Energy harvesting for slender active civil foundations

Globally, numerous countries are advancing towards sustainable and clean energy, with hydroelectric plants being among the most environmentally friendly options. However, these plants contribute significantly to carbon emissions due to the processing of concrete, which is one of the most carbon-intensive materials. Concrete, a construction material that has revolutionized human development, is now in need of further innovation. Chemical advancements in concrete are predominantly controlled by large limestone industries. Consequently, it is incumbent upon engineers to explore the development of geometric, chemical, or electronic methods to enhance and implement additional functionalities in this transformative material. The shaping theory presented in this study is based on a framework that demonstrates methods for determining efficiency and identifying potential critical failures due to self-reflecting stresses. When applied correctly, piezoelectric plates can harness energy from physical and geological oscillations in slender structures, such as wind turbines, particularly when these structures are engineered to withstand substantial dynamic loads. This development seeks to identify the modal efficiency of piezoelectric plates as energy harvesters and to explore their application in general construction, comparing them to Micro-Electromechanical Systems (MEMS) while addressing the challenges related to their application and efficiency. Using transducers operating at three different frequencies, the study analyzed how each would perform within the tested framework.