Energy harvesting and monitoring using bridge bearing with built-in piezoelectric material

Following the increasing demand of self-powered sensing devices, this paper presents a multi-functional bridge bearing built-in with a piezoelectric material. The bearing has been conceived by introducing adequately a PZT element within conventional steel pot bearing or rubber elastomeric bearing. This PZT element not only supplies the electrical power required for the operation of the embedded sensors but can also be used to perform realtime control of the passage of overloaded trucks by adopting built-in load measuring function. The feasibility of the proposed system is discussed in terms of cost-effectiveness.