Experimental and finite element modal analysis of photovoltaic modules for the design of next-generation vehicle-integrated PV applications

Being different from terrestrial photovoltaic (PV), vibration response is critical to PV modules for vehicle applications, as dynamic loads lead to vibration responses in VIPV modules, which must be carefully considered during the structural design phase to prevent noise and fatigue failure. In this work, the experimental modal analysis on conventional glass-based and novel composite-based, lightweight PV module structures is investigated. First, the modal frequencies and mode shapes are determined by experimental modal analysis on different module structures with/without solar cell strings. Based on the experimental results, the solar cells have negligible influence on vibration response of glass-based PV panels, whereas their influence is non negligible for the considered lightweight panels. The lightweight panels show a higher number of modal frequencies within the 0–120 Hz range and greater amplification factors for these modes compared to the glass-glass modules. The experimental results are used to update a finite element model and quantify its accuracy for the prediction of modal frequencies and shapes. The sensitivity analysis, based on the numerical modal, suggests the significance of skin material properties, i.e., thickness, Young's modulus and density. The findings highlight the challenges of implementing lightweight structures for vehicle applications and provide a fundamental understanding of vibration performance for next-generation VIPV applications.