Ultra-low-frequency rotational energy harvesting from a fiber-constrained dielectric elastomer generator with a two-dwell cylindrical cam mechanism

In view of the increasing demand on harvesting electrical energy from ultra-low-frequency rotational machinery for energy-autonomous structural health monitoring, the dielectric elastomer (DE)-based rotational energy harvesting (EH) technology has become a promising solution. Therefore, this paper proposed a DE-based ultra-low-frequency rotational energy harvester consisting of a fiber-constrained DE generator with a two-dwell cylindrical cam mechanism. Electromechanical coupling model of the harvester is developed to investigate its performance under varied parameters for performance improvement. Results show EH performance of the harvester is improved by extending rising time or returning time of the cam, which provides guidance for designing high-performance harvesters.