Sandwich Piezoelectric Energy Harvester (S-PEH) Platform to Produce

Energy Through Varying Pedestrian Behavior

A Research Proposal Presented to Mr. Jumar L. Cagoco

Ormoc City Senior High School

1st Semester

In Partial Fulfillment for the Requirements in

Practical Research 2

By:

Andrade, Jamir Oasis M.

Babon, Anne Margarette E.

Balongkit, Karlos Nathaniel

Beronio, Jims Allan S.

Buntia, Emmajo Amaze

Mosquera, Gabriel Y.

Palaran, Debbie Jane L.

Paña, Ian Bristan N.

Paredes, Joshua C.

Pedrano, Kent Dominic C.

Pitogo, Rodale Glynze P.

October 2022
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER I 1

INTRODUCTION 1

Background of the Study 1

Statement of the Problem 4

Significance of the Study 5

Scope and Delimitations 6

Scope 6

Delimitations 7

CHAPTER II 9

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 9

Related Literature 9

Conceptual Framework 18

Definition of Terms 19

CHAPTER III 23

Research Design 23

The Sample 23

The Instruments 24

Data Collection Procedure 29

Data Analysis Procedure 31

References 32
APPENDICES 34

List of Figures

Figure 1 18

Table 1 27

Table 2 28

Figure 2 29

Figure 3 30
 CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Energy harvesting is the process of capturing the wasted energy from naturally

occurring energy sources, accumulating and storing it for later use (Nia et al., 2017). The

piezoelectric energy harvesting method is based on the material's capacity to produce an

electric field in response to the application of mechanical force. Direct piezoelectric effect is

the term given to this phenomena (Covaci and Gontean, 2022).

One of the commonly and widely used piezoelectric transducers today is PZT (lead

zirconate titanate). PZT offers benefits such as lower cost and design flexibility. PZTs are

also commercially available and have higher piezoelectric charge sensitivity than quartz-

crystal piezoelectric transducers. Moreover, PZTs have extremely high piezoelectric coupling

coefficients (Mohammadi, 2015). Piezoelectric energy harvesters generate energy by

gathering mechanical stress (Bera and Sarkar, 2016). The researchers have compromised a

model in response to piezoelectric energy harvesters emphasizing on pedestrian behavior.

Pedestrian behavior refers to the foot power or pressure that is applied by the pedestrians to

the Sandwich Piezoelectric Energy Harvester (S-PEH). The Sandwich Piezoelectric Energy

Harvester (S-PEH) will be designed like a sandwich where the PZTs are attached at the

center of the platform.

There is a continuous increase in demand for energy in modern society. The Sandwich

Piezoelectric Energy Harvester (S-PEH) aims to generate energy that could lessen energy

consumption, at the same time, producing less carbon footprints to benefit the environment.

In addition, the S-PEH platform model does not require too much changes in our

environment since it is only applied on pavements. The S-PEH platform model serves as an

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expansion for our society's energy resource since pedestrian foot power is an energy resource

that is accessible and the means to produce that power is free.

Many researchers have already started to implement piezoelectric energy harvesting

platforms. For instance, in Shibuya Station, there are an estimated 2.5 million people who

pass through the station. Every time someone steps on the 90 square-centimeter, and 2.5

centimeter-thick mat at Tokyo's Shibuya station, electricity is generated, lighting up a holiday

light display on one of the station's walls. At another Tokyo train station, special floor

ceramic tiles have also been installed in front of ticket turnstiles to trigger small vibrations

stored as energy. The ceramic tiles are supported by rubber sheet layers that absorb the

vibrations. It is estimated that 400,000 people use this second station every day, the company

hopes the pedal power will, at least, generate enough electricity to cover the amount used by

the turnstiles and a few LED signs in the station. Implementing it into pavements and

sidewalks, discreetly, gives us a clean new, self-generating source of energy just from the

ambient vibrations that the piezoelectric energy harvesters gather from the surroundings and

the foot power generated by the pedestrians. (Pramethesth et. al., 2013)

A similar study conducted on the feasibility of piezoelectricity as a source of energy

by creating a piezoelectric floor tile energy harvester examines how varying pedestrian

behavior affects the amount of energy generated by the piezoelectric platform. In order to

provide a realistic harvested energy specification for an application in a given pedestrian

environment, this study examined the effects of various pedestrian behavior on the volume of

energy gathered by a piezoelectric energy harvesting floor tile (EHFT). The initial gathered

energy in the lab and the captured energy under various pedestrian parameter values were

measured through experiments. In this study, ten people weighing less than 50 kg or more

than 70 kg stepped on the floor tile, the harvested energy was approximately 11.0 mJ and

32.0 mJ. In summary, the study shows that pedestrians with varying weight and pedestrians

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who walk or run affect the energy harvested strongly while pedestrian density did not affect

the energy harvested (Yingyong et. al., 2021).

