Auxetic cementitious cellular composite (ACCC) PVDF-based energy harvester

The high deformation capacity of auxetic cementitious cellular composites (ACCCs) makes them promising for strain-based energy harvesting applications in infrastructure. In this study, a novel piezoelectric energy harvester (PEH) with ACCCs and surface-mounted PVDF film based on strain-induced piezoelectric mechanisms has been designed, fabricated, and experimentally tested. Furthermore, a numerical model for simulating the energy harvesting of ACCC-PVDF system undergoing repeated mechanical loading has been established and validated against the experimental data. The mechanical behavior of ACCCs was simulated by the concrete damage plasticity model during the preloading stage, which was converted to the second-elasticity model during cyclic loading stage. Based on the mechanical responses, analytical formulas for piezoelectric effects were developed to calculate the output voltage of the PVDF film. The output voltages of the ACCCs-PVDF system under different loading amplitudes and loading frequencies were assessed. The experimental results and models of the ACCCs-PVDF energy harvester lay a solid foundation for utilizing architected cementitious composites in energy harvesting applications to supply self-power electronics in infrastructure.