STONEHENGE – A toolbox for nonlinear vibration energy harvesting

In this work, we present STONEHENGE - Suite for nonlinear analysis of energy harvesting systems, a comprehensive toolbox engineered to study nonlinear piezoelectric vibration energy harvesters. These harvesters can harness kinetic energy from the environment and convert it into electricity using the piezoelectric effect. By introducing nonlinearity through strategically placed magnets, their efficiency is enhanced across a wide frequency spectrum. However, it comes at the cost of increasing complexity in system dynamics. To investigate this complexity and comprehend the potential of nonlinear energy harvesting, the STONEHENGE library was created. It is tailored to analyze the harvesting performance and dynamic behavior of these systems and allows users to explore and characterize system dynamics across a diverse range of physical parameters and excitation conditions using advanced numerical simulations. The toolbox encompasses six key modules, (i) initial value problem, analysis of system behavior from initial conditions; (ii) dynamic animation: which provides visual representations of system dynamics, aiding in intuitive understanding and interpretation; (iii) nonlinear tools: equips users with tools to dissect and comprehend the nonlinear aspects of vibration harvesting systems, essential for comprehensive analysis; (iv) sensitivity analysis: facilitates the assessment of how system behavior responds to variations in parameters, offering insights into its robustness and performance under different conditions; (v) stochastic simulation: allows for the exploration of system behavior under stochastic excitation, crucial for understanding real-world operating conditions; (vi) chaos control: offers methods for mitigating chaotic behavior within the system, enhancing predictability and stability. Utilizing a bistable oscillator as a benchmark, STONEHENGE aims to serve as a valuable resource for the development and refinement of both existing and emerging nonlinear vibration-based energy harvesting systems. By providing a comprehensive toolkit for analysis and characterization, STONEHENGE seeks to catalyze advancements in this field, ushering in an era of more efficient and sustainable energy harvesting technologies. Moreover, this library was developed to be easily adaptable to different dynamic systems and can contribute to different application fields.