Piezoelectric energy harvesters produce a low carbon footprint which makes it a

suitable alternative for fossil fuels. The researchers will apply the concept of piezoelectricity

in this study through the creation of a new model of piezoelectric energy harvester platform

modeled like a sandwich to convert pedestrian behavior or mechanical stress into a new

renewable source of energy, amplifying the energy harvested through the use of springs

implemented into the model.

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the design of the Sandwich

Piezoelectric Energy Harvester (S-PEH) to generate energy based on varying pedestrian

behavior.

3
Statement of the Problem

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the design of the Sandwich

Piezoelectric Energy Harvester (S-PEH) platform to produce energy based on varying

pedestrian behavior.

Specifically, this study aims to determine the following:

1. How much energy is generated by the Sandwich Piezoelectric Energy Harvester (S-

PEH) in terms of?

1.1. The weights of participants selected through convenience sampling;

1.2. The stride of the pedestrian;

1.3. The height of the springs.

2. How effective is the Sandwich Piezoelectric Energy Harvester (S-PEH) platform

model in terms of?

2.1. Tensile strength.

3. What devices can the S-PEH model power using the energy harvested from pedestrian

behavior?

4
Significance of the Study

This study aims to generate energy from pedestrians’ foot power through the

Sandwich Piezoelectric Energy Harvester (S-PEH) platform.

Specifically, this study will benefit the following:

Pedestrians. This study will produce energy from pedestrians’ foot power, cutting the cost

of energy consumption for consumers like pedestrians while increasing energy production. It

makes use of the mechanical energy generated by pedestrians, making the main source of the

energy free. The energy harvested can be beneficial to pedestrians since the energy harvester

can be used to power numerous energy conversion devices such as; lightbulbs, pathway

lamps, microphones, and speakers.

Economy. This study will benefit the economy by producing energy that is harvested from a

free energy source which is the pedestrians’ foot power through piezoelectric effect.

Moreover, the cost of electricity is increasing due to the increasing demand, affecting many

individuals across the country and the world. The application of the Sandwich Piezoelectric

Energy Harvester (S-PEH) platform may serve as a catalyst to fill the continuous increase of

demand for energy in modern society.

Community. This study has the potential of lowering the cost of energy consumption thus

helping the community. Furthermore, the produced energy that can be applied to various

fields will benefit the community in various ways which may include powering lights that

enhance the security level of an area.

Environment. This study will help the environment by providing energy from renewable

sources. The Sandwich Piezoelectric Energy Harvester (S-PEH) platform produces a low

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carbon footprint and the S-PEH does not require making large changes on the environment to

collect the foot power from pedestrians.

Future Researchers. This study will benefit the future researchers by providing a point of

reference for studies about utilization of pedestrians’ foot power in generating energy through

piezoelectric energy harvesters.

Scope and Delimitations

Scope

This study seeks to determine whether the Sandwich Piezoelectric Energy Harvester

(S-PEH) platform is capable of harvesting the foot power produced by pedestrian behavior. It

mainly focuses on measuring the energy collected by the piezoelectric energy harvester and

determining its durability. This study aims to address the ongoing research and development

of a feasible piezoelectric energy harvester capable of efficiently harvesting energy from

pedestrian behavior by creating a new model called the Sandwich Piezoelectric Energy

Harvester (S-PEH) platform. This study also aims to determine whether the energy harvested

by the Sandwich Piezoelectric Energy Harvester (S-PEH) platform is capable of powering

various energy conversion devices such as light bulbs, LED lights, and pathway lights.

Specifically, this study will use LED lights as the device for determining the capabilities of S-

PEH in powering energy conversion devices. Furthermore, the researchers will measure the

durability of the S-PEH platform through an improvised tensile strength test.

The energy harvested by the Sandwich Piezoelectric Energy Harvester (S-PEH)

platform will serve as the dependent variable while the varying pedestrian behavior and the

Sandwich Piezoelectric Energy Harvester (S-PEH) will serve as the independent variable of

the study. The extraneous variables of this study are the number of piezoelectric transducers

6
present in the Sandwich Piezoelectric Energy Harvester (S-PEH) platform, the manufacturer

of the PZT (lead zirconate titanate) piezoelectric transducer used, and the dimensions of the

Sandwich Piezoelectric Energy Harvester (S-PEH) platform. The constant variable is the type

of crystal present in the piezoelectric transducer which is the PZT (lead zirconate titanate)

piezoelectric transducer.

This study shall be conducted from September 2022 to January 2023 for the first

semester of A.Y. 2022 - 2023, within the borders of Ormoc City, Leyte.

Fifteen participants with varying weight will be selected through convenience

sampling. The data gathered from the participants will then be calculated and interpreted

using various statistical analysis techniques such as the t-test in inferential statistics. This will

provide ample data for the researchers to determine the consistency of the amount of energy

that the Sandwich Piezoelectric Energy Harvester (S-PEH) platform can harvest in varying

pedestrian behavior.

