Optimisation of energy harvesting for stiffened composite shells with application to the aircraft wing at structural flight frequency

The conversion of structural dynamic strain into electric power using piezoelectric transducer has received growing attention in the last decade. This power is enough to powering micro electrical devices of a wireless sensor network used in structural health monitoring. Optimisation of the harvesting power is an important research topic to ensure endless power source and sufficient flowing of electricity.
This paper concerns optimisation of energy harvesting for stiffened composite shells by beams bonded with discrete macro fibre composite sensors (MFCs) located optimally. Finite element method and Hamilton’s principle are used to model the smart stiffened shell. Proposed placement mythology has presented in this study to find the optimal location and number of MFCs based on the maximisation of the output voltage of the open circuit sensors. This methodology was carried out by covering the whole surface structure by discrete sensors subjected to an external disturbance. This study was implemented to optimise the energy harvesting for the aircraft wing structure under the structural frequency of the flight environment. It was found the optimal number, locations of MFCs and the external electric load on the top and the bottom surfaces of the aircraft wing to achieve the optimal electric power with minimisation of material cost and adding weight.