Scaling the dynamic response and energy harvesting potential of piezoelectric beams

This work presents dynamic scaling relations for the fluid-structure interaction (FSI) response and energy harvesting potential of fluttering piezoelectric beams. The results show that it is difficult to find a model-sized material to satisfy all the scaling relations using Reynolds scaling. Mach scaling, which does not imply that flow compressibility is important, but simply requires the same inflow speed and operating fluid, allows the same material as full-scale to be used; this enables the model to emulate similar FSI response, energy harvesting potential, and material failure mechanisms, if both the model and full-scale operate at sufficiently high Reynolds numbers ( greater than or equal to 1000).