Summary
Vibro-impact (VI) systems are nonlinear systems that can be employed in many engineering applications, such as energy harvesting (EH). We present a VI system that consists of an externally forced inclined cylindrical capsule and a bullet that is allowed to freely move inside the capsule. Dielectric elastomer membranes cover the capsule ends, and impacts between the bullet and membranes generate an excess in electrical energy that can be harvested. Parametric studies reveal smooth and non-smooth bifurcations of (ir)regular impact sequences, including grazing bifurcations, leading to additional low-velocity impacts. Here, we focus on the interplay between dry friction, forcing frequency, and noise in the restitution coefficient, investigating its influence on EH.
