Abstract

With the growing demand for sustainable energy solutions, innovative methods to
harness untapped energy sources have become essential. This project explores the
use of piezoelectric materials embedded in speed bumps to convert the mechanical
energy from moving vehicles into electrical power. Every time a vehicle passes
over the speed bump, the applied pressure generates electricity, which can be
stored or directly used to power streetlights, traffic signals, and other urban
infrastructure. This system presents a sustainable and efficient energy alternative,
reducing reliance on conventional power sources and promoting eco-friendly urban
development.

Unlike solar and wind energy, which depend on environmental conditions, this
system ensures continuous energy generation in high-traffic areas such as urban
roads, highways, and toll booths. By integrating with existing infrastructure, it
offers a cost-effective, scalable, and low-maintenance solution for renewable
energy harvesting. The project evaluates the feasibility, efficiency, and power
output of piezoelectric-based energy systems, demonstrating their potential to
support smart city initiatives, improve urban energy efficiency, and contribute to a
greener future.

Keywords: Speed Bump, Piezoelectric Energy, Renewable Energy, Smart Cities,

Energy Harvesting, Sustainable Infrastructure, Traffic Energy Conversion.

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We thank the almighty GOD for the abundant blessings showered on us. We
extend our deepest love and gratitude to our dear parents who built up our career
and backed us up in life.

We thank our management and our Principal Dr. Muthukannan M, for the
opportunities given to us for our career development.

We feel indebted to the Head of the Department and our Internal Guide
Dr. V Dillibabu, Department of Automobile Engineering, KCG College of
Technology, for all his encouragement, valuable guidance, ideas, and support,
which has sustained our labor and efforts.

We extend our sincere thanks to the project coordinator Dr. T Mothilal,

Professor, for his guidance and support.

We would like to thank all other faculty members of the Department of

Automobile Engineering for their help and advice throughout our life on this
campus.

Finally, we are thankful to all our friends and all others who encouraged us and
helped us in doing this project.

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER NO. TITLE PAGE

NO.

ABSTRACT i
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ii
LIST OF TABLES vii
LIST OF FIGURES viii
LIST OF SYMBOLS, ABBREVIATIONS ix
& NOMENCLATURE
1. INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 GENERAL 1
1.2. PROBLEM STATEMENT 2
1.3 OBJECTIVES 3
1.3.1 Energy Harvesting Efficiency 3
1.3.2 Sustainable Urban Infrastructure 3
1.3.3 Technical Feasibility and 4
Implementation
1.3.4 Cost-Effectiveness and Practicality 4
1.3.5 Contribution to Sustainable 4
Development Goals (SDGs)
1.4 SCOPE OF THE PROJECT 5
1.4.1 System Design and Development 5
1.4.2 Energy Conversion and Storage 5
1.4.3 Practical Applications and 5
Implementation
1.4.4 Environmental and Economic Impact 6
1.4.5 Challenges and Limitations 6
1.4.6 Future Scope and Advancements 7
1.5 ORGANIZATION OF THE REPORT 7

2. LITERATURE REVIEW 9
2.1 OVERVIEW 9
2.2 PIEZOELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY 9
2.2.1 Introduction to Piezoelectricity 10
2.2.2 Piezoelectric Effect and Charge 10
Generation
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 2.2.3 Types of Piezoelectric Materials 10
2.3 ENERGY HARVESTING FROM 11
ROADWAYS
2.3.1 Energy Sources in Roads 11
2.3.2 Methods of Energy Harvesting in 12
Roads
2.3.3 Benefits of Roadway Energy 12
Harvesting
2.4 EXISTING SYSTEMS & RESEARCH 13
FINDINGS
2.4.1 Previous Experiments and Pilot 13
Projects
2.4.2 Efficiency and Performance Studies 13
2.5 SUMMARY 14

3. SYSTEM DESIGN & METHODOLOGY 15

3.1 GENERAL 15
3.2 SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE 15
3.3 COMPONENT SELECTION 15
3.3.1 Energy Storage Systems 16
3.3.2 Piezoelectric Materials 16
3.3.3 Power Conditioning Circuits 17
3.4 DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS 17
3.5 WORKING PRINCIPLE 18
3.6 IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY 18

