Power Flow Analysis and Dynamic Performance of a Nonlinear Vibration Energy Harvesting System Coupled to a SD Oscillator

A nonlinear energy harvester coupled to a smooth and discontinuous oscillator (SD oscillator) is proposed in this paper. This SD oscillator exhibits nonlinear dynamic performance by a pair of inclined linear elastic springs. The effects of its parameters on nonlinear response are investigated under harmonic external base excitation. Vibrational power flow behavior of this nonlinear energy harvesting system is investigated to evaluate the performance of energy harvesting efficiency, by applying both analytical approximations and numerical integrations. Comparing with corresponding linear oscillator system, the results demonstrated guaranteed benefits in terms of broadband vibration energy harvesting efficiency under harmonic external excitation situation.