Minneapolis, MN
August 23, 2022
June 26, 2022
June 29, 2022
15
10.18260/1-2--40452
https://peer.asee.org/40452
666
Bala Maheswaran is currently a senior faculty in the College of Engineering, Northeastern University. He has contributed and authored over one hundred publications consisting of original research and education-related papers, and conference proceedings. He has over twenty years of experience in teaching at Northeastern University. He is the Chair of the Engineering Physics Division, ASEE, Chair and executive board member, ASEE NE Section; the co-chair of TASME Conference (Technological Advances in Science, Medicine and Engineering, Toronto, Canada), Academic Member and the Unit Head, Electrical Engineering, ATINER (Athens Institute for Education and Research, Athens, Greece).
A charismatic educator, Dr. Maheswaran has received several awards including the Northeastern University first-year Engineering Outstanding Teaching Award twice, the ASEE-Northeast Section Outstanding Teaching Award, the ASEE Division Distinguished Educator and Service Award. He was also the nominee for the ASEE National Outstanding Teaching Medal and nominated to be the ASEE Fellow. Honoring his outstanding contribution, the TASME presented an award in his name at the 24th year award ceremony: “Dr. Bala Maheswaran Junior Faculty Award 2020 for Excellence in Science Education”, and awarded him the Life Time Achievement Award in 2021.
Abstract Piezoelectricity is the charge accumulated in certain solid materials due to applied stress (mechanical stress or vibration, such as sound waves). This unique characteristic makes these materials very suitable for use as sensors to convert mechanical vibrations into signals, such as for guitar pickups and record players. The reverse is also true. By applying a voltage to the piezoelectric material, it vibrates and produces sound, which can be used as a buzzer and a small speaker. As demand for renewable energy increases, the use of piezoelectricity as a source of energy harvesting has become of interest.
In recent years, it has been recognized that piezoelectric devices can be used for many purposes for low-energy mechanical sources (such as pedestrian traffic) and larger-scale passive power generation in the California highway system. Many of these methods of large-scale piezoelectric energy harvesting come with the challenge of finding an efficient way to integrate the piezoelectric transducer into existing infrastructure. By using different methods, piezoelectric sensors can be placed on wheels to generate energy on a smaller scale. This study explores this method by designing a prototype wheel to evaluate the effectiveness of arranging piezoelectric sensors radially along the outside of the wheel to generate passive electric energy from the contact of the wheel with the ground. We hope that this idea could either work in the real world or lay the groundwork for the next generation. In addition, these project-based experiential learning activities help students to master various skills, such as research, collaboration, design, construction, and technical writing, and more. The skills learned by this project were invaluable and important experiences within engineering. This Energy Wheel not only provides scientists and engineers with more valuable information about alternative energy, but also is capable of educating the everyday person about the basics of engineering as well as the importance of renewable resources.
Maheswaran, B., & Criollo, A., & Reghupathi, A., & Shah, A., & Lee, R. (2022, August), Project–Based Learning: Piezoelectric Energy Wheel Paper presented at 2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Minneapolis, MN. 10.18260/1-2--40452
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