Abstract:In order to improve the energy conversion efficience of the piezoelectric cantilever beam generator (PCBG) under the vibration of wheel hub, the energy conversion efficience model of the PCBG was established according to Hamilton principle. The influence of structural parameters as well as material properties of the PCBG on the efficiency of energy conversion was studied by means of numerical simulation and experimental testing. The research results show that there is an influence on the efficiency of energy conversion of the PCBG by the parameters of thickness ratios (TRs) and Young’s modulus ratio (YMR); there is an optimal TRs for the PCBG to obtain maximal efficiency of energy conversion in the different metalplate materials, When copper,Aluminum and molybdenum plates are used for substrate, the PCBG achieves the optimal TRs of 0.67,0.72 and 0.45 respectively; In the same thickness ratio (0.5) and external excitation condition, the energy conversion efficience of the PCBG whose substrate is used for molybdenum is higher than the PCBG whose substrate is used for copper or Aluminum. When YMR increases, the efficiency of energy conversion of the PCBG increases too; when YMR is greater than four, the efficiency of energy conversion of the PCBG does not change significantly.