Modelling of Cantilever-Based Flow Energy Harvesters Featuring C-Shaped Vibration Inducers: The Role of the Fluid/Beam Interaction

Flow Energy Harvesters (FEHs), equipped with piezoelectric active layers, are designed to extract energy from non-pulsating flows. FEHs featuring cantilevers tip-mounted Vibration Inducers (VIs) develop a galloping motion. In this paper, we present the modelling of recently introduced VI shape, semitubular-shaped winglets, which do not produce wake interacting cantilever. Such peculiarity allows (i) exploit contribution formation lift, therefore opening more compact design; (ii) its performance be analyzed by means simple two-dimensional Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations. By comparison experimental data, show that minimal framework for such new class VIs needs account both direct action fluid onto cantilever and drag on VI, usually negligible other shapes.