4. EXPERIMENTAL SETUP & TESTING 19

4.1 GENERAL 19
4.2 HARDWARE SETUP 19
4.2.1 Piezoelectric Speed Bump 20
Fabrication
4.2.2 Electrical Circuit Assembly 20
4.2.3 Sensor and Monitoring System 21
4.3 SOFTWARE INTEGRATION 21
4.4 TEST PROCEDURES 22
4.4.1 Load Testing with Different Vehicles 22
4.4.2 Repeated Load Durability Test 22
4.4.3 Energy Output and Conversion 23
Efficiency
4.4.4 Environmental Impact Testing 23

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 4.5 PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS 23
4.5.1 Energy Output Comparison 23
4.5.2 Efficiency and Loss Analysis 23
4.5.3 Durability and Maintenance 24
Assessment
4.5.4 Real-World Feasibility and 24
Scalability
4.6 DENOUEMENT 24

5. RESULTS & DISCUSSION 25

5.1 GENERAL 25
5.2 DATA ANALYSIS 25
5.2.1 Energy Output and Efficiency 25
5.2.2 Load-Based Performance Analysis 25
5.2.3 Environmental Impact on System 26
Performance
5.2.4 Energy Storage and Utilization 26
5.2.5 Theoretical and Experimental 27
Calculations
5.3 COMPARISON WITH EXISTING 33
SYSTEMS
5.3.1 Comparison with Other Road-Based 33
Energy Harvesting Technologies
5.3.2 Energy Output Comparison 33
5.4 CHALLENGES FACED 33
5.4.1 Durability and Material Degradation 34
5.4.2 Cost and Scalability Issues 34
5.4.3 Integration with Existing 34
Infrastructure
5.5 FUTURE IMPROVEMENTS 34
5.5.1 Optimized System Design and 34
Integration
5.5.2 Smart Power Management and IoT 35
Integration
5.5.3 Cost Reduction and Large-Scale 35
Deployment

6. CONCLUSION & FUTURE SCOPE 36

6.1 GENERAL 36
6.2 CONCLUSION 36

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 6.3 FUTURE ENHANCEMENTS 37
6.3.1 Advanced Piezoelectric Materials and 37
Structural Improvements
6.3.2 System Optimization and Enhanced 38
Circuit Design
6.3.3 Integration with IoT and Smart Grids 38
6.3.4 Large-Scale Deployment and Cost 39
Reduction
6.3.5 Hybrid Energy Harvesting Solutions 39
6.3.6 Environmental Sustainability and 39
Long-Term Impact

7. REFERENCES 41

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 LIST OF TABLES

TABLE NO. NAME PAGE NO.

1. Types of piezoelectric plate 16

materials

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 LIST OF FIGURES
FIGURE NO. TITLE PAGE NO.

1. Piezoelectric Applications 6
2. Piezoelectric Plate Working 9
3. Vehicle on a Speed Bump 11
4. Performance Graph 13
5. Battery Storage 16
6. Concept Sketch 17
7. Concept 3D Model 19
8. 3D Model of Piezoelectric Plate Holder 20
9. 3D Model of Block Body 20
10. Experimental Setup 21
11. Arduino Coding 22
12. Real-time Voltage Output Reading 24
13. Car & Bike Load vs. Voltage Graph 26
14. Load Distribution in a Plate 28
15. Watts vs. Load Graph 31
16. Piezoelectric Plate Geometry 32

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LIST OF SYMBOLS, ABBREVIATIONS & NOMENCLATURE

PZT Lead Ziconate Titanate

SDG Sustainable Development Goals
IoT Internet of Things
PVDF Polyvinylidene Fluoride
BaTiO₃ Barium Titanate
MWh Megawatt-hour
SiO₂ Silicon Dioxide
LiNbO₃ Lithium Niobate
SAW Surface Acoustic Wave
BaTiO₃ Barium Titanate
GaPO₄ Gallium Orthophosphate
ZnO Zinc Oxide
PU Polyurethane
AC Alternating Current
DC Direct Current
SUVs Sports Utility Vehicles
LED Light Emitting Diode
% Percentage
kg Kilogram
W Watt
F Force
m Mass
g Gravitational acceleration
m/s² Metre per second squared
N Newton
W Work Done
J Joules
η Efficiency
P Power
kWh Kilowatt-hour
ϵ Permittivity of the material
π Pi
d 33 Piezoelectric charge constant
& and

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