How to couple piezoelectric elements in ABAQUS?

[ST21]

Hi, I'm using ABAQUS to model some vibrating piezoelectric energy harvesters. I'm aware that I need to couple the voltage degree of freedom of each piezoelectric element and assign them all the same value but I have no idea how to do this. I also need to connect a simple resistive load to the model, but again I'm not sure how to do this.

Unfortunately YouTube tutorials on piezoelectric elements are pretty much non-existent.

Any help is much appreciated!

 

[Dave442]

There's a section in the User's Manual that discuses piezoelectric analyses/capabilities in detail.

There's also a section in the Example Problems Guide that includes a couple of piezoelectric analysis examples.

Might be some help

 

[ST21]

I've looked through the sections in the User Manual and Example Problems Guide on piezoelectric analysis but there isn't a walkthrough for either of the example problems. Only an input file is provided. I haven't learnt the keyboard commands for Abaqus so unfortunately it doesn't make any sense.