3D printed energy harvesters for railway bridges-Design optimisation

This paper investigates the optimal design of 3D printed energy harvesters for railway bridges. The type harvester studied is a cantilever bimorph beam with mass at tip and load resistance. These parameters are adjusted to find that tunes fundamental frequency bridge. An analytical model based on variational formulation represent electromechanical behaviour device presented. optimisation problem solved using genetic algorithm constraints geometry structural integrity. proposed procedure implemented in manufacture an harvesting bridge in-service high-speed line. To do so, first methodology validated experimentally under laboratory conditions shown offer strong performance. Next in-situ instrumented accelerometers results used evaluate show harvested time window three half hours (20 train passages) E=109.32mJ. particularly useful bridges mode shapes above 4.5Hz, however curves also presented most common found practice. A novelty this work use additive manufacturing print harvesters, thus maximising flexibility