Delimitations

This study does not cover where the Sandwich Piezoelectric Energy Harvester (S-

PEH) platform can be applied and placed. The study is only limited to measuring the amount

of energy the S-PEH platform will generate.

The researchers found alternatives that could have been used for this study but

decided to exclude it in favor of the methods and materials that were chosen for the study.

These alternatives were mainly from the methods of sampling, the research design, statistical

analysis methods, and the materials used for the Sandwich Piezoelectric Energy Harvester (S-

PEH) platform.

There are many types of crystals that are used for piezoelectric transducers such as

quartz, rochelle salt, topaz, and tourmaline crystals but the researchers opted to use the PZT

7
(lead zirconate titanate) crystal because it is the most common crystal used for piezoelectric

transducers and it is commercially available, and it offers high stability.

This study is limited by the amount of funds that the researcher’s have which may

affect the quality of the model created. Faulty wiring, poor design, participant behaviors, and

the durability of the material used could all contribute to a 5% inaccuracy in the study's

results.

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 CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Related Literature

This chapter contains important related literature related to our study. It states the

background of piezoelectricity, types of piezoelectric transducers, application of

piezoelectricity using a specific type of piezoelectric transducer, the PZTs (lead zirconate

titanate). In addition, different methods of harvesting energy through various designs of

piezoelectric energy harvester platforms are discussed in this chapter.

Piezoelectricity is a well-known phenomenon that describes the generation of electric

potential energy in a substance as a result of pressure variations. In response to mechanical

stress, a material that is capable of piezoelectricity generates an electric charge, these are

called piezoelectric transducers. When an electric field is applied, the substance undergoes

mechanical deformation by contracting or expanding (Bera and Sarkar, 2016). In summary,

piezoelectricity is the electricity generated by the piezoelectric effect using transducers that

convert mechanical stress to electricity.

Given its superior electromechanical coupling factor and piezoelectric coefficient

when compared to electrostatic, electromagnetic, and triboelectric transductions, piezoelectric

transduction is the most common mechanical energy harvesting mechanism. Therefore, the

scientific community has shown great interest in piezoelectric energy harvesting. The

creation of piezoelectric generators with advantageous characteristics, such as improved

electromechanical coupling factor, piezoelectric coefficient, flexibility, stretch-ability, and

integrate-ability for a variety of applications, has been made possible by advances in micro-

and nanoscale materials and manufacturing processes (Sezzer and Kog, 2021).

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 A study investigated the effects of various pedestrian characteristics on the volume of

energy gathered by a piezoelectric energy harvesting floor tile in order to provide a realistic

harvested energy specification for an application in a given pedestrian environment. The floor

tile's structural component was an aluminum plate with dimensions of 450 x 450 x 58 mm³

and a cover displacement of 5 mm. The piezoelectric material was a Midé S230-J1FR-

1808XB piezoelectric module (71 25.4 0.76 mm³). The typical output of the piezoelectric

cantilever was typically an alternating current. The majority of electrical equipment,

however, required a direct current to function. In order to prevent the alternating current from

each piezoelectric cantilever from destructively interfering with the current from the others,

each cantilever's alternating current had to be rectified separately. Four springs supporting the

cover plate and a rail guide limiting movement to the vertical direction (spring constant: 16.3

N/mm) were added as improvements. To change the alternating current into direct current,

the 44 piezoelectric cantilevers were wired to a rectifier. The accumulated energy was put

into a capacitor for storage. The voltage across the capacitor was measured using an

oscilloscope (Micsig, model STO1104C), which would later be converted into the electrical

energy of the EHFT (Yingyong et. al., 2021).

Varying pedestrian behavior and values can affect the energy that can be gathered.

The initial gathered energy and the captured energy under various pedestrian parameter

values were measured through experiments. The main findings were as follows: unadjusted

harvested energy provided by one pedestrian step obtained in the laboratory was 35 mWrms;

when ten people, weighing less than 50 kg or more than 70 kg stepped on the floor tile, the

harvested energy was approximately 11.0 mJ and 32.0 mJ, respectively. When 30 people

walked or ran over the tile one at a time separated by gaps of 0.5, 1, and 1.5 m, the energy

stored was 401.0 mJ, 406.0 mJ, and 452.0 mJ, respectively. The energy gathered was about

289.0 mJ and 736.9 mJ when they did so in a random pattern. In conclusion, the collected

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energy of our designed EHFT was significantly influenced by the pedestrian body weight and

velocity, but not significantly by the pedestrian density. The effects of those two pedestrian

factors had to be taken into account in order to convert a laboratory-obtained harvested

energy into a practical specification, whereas pedestrian density could be disregarded

(Yingyong et. al., 2021).

