Optimisation of Cantilever Based Energy Harvester Design for Railway Bridges

Abstract In this paper, the authors investigate energy harvesting on railway bridges. A tuning process based a statistical analysis of mechanical generated by lumped‐mass model is presented and validated. cantilever‐based harvester configuration applied, optimal design 3D printed harvesters studied. The electromechanical behaviour device represented an analytical for estimation harvested from train‐induced bridge vibrations. genetic algorithm constrained to geometry structural integrity used solve optimisation problem. flexibility performance are maximised printing substructure harvester. An prototype with PAHT CF15 designed manufactured real in Madrid‐Sevilla High‐Speed line. experimentally validated under laboratory conditions. Finally, evaluated situ experimental data measured authors. results allow quantifying time window five hours twenty‐seven train passages.