Theory of piezoelectric materials and their applications in civil engineering
Author(s)
Ledoux, Antoine, M. Eng. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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Other Contributors
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
Advisor
Jerome J.Connor.
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Show full item recordAbstract
The goal of this thesis is to explore ways of harvesting energy from a building. To be more specific, the conversion of mechanical energy into electrical energy using piezoelectric materials is studied. Applications of piezoelectric materials as actuators are also explored, with particular interest in the question: what is the maximum moment that an actuator, whose energy comes from piezoelectricity, can develop when attached to a beam. As a piezoelectric material cannot generate much energy, and often requires amplification, the goal is to optimize the circuit linked to the piezoelectric material to obtain as much power as possible.
Description
Thesis (M. Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2011. Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. Includes bibliographical references (p. 39).
Date issued
2011Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Civil and Environmental EngineeringPublisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Keywords
Civil and Environmental Engineering.