Modeling of a Symmetric Five-Bar Displacement Amplification Compliant Mechanism Using Energy Methods

We present a symmetric five-bar compliant mechanism for the displacement amplification of mechanical vibration. When the proposed mechanism is connected to an energy harvester, amplification of the input excitation vibration amplitude leads to an increase in the harvested power. Displacements in the compliant mechanism are caused by deflections in its flexure hinges. The flexure hinges we use are either of the right-circular, or the corner-filleted types. The mechanism is analyzed using energy methods. The displacement amplification was verified analytically and numerically using a finite element model. Through our model we present relations governing the displacement amplification in terms of the design parameters, such as the geometry of the mechanism, the flexure hinges dimensions, in addition to the load caused by the harvester. The effects of the flexure hinge dimensions on displacement amplification, are also presented.