Modelling and testing of nonlinear energy harvesters

This proposal is to fund a four month research visit to the experimental nonlinear mechanics laboratory of Brian Mann at Duke University, USA. The purposes of the visit are: to establish a new collaboration between Bristol and Duke; to develop skills and understanding in the area of experimental design and testing of nonlinear energy harvesters; to develop mathematical models of the existing energy harvesters in Mann's lab that will provide insight for future design work; and to initiate a joint project around the use of mechanical nonlinearities for enhanced energy harvesting in the context of autonomous oceanographic sensor buoys.

The primary beneficiaries of this proposal outside the academic domain are companies with an interest in commercialising energy harvesting technology. Within the UK, this includes companies such as Perpetuum. They will benefit through the generation of new ideas related to increasing the robustness of energy harvesters to changes in environmental conditions. Engagement with these companies will be through energy harvesting focus events organised by the Sensors and Instrumentation KTN.