Assessment of Vehicle Dynamic Behavior Under Piezoelectric Actuation via Simcenter AMESim Modeling

Abstract

Recent research has focused on energy recovery and storage technologies. One of the materials allowing the recovery of dissipated energy is the piezoelectric material (PE). These functional materials perform reversible energy conversion, transforming electrical energy into mechanical and vice versa. In this study, we investigate the recovery of vibratory energy in vehicle suspension systems-energy traditionally dissipated by conventional shock absorbers-using piezoelectric materials to capture this wasted energy and redirect it to the vehicle's auxiliary power supply network. We propose an integrated electromechanical model incorporating piezoelectric actuators in parallel with the suspension mechanism. The collected energy is processed and stored for later use in powering accessories such as windows and mirrors. The idea is to integrate renewable energy sources to optimize the performance of the vehicle. We proposed a Multiphysics model of the system under a software used to this type of modeling (Simcenter AMESim v1610_student). The simulation results of the system and its various sub-systems are presented for studying the piezo-actuator response to reduce consumption and increase energy performance in a vehicle. These findings will undergo experimental validation in the project's subsequent phase.