The type of piezoelectric transducer will be crucial for the S-PEH (Sandwich

Piezoelectric Energy Harvester) platform. There are two types of piezoelectric transducers

that are commonly used today, the quartz piezoelectric transducer and PZT (Lead zirconate

titanate) transducer. PZT ceramics are highly available, less expensive, and it is also the most

popular piezoelectric ceramic. PZTs have relatively low maximum operating temperature and

extremely high piezoelectric coupling coefficients with 200C. PZTs have strong temperature

dependence of electromechanical properties like sensitivity, low Curie temperature,

pyroelectricity (temperature changes create mechanical response), and brittleness. PZTs have

higher piezoelectric charge sensitivity (coefficients up to 100 times higher values observed in

quartz). However, it has some drawbacks including lower stability, loss of polarization,

aging, and fatigue. Meanwhile, the quartz piezoelectric transducers are sensitive to high

voltages but not high charges. It is more expensive yet it is also more accurate, particularly in

applications where extreme variations in temperature might affect the precision of readings.

Both its acoustic quality and acoustic loss are extremely high. Over a wide frequency range,

it responds linearly. It does not possess that ability to be pyroelectric because acoustic waves

can successfully travel through quartz and lithium niobate crystals throughout a frequency

range of tens of megahertz to several gigahertz; these materials are frequently used to create

acousto-optic systems (Mohammadi, 2015). In this study in which the piezoelectric

transducer that will be used in the model depends on what is available, PZT (lead zirconate

titanate) will be used for the model.

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 This Energy Harvesting Floor (EHF) was designed for the purpose of analyzing and

comparing Macro Fiber Composites and PZT (lead zirconate titanate) Discs as transducers

for piezoelectric energy harvesters. The platform is built using a layered design in order to

increase mechanical stress on the piezoelectric transducers and to maximize the production of

electrical energy. The design was refined to ensure that the applied force stayed within the

range that the piezoelectric devices could withstand. The platform used in this work was

created to prevent lateral motion, which could be uncomfortable for pedestrians. This might

discourage people from stepping onto the piezoelectric platform. In order to decrease the

vertical displacement's magnitude without reducing the energy produced by the piezoelectric

transducers, more piezoelectric transducers were added to the array. A 30 x 30 centimeter

methacrylate crystal makes up the top layer. The upper layer needs to be strong because it

carries the weight of the user’s steps. To evenly distribute the force of a step to all of the

piezoelectric transducers, the second layer is composed of lumber with two bars attached.

The third layer, which is protected by a polystyrene or rubber sheet, provides for stress

absorption to protect the piezoelectric transducers. The piezoelectric transducers are arranged

in two lines of ten piezoelectric discs in the vertical axis, according to a predetermined

distribution. The hole or hollow over which the piezoelectric transducers are mounted allows

for flexible movement. There are approximately 100 piezoelectric transducers that could be

inserted within the platform by dispersing them over the entire surface. This would result in

an increase of the amount of energy harvested. The platform's underside has a protective

casing covering the electronic circuits. This design enables connecting several platforms in

parallel. A single battery can be charged on each platform using this design, or a single

battery can be charged using a simple circuit with reverse current protection (Muñoz et. al.,

2020).

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 Waynergy People prototype modules were installed at a shopping center's entrance in

Lisbon, Portugal. Waynergy is a newly developed pavement energy harvesting technology

developed by The Waydip Company in Portugal in cooperation with the University of

Coimbra's Pavement Mechanics Laboratory. The size of each Waynergy People module is

0.5 x 0.5 x 0.16 m³ which implies that the surface area of the pilot plant is 6.25 m². Each

module also has a built-in power source which has a total installed power of roughly 40 W.

This means that the 25 modules have an overall power of 1,000 W. The electricity generated

by the Waynergy People prototype modules was 15,525.0 J or 4.31 Wh. This energy was

obtained from 2,070 individuals walking over the prototype modules, each taking an average

of 5 steps, resulting in the average amount of energy produced per step on each module being

1.50 J. We noted a maximum value of 4.20 J or the equivalent energy generated by a person

weighing 100 kg jumping. The most energy produced in a single day was 126,540.0 J or 35.2

Wh and the average energy generated each day over a four-month period was 90,417.0 J or

25.1 Wh. The fact that none of the modules exhibited any signs of failure, wear, or decreased

energy output even after four months and despite the large number of steps taken each day is

significant and demonstrates the system's effectiveness, dependability, and resistance

(Ferreira and Duarte, 2019).

