Accelerometer Application Focus on Seismic Sensors | Calibration | The Modal Shop, Inc.

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Home > Dynamic Calibration Products > Accelerometer Application Focus on Seismic Sensors

Accelerometer Application Focus on Seismic Sensors

for Vibration Testing

Piezoelectric accelerometers are well suited for seismic vibrations

studies.  They are completely self contained and self generating from an
inertial frame of reference.  This eliminates the challenges with relative
vibration found in optical/laser methods, as well as dual ended
attachment coil based methods, such as LVDTs.  The second most
common challenge with seismic measurements is the limited excitation
levels of seismic events.  In terms of acceleration, the g level falls off
exponentially for a constant displacement as frequency decreases, thus
seismic events typically exhibit small acceleration levels...

Piezoelectic accelerometers accommodate this measurement challenge through

exceptionally high resolution created by their naturally high output (up to 10
Seismic Accelerometer
V/g) and extremely low noise floor (typically sub-microvolt)  with built-in ICP®
impedance conversion electronics all hermetically sealed in a laser welded
Related Pages stainless steel sensor housing.  This combination provides effective
Dynamic Sensors and broadband resolutions on the order of one micro g and can still drive low
Calibration Article impedance, noise immune signals.  An additional benefit of ICP low output
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impedance transducers is the capability to drive long cable runs typically
associated with seismic installations on bridges, buildings or other civil
Engage
infrastructures.  A final benefit of piezoelectric acceleration sensing is the solid
state nature of the sensor construction.  With no moving