harvesting with a focus on different transduction mechanisms and forms of mechanical excitation. The following chapters include various examples of energy scavenging using piezoelectric transduction, electromagnetic induction, electrostatic transduction, as well as electroactive polymer harvesting. The aim of this first chapter is to provide a brief introduction to the literature and fundamentals of energy harvesting methods discussed through this volume along with an outline of the present book.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    A bimorph is a configuration that uses an elastic substructure sandwiched between two thickness-poled piezoelectric layers; a unimorph (not discussed here) is composed of a single thickness-poled piezoelectric layer attached to an elastic substructure.

  2. 2.

    Electromechanical coupling of a piezoelectric energy harvester depends not only on the amount of the piezoelectric material used but also on the structural design of the harvester (such as the location of the piezoelectric material on the cantilever and the way it is bonded to its substrate).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, The City College of New York, 160 Convent Avenue, Steinman Hall ST – 228, New York, NY, 10031, USA

    Niell Elvin

  2. G. W.Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 771 Ferst Dr. (Love Building) Room 126, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA

    Alper Erturk

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  1. Niell Elvin
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  2. Alper Erturk
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Correspondence to Niell Elvin .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Steinman Hall T-228, The City College of New York, Street at Convent Avenue 140, New York, 10031, New York, USA

    Niell Elvin

  2. , G. W. Woodruff School of, Georgia Institute of Technology, J. Erskine Love Jr. Manufacturing Building 126, Atlanta, 30332, Georgia, USA

    Alper Erturk

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Elvin, N., Erturk, A. (2013). Introduction and Methods of Mechanical Energy Harvesting. In: Elvin, N., Erturk, A. (eds) Advances in Energy Harvesting Methods. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5705-3_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5705-3_1

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