The Pavegen tile makes use of a piezoelectric material's ability to generate an electric

field when squeezed, which may be utilized to either power a device or charge a battery. The

Pavegen floor tiles will be walked on 926 - 1889 times per hour during peak hours (12 PM to

2 PM) and 0 - 719 times per hour during off hours (8 AM to 12 PM and 2 PM to 5 PM) in the

new SUB (Student Union Building), which equates to around 56 kWh every weekday. This is

roughly the amount of energy needed to run 560 100W light bulbs for one hour. A

replacement for the BC (British Columbia) Hydroelectricity would cost the environment

about 23 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) every gigawatt hour. Accordingly, if the tiles

13
generate 0.000056 GWh, they will prevent BC (British Columbia) Hydro from emitting 1.28

kg of CO2 each day. Based on the Pavegen tile's anticipated 5-year lifespan, this equates to a

1664-kilogram reduction in CO2 emissions. Note that the electricity supplied by BC (British

Columbia) Hydro will be replaced by the tiles according to these estimations. If not, they do

not reduce CO2 emissions (Cramm et. al., 2011).

The frame of the Pavegen tile is made up of 80% recycled materials, primarily

aluminum, while the top surface is composed entirely of recycled automobile tires (Pavegen

Systems, 2011). The Pavegen tile's piezoelectric substance is not specified, but lead zirconate

titanate is the most typical material utilized in these kinds of applications (PZT). Pavegen has

a lifespan of five years and its parts can be used for other purposes once its main function

turns obsolete. (Cramm et. al., 2011).

Due to its potential use in the smart home, invasion monitoring, the internet of things,

and etc., research on the energy harvesting floor is currently gaining more and more attention.

This study described the design and comparative analysis of a multi-layer piezoelectric beam

structure-based small-stroke piezoelectric energy harvesting floor. The PZT (lead zirconate

titanate) layer is shielded from other layers, greatly enhancing the PZT element's

durability.Polyester, copper, PZT (lead zirconate titanate), stainless steel 304, and polyimide,

in that order, make up its five layers. The layers are 0.05 mm thick, 0.03 mm thick, 0.15 mm

thick, 0.15 mm thick, and 0.03 mm thick, respectively. The design has a length, width, and

height of 46 mm, 23.4 mm, and 0.44 mm, respectively. The number N will be 104.6 when 68

kg of human weight is taken into account. A floor plate with a foot dimension of 300 mm by

100 mm can only have a maximum of 27 beams with a 46 mm by 23.4 mm area per layer.

Therefore, piezoelectric beams must be arranged in at least four layers. Through this design,

the invention efficiently utilized the input power from human footsteps and converted it to

electrical power. The created piezoelectric energy harvesting floor structure was put to the

14
test using the devised stepping machine, which can mimic the stepping effect of a person

walking on the floor while changing parameters like stepping frequency. Various stepping

frequencies, external circuits, and beginning beam morphologies are studied in comparative

studies of the energy harvester. According to the test findings, a set of four-layer prototypes

had a maximum output power of 960.9 W at a stroke length of 4 mm and a step frequency of

0.83 Hz when the beams were connected in parallel (Zhong et. al., 2022).

Over the past few years, energy harvesting has drawn a lot of attention from

researchers. When people walk, they exert some force on the ground; this force can be

exploited to produce electricity. The idea of using a piezoelectric crystal to transform

compressed weight energy into electrical energy is theoretically viable. If the researchers

employ piezoelectric crystals as an energy converting material, the power generating floors

might be a significant application. The ability to transform mechanical energy (stress and

strain) into electrical energy is a property that piezoelectric crystals possess, which also have

a crystalline structure. An updated prototype of a mechanical vibration energy harvester for

power-generating floor tiles based on PZT is provided in this research (Shreeshayana et. al.,

2017).

Each rectifier's capacitors are linked in series and then in parallel. Higher value

capacitors have more charge holding capacity and longer discharge times. It should be

emphasized that only when the capacitor bank's charge holding capacity exceeds that of the

battery will the battery be charged. Pro engineer was used to create both the stress test setup

and the floor tile design.The tile underwent numerous alterations and enhancements. On the

tile, a load of 300 pounds was dispersed. Pro Engineer was used to build the tile setup, and

Ansys was then used to solve the system and assess the experiment's outcomes. These

findings enable us to determine which regions of the tile would be most impacted by the

application of a person's weight to it. Due to the availability of the PZT (3B35+2.6EE) disc in

15
India, the researchers decided to employ this in the work. The PZT ceramic is manufactured

with dimensions of around 9.0 mm x 0.12 mm and connected to a thin brass plate that is 12.0

mm x 0.10 mm. The nominal grain size of this PZT is roughly 1 mm. 54 Piezo discs

3B65+FA are incorporated into the design. Piezoelectric plates or piezoelectric stacks would

have produced the highest output, but piezoelectric discs are used instead since they are less

expensive and more widely available. Using a full wave bridge rectifier circuit, the peak

voltage produced by the piezoelectric discs is utilized to its fullest potential. It is decided to

use the high signal frequency diode IN4148. When compared to diode IN407, it has the

advantage of rectifying at all frequencies and lowering voltage drop. The final circuit design

depended heavily on what type of capacitor bank was selected. The voltage rating of the

capacitor is calculated by multiplying the peak voltage produced by the piezo disc by a factor

of two. An increase in capacitance value happens when the capacitors are connected in

parallel, but the voltage will stay the same. In contrast, capacitors connected in series will

increase the voltage while maintaining the same capacitance. Four piezo discs were initially

utilized in the rectifier circuit with a low capacitance value of 10F and 25V to test whether

charges were being stored in the capacitor. After confirming that a 10 F capacitor could store

a charge, we began utilizing greater value capacitors, such as 47 F, 100 F, 1000 F, 2200 F,

and 4700 F. Maximum power can be transferred if this is done (Shreeshayana et. al., 2017).

