Electric foundation system; harvesting and converting stresses in building foundations into electricity – a theoretical framework

This study proposes an Electric Foundation System that embeds piezoelectric materials within building foundations to harvest mechanical stresses and convert them into usable electrical energy, in a world racing towards exploring alternative energy sources to meet increasing consumer demands. This paper develops a theoretical framework that links stress–strain behaviour of foundations, piezoelectric constitutive equations, and electromechanical energy-conversion mechanics. It identifies optimal placement zones, estimate charge and power potential under typical dead, live, wind and seismic loading, and quantify key loss mechanisms. The framework also outlines hybridisation pathways; piezoelectric harvesters with triboelectric and electromagnetic layers; and proposes AI-enabled monitoring that uses harvested-energy signals as structural-health indicators.
Sensitivity and parametric analyses demonstrate how material choice, harvester geometry, and soil–structure interaction influence scale-up potential. Preliminary analytical estimates indicate per-cycle energies in the millijoule range for individual harvesters, implying that dense arrays and cumulative loading can produce meaningful aggregated outputs for low-power building services and sensor networks. While recognising practical constraints as durability, installation cost, long-term degradation, and variable loading spectra, the framework shows plausible routes to augment building sustainability aligned with SDGs 9, 11 and 13. It establishes the mathematical and modelling foundation required for planned experimental validation, prototype testing, and a techno-economic assessment.