Accelerometers: Design, Theory,

and Application
An Instrumentation Report By
C.J. Hartwigsen

10/17/01
Vibration Measurement
Many Systems Require Vibration Analysis
Vibration Systems (Car Suspension)
Systems Subject to Periodic Loading or Shock
Experimental Vibration Analysis Requires Measurement of
Motion
Displacement
Velocity
Acceleration
Motion Transducers
Displacement
LVDT
Capacitive Transducer
Laser Transducer
Velocity
Inductive Transducer
Laser Velocimeter
Acceleration
The Accelerometer!


Advantages of Accelerometer
(Piezoelectric)
Requires No Power Supply
No Moving Parts
Compact
Robust
Large Dynamic Range
Large Frequency Range
Easy to Use
Cheap

Can Be Used in Any
Orientation
Insensitive to Normal
Environments
Long-Term Stability
Displacement, Velocity
Obtainable Through
Integration
Principle of Operation
Physical Setup: Piezoelectric Material Sandwiched Between
Base and Resonant Mass - Also Shear, Bender
Motion Causes Resonant Mass to Move, Force to Move Mass
Is Transmitted Through Piezoelectric Material (F = ma)
Compression/Tension or Shear of Piezoelectric Material
Causes Charge Buildup Proportional to Acceleration
Equivalent Electric Circuit
Measures Capacitance
Depends On Cable
ICP Accelerometers
Integrated Circuit Piezoelectric
To Make Accelerometer Use Simple, Incorporate Electronics
Package Into Transducer
Equivalent Circuit => No Dependence on Cable
Output Sensitivity Constant
Characteristics of Accelerometers
Dynamic Range: Should Be Able to Measure Low and High
Level Vibration
Lower Limit is Noise
Upper Limit is Set By Accelerometer
Frequency Range: Should Be Able to Measure Across a Broad
Bandwidth
Accelerometer is SDOF system w/ Frequency Response
Physical Dimensions
Weight
Size
Use and Handling of Accelerometers
Selection
Check Dynamic Range & Sensitivity
Check Frequency Range
Check Operational Environment
Investigate Effect of Accelerometer on Structure => Mass
Mounting
Direct Mounting w/Stud
Cement
Wax
Magnetic Base

Use and Handling of Accelerometers
Do Not Let Cables Influence Structure (Particularly if Small
and Light)
Do Not Drop
Be Aware of Noise
Acoustic
Can Affect Structure
Can Affect Transducer
Electric
If Digitizing Data, Watch Out For Aliasing
Should Be Calibrated Periodically
Accelerometer Producers
PCB Piezotronics
3425 Walden Avenue
Depew, NY 14043
716-684-0001 sales@pcb.com
Kistler Instrument Corp
75 John Glenn Drive
Amherst, NY 14228
716-691-5100 sales.us@kistler.com
Endevco Corporation
30700 Rancho Viejo Road
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
1-800-9826732 applications@endevco.com