Dragonfly-wing-inspired corrugated splitter plates for enhancing flow-induced vibration piezoelectric energy harvesting

Abstract

This study introduces a novel biomimetic strategy to enhance flow-induced vibration (FIV) energy harvesting by incorporating corrugated splitter plates inspired by the microstructural features of dragonfly wings. While conventional splitter plates have been proven effective in improving the performance of piezoelectric energy harvesters, the aerodynamic benefits of bio-inspired surface morphologies have received limited attention. Four innovative bionic splitter plate configurations are designed and integrated into a piezoelectric cylinder system. The effects of these corrugated designs are systematically investigated under three installation angles (30°, 60°, and 90°). The experimental results demonstrate that the bionic splitter plates significantly outperform smooth plates at all three angles, with maximum increases of 23.7 %, 41.6 %, and 20.5 %, respectively. Numerical simulations reveal that the corrugated structures affect vortex shedding patterns, vortex structures, and local aerodynamic characteristics on splitter plates. While the shedding mode remains unchanged at 30° and 90°, a clear transition is observed at 60°, accompanied by the formation of secondary vortices and intensified wake instability. Furthermore, the corrugated structures induce sudden changes in the average pressure distribution, resulting in a larger pressure differential across the splitter plate, which amplifies bluff body oscillations and boosts energy output.