Research at the Battery and Power Electronics Research Group at Teesside University has found that embedding accelerometers to track vibration intensity and frequency into battery management systems (BMS) can detect early signs of battery degradation allow parameters to be adjusted accordingly.

The research team, led by Professor Maher Al-Greer, Doctor Imran Bashir, and Khursheed Sabeel, has investigated how vibrations affect lithium-ion batteries at the mechanical, thermal and electrical levels. The team used a multiscale physics-based modeling approach to analyze how vibrations interact with battery thermal behavior and degradation by combining advanced simulations with real-world testing.

The team’s findings, published in the journal Batteries, confirm that continuous mechanical stress can cause electrode separation, separator deformation and misalignment of internal components because of electrochemical heating, electromechanical interactions, increasing internal resistance, chemical processes and structural deformations.

This results in localized heating, which accelerates battery aging and reduces operational efficiency. Vibrations also contribute to lithium plating, self-discharge and capacity fade, which shorten battery lifespan and introduce potential safety hazards such as internal short circuits and thermal runaway.

Lithium-ion batteries in maritime applications, such as hybrid and fully electric ships, operate in challenging conditions in which low-frequency vibrations from engines, propeller forces and wave-induced motion subject them to continuous mechanical stress. The researchers found that this causes capacity imbalances across battery cells, reducing system efficiency and increasing the risk of premature failure.

Enhancing battery designs, integrating vibration-resistant materials and refining BMS capabilities can result in safer, more durable, high-performance systems, the team noted.

Source: Teesside University