It was discovered that the harvester's effectiveness is increased and the strain is

equally distributed by the trapezoidal configuration. According to measurements, the

trapezoidal beam generates 30% more energy than the rectangular beam (Amna et. al., 2019).

The piezoelectric energy harvester is used in cantilever form having a fixed end and a free

end to move. Greater strain generation, simplicity of production, and lower fundamental

frequencies to match mechanical sources are all benefits of cantilever structures. The

operating frequency of the piezoelectric cantilever is relatively low, and the quality factor of

16
the piezoelectric beam is high. In general, a piezoelectric cantilever cannot generate a high

voltage at a low frequency. When the oscillation frequency of the beam is far from its natural

frequency, the piezoelectric cantilever produces only a little quantity of energy. Low powered

electronic equipment cannot be powered by the meager energy supply. In order to match the

frequency, the resonance frequency must be calibrated and characterized. Piezoelectric

cantilever beams generate the most energy after being calibrated. A study where cantilever

beams with varying shapes and piezoelectric energy harvester from mechanical vibration

were examined and compared shows that the vibrational EH (energy harvesting) technology

is regarded as a constant and dependable source of power for WSNs (wireless sensor

network) and microelectronic devices. In comparison to a rectangular structure, a triangle

may generate more power and withstand greater strain.

This study aims to evaluate the viability of the design of the Sandwich Piezoelectric

Energy Harvester (S-PEH) to generate energy based on varying pedestrian behavior. Given

the provided information and data, mediums that cause amplification of pressure gathered

from pedestrians’ foot power were taken into consideration. The design of the model will

take into account the sensitivity of the PZT in order for it to function properly in a long

period of time. In this study of creating the Sandwich Piezoelectric Energy Harvester (S-

PEH), the use of springs to amplify the vibrations that the piezoelectric energy transducer

will be utilized. Lastly, parts of the S-PEH model such as steel sheets, capacitors, rubber

covers, the shape of the S-PEH, and its size will also be taken into account.

17
Conceptual Framework

Sandwich Piezoelectric Energy Harvester (S-PEH) Platform to Produce Energy Through

Varying Pedestrian Behavior

Figure 1. Conceptual Framework

The effectiveness of the design of the Sandwich Piezoelectric Energy Harvester (S-

PEH) to generate energy based on varying pedestrian behavior and its capability in powering

other devices.

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Definition of Terms

Alternating Current (AC)

A type of electrical current, in which the direction of the flow of electrons switches

back and forth at regular intervals or cycles. Main electrical current for the The Sandwich

Piezoelectric Energy Harvester (S-PEH) platform.

Capacitor

A passive electronic component that stores energy in the form of an electrostatic field,

consists of two conducting plates separated by an insulating material called the dielectric.

Serves as the energy storage for the Sandwich Piezoelectric Energy Harvester (S-PEH)

platform.

Convenience Sampling

Convenience sampling is the sampling technique that will be used in gathering the

participants in the study. Convenience sampling involves gathering participants that are

readily accessible to the researchers.

Direct Current (DC)

An electrical current that flows in a single direction. Electrical current generated from

The Sandwich Piezoelectric Energy Harvester (S-PEH) platform to be used for energy

consumption.

Energy

Energy refers to the amount of energy the Sandwich Piezoelectric Energy Harvester

(S-PEH) will generate. The energy harvested will be measured by the multimeter in millivolts

(mV).

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Multimeter

Multimeter is an instrument for measuring electrical resistance, which is expressed in

ohms. This is used to measure the generated voltage by The Sandwich Piezoelectric Energy

Harvester (S-PEH) platform.

Pedestrians

A person traveling in the street by foot and not traveling in a vehicle. The

participants/sample population of the study is gathered through convenience sampling. The

pedestrians also serve as the source of mechanical stress that will be converted to electrical

energy through the S-PEH.

Pedestrian behavior

Pedestrian behavior refers to the behavior of pedestrians in terms of their pace;

walking or running. This causes the varying amount of pressure or force a pedestrian applies

to the Sandwich Piezoelectric Energy Harvester (S-PEH) platform.

Piezoelectric Transducer

The piezoelectric transducer is a device used to convert energy from one form to

another. The piezoelectric transducer is the heart of The Sandwich Piezoelectric Energy

Harvester (S-PEH) platform and it converts the mechanical energy generated by the

pedestrians into electrical energy. The type of piezoelectric transducer that will be used in

this study is the PZT (lead zirconate titanate).

PZT (lead zirconate titanate) Piezoelectric Transducer

PZT (lead zirconate titanate) is a crystal that has piezoelectric properties and is widely

used for creating piezoelectric energy harvesters. PZT (lead zirconate titanate) will be used in

the model for harvesting the energy generated by pedestrian foot power. It will be placed at

the center of the Sandwich Piezoelectric Energy Harvester (S-PEH).

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Resistance of PZT

Resistance of PZT (lead zirconate titanate) refers to the ability of the piezoelectric

transducer to continue functioning over a long period of time without any observations of

decrease in its performance.

Resistor

Resistor is an electrical component that limits or regulates the flow of electrical

current in an electronic circuit. It regulates the flow of electric current in the electric circuit

embedded in The Sandwich Piezoelectric Energy Harvester (S-PEH) platform.

Sandwich Piezoelectric Energy Harvester Platform (S-PEH)

A robust and reliable solution by converting normally wasted vibration energy in the

environment to usable electrical energy. The Sandwich Piezoelectric Energy Harvester (S-

PEH) platform will be the main medium for transforming foot traffic into energy. It is named

after the sandwich-like structure of the model.

Springs

Springs are objects that can be deformed through force and return to their original

shape. The springs used in the model will amplify the force or pressure applied by the

pedestrians to The Sandwich Piezoelectric Energy Harvester (S-PEH) platform. The springs

will be located at the upper part of the model.

Stride of Pedestrians

The stride of pedestrians refers to the description of pedestrian behavior observed by

using the sense of sight such as walking and running.

21
Tensile Strength

Tensile strength refers to the durability of the S-PEH platform in terms of its

resistance to the weight of the participants. It indicates whether the S-PEH platform can

function properly under higher weights and tension.

Hypotheses

H0: The Sandwich Piezoelectric Energy Harvester (S-PEH) platform is incapable of

harvesting energy on any varying pedestrian behavior.

H1: The pedestrian behavior does not affect the amount of energy harvested by the

Sandwich Piezoelectric Energy Harvester (S-PEH) platform.

H2: The parts of the Sandwich Piezoelectric Energy Harvester (S-PEH) platform

model does not significantly affect the tensile strength of the S-PEH platform.

H3: The amount of energy harvested by the Sandwich Piezoelectric Energy Harvester

(S-PEH) platform is incapable of powering devices.

22
 CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

Research Design

The researchers chose experimental research design as it is the best option for this

study. Experimental research design is the process of carrying out research in an objective

and controlled fashion so that precision is maximized and specific conclusions can be drawn

regarding a hypothesis statement. This study focuses on the design and evaluation of the S-

PEH platforms on varying pedestrian behavior. In order for the researchers to determine the

best design in which the S-PEH can gather enough energy needed, treatments and tests must

be done. The researchers will be using different treatments in order to gather the data needed

to answer the research questions and to test whether to accept or reject the hypothesis thus,

experimental research design will be used.

The Sample

There are three piezoelectric energy harvesters platforms that will be created in this

study, representing the experimental and control groups. These piezoelectric energy

harvesters platforms will be referred to as Setup A, B, and C. Setup B and C will be the

proposed design for the Sandwich Piezoelectric Energy Harvester (S-PEH) platform with

springs which the researchers have formulated and Setup A will serve as a device used to

come up with comparisons for the two proposed design to determine which of the two is the

most suited design to choose for the Sandwich Piezoelectric Energy Harvester (S-PEH)

platform. Setup B and C will serve as the experimental group for this study while Setup A

will be the control group.

23
 All piezoelectric energy harvesters that will be created in this study are in the shape of

a cuboid. Each design will be different from one another specifically in their height due to the

presence or absence of the spring inside the harvester. Setup A will have no springs and will

be 19.5 cm by 20 cm by 20 cm, which are its height, length, and width, respectively. Setup B

with 5 cm springs will be 5 cm higher than setup A. Therefore, its height, length, and width is

20 cm by 20 cm by 20cm, respectively. Meanwhile, Setup C will have 10 cm springs so setup

C will be higher than setup A by 10 cm, making its height 25 cm while maintaining the same

length and width as setup A and B.

The researchers will also aim to reflect the behavior of pedestrians or the population,

which are people who can walk with varying weights and pace. The sampling technique that

will be used to collect the samples is through convenience sampling. As samples of the study,

the researchers will choose the students of Ormoc City Senior High School (OCSHS). Fifteen

participants will be selected from the school with varying weights.

The Instruments

This study is an experimental-quantitative research that utilizes a record sheet as an

instrument since the data that the researchers aim to gather is the amount of energy that the

Sandwich Piezoelectric Energy Harvester (S-PEH) platform can produce on varying

pedestrian behavior. The record sheet is self-made since it is created by the researchers. It is

also structured since it is independent of the research team, it collects valid and reliable data

related to the study. The record sheet will be used as a tool to record the amount of energy

harvested in millivolts that will be measured by the multimeter and the weights will be

measured using a weighing scale. The data that will be recorded will be in ratio scale.

The record sheet consists of a total of two different pedestrian behaviors with each

behavior consisting a total of three setups, leading to 18 trials in total. The record sheet will

24
be answered by the results gathered from testing the Sandwich Piezoelectric Harvester (S-

PEH) from being subjected to the two (2) pedestrian behavior, walking and running. A total

of fifteen (15) participants shall test the feasibility of the design, one (1) each undergoing all

18 trials, before computing the average energy harvested by the Sandwich SPiezoelectric

Harvester (S-PEH). The paper will be subjected to a content validity test and internal

consistency reliability test from experts which may include research teachers with five years

of experience, licensed electrical and mechanical engineers, and experienced statisticians.

The data that will be gathered in the instrument will be in ratio scale, in which zeroes have

meanings and interpretations.

In order to determine the durability of the S-PEH platform, the researchers will use

likert scale through improvised tensile strength in ordinal scale. It will be presented in tabular

form in which the weights of the participant will be recorded and if the S-PEH platform will

still function. It will be marked as functioning or not functioning.

25
 Average amount of Energy
Amount of Energy Harvested in mV Harvested
(in mV)

Trials
Walking Running
Walking Running

Weight Setup
Participants
(kg)
C B C
A B A
(10cm (5cm (10cm
(no springs) (5cm springs) (no springs)
springs) springs) springs)
A B C A B C

1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3

Participant 1

Participant 2

Participant 3

Participant 4

Participant 5

26
Participant 6

Participant 7

Participant 8

Participant 9

Participant 10

Participant 11

Participant 12

Participant 13

Participant 14

Participant 15

Table 1. Amount of Energy Recording Sheet

27
Participants Weight (kg) FUNCTIONING NOT
FUNCTIONING

Participant 1

Participant 2

Participant 3

Participant 4

Participant 5

Participant 6

Participant 7

Participant 8

Participant 9

Participant 10

Participant 11

Participant 12

Participant 13

Participant 14

Participant 15

Table 2. Improvised Tensile Strength Test Recording Sheet

28
Data Collection Procedure

Figure 2. General Procedure

29
 Figure 3. Steps in creating S-PEH platform Setups

The researchers will design the Sandwich Piezoelectric Energy Harvester (S-PEH)

platform and will gather the materials in order to create the design. The researchers will then

gather participants in Ormoc City Senior High School (OCSHS) through convenience

sampling. In gathering the participants, the researchers will ask permission and consent to the

participants. The participants will be oriented and the researchers will then conduct the

experiment. Data will be gathered by the researchers through recording sheets in order to

analyze and interpret the data collected.

30
Data Analysis Procedure

In this study, the researchers aim to measure the amount of energy in millivolts that

the Sandwich Piezoelectric Energy Harvester (S-PEH) platform can produce on varying

pedestrian behavior. The data gathered will be interpreted using inferential statistics and will

be compiled as a non-parametric. The researchers will use Spearman’s rho as its statistical

tool for data interpretation and will present the data using a scatter plot which will show the

relationship between the The Sandwich Piezoelectric Energy Harvester (S-PEH) and the

amount of energy harvested by the S-PEH. The researchers will be able to determine the

relationship between the amount of energy that the Sandwich Piezoelectric Energy Harvester

(S-PEH) platform can generate and the weight and stride of each participant. To determine if

the Sandwich Piezoelectric Energy Harvester (S-PEH) is durable, the researchers will use a

tensile strength test through likert scale.

It will also allow the researchers to make conclusions on whether the design of the

Sandwich Piezoelectric Energy Harvester (S-PEH) platform is durable and capable of

powering various energy conversion devices. Hypotheses will also be tested through t-test

for the purpose of determining the intervention and it will have a 0.05 level of significance.

The researchers will use Lawshe’s model as the scoring system for its validity test.

References

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Cramm, J. (2011). Investigating the feasibility of implementing Pavegen energy : harvesting

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 APPENDICES

APPENDIX A : COPY OF VALIDATION SHEET SENT TO EXPERTS

34
APPENDIX B1: RESPONSES OF EXPERTS

APPENDIX B3

Responses of Experts

35
APPENDIX B2: RESPONSES OF EXPERTS

36
APPENDIX B3: RESPONSES OF EXPERTS

37
APPENDIX C: DOCUMENTATIONS/SUPPLEMENTARY DOCUMENTS

38
39