Axial vibration and strength failure analyses of a beam made of thermoelectric materials subjected to time-varying thermal loads

Thermoelectric material (TEM) is a promising candidate for power generation and cooler. Temperatures of the heat source and the cooling device usually vary with time. This article analyzes the axial vibration and strength failure of the temperature-dependent TEM subjected to time-varying thermal loadings. Temperature applying at the hot side of the TEM contains an average part and a time-dependent perturbation part. Numerical solutions of the axial force, the displacement and electric power output of the vibrating thermoelectric material are given. Based on the criterion of the maximum stress, the critical average temperature of strength failure of the thermoelectric material is presented. It is found that a bigger damping ratio results in a smaller value of the maximum displacement and axial force. The axial force is approximately proportional to the thermal loading. The axial force increases from zero to a constant with the contact stiffness of between TEMs and the boundary. The critical average temperature decreases with the contact stiffness.