Extreme Value Estimates using Vibration Energy Harvesting

TL;DR

This paper explores how vibration energy harvesting can be used to estimate extreme responses of structures under natural wind excitation, offering a novel approach for structural health monitoring.

Contribution

It demonstrates the feasibility of using vibration energy harvesters to estimate extreme value responses and calibrates these estimates for typical natural excitation spectra.

Findings

Vibration energy harvesting can be used for extreme value estimation.

Calibration with wind spectra improves accuracy.

Potential applications in structural health monitoring.

Abstract

This paper establishes the possibility of utilising energy harvesting from mechanical vibrations to estimate extreme value responses of the host structure and demonstrates the calibration of these estimates for excitation spectra typical to natural systems. For illustrative purposes, a cantilever type energy harvester is considered for wind excitation. The extreme value estimates are established through a Generalised Pareto Distribution (GPD). Classically well-known Kaimal and Davenport spectra for wind have been considered in this paper for comparison purposes. The work also demonstrates how return levels can be mapped using energy harvesting levels and indicates that vibration energy harvesting, in its own right has the potential to be used for extreme value analysis and estimates. The work has impact on health monitoring and assessment of built infrastructure in various stages of repair or disrepair and exposed to nature throughout their lifetime.