A Multi-Domain Modelling Framework for Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting Systems Toward Self-Powered Monitoring Applications
Abstract
The increasing adoption of autonomous sensing technologies for Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) and intelligent transportation systems has generated growing interest in self-powered monitoring platforms capable of operating without conventional power supplies. Among the available energy harvesting technologies, piezoelectric transducers represent an effective solution for converting ambient mechanical vibrations into electrical energy suitable for supplying low-power electronic devices. However, the design of such systems requires the simultaneous analysis of multiple interacting physical domains, including structural dynamics, electromechanical transduction, electrical conditioning and power management. This paper presents a comprehensive multi-domain modelling framework for piezoelectric energy harvesting systems developed within the MATLAB Simscape environment. The proposed methodology integrates the coupled electromechanical behaviour of a piezoelectric cantilever with the complete electrical conditioning circuit, including rectification, energy storage and DC/DC power management, allowing all subsystems to be analysed simultaneously within a unified simulation platform. Numerical simulations demonstrate the capability of the proposed framework to reproduce the complete energy conversion process from mechanical excitation to electrical power delivery while evaluating the interaction among the different physical domains. Beyond the specific case study investigated, the proposed approach provides a flexible virtual prototyping tool for the design and optimisation of future self-powered monitoring systems. Owing to its modular architecture, the framework can be extended to different transducer technologies, sensing configurations and energy management strategies, supporting the development of autonomous monitoring platforms for civil infrastructures, railway systems and intelligent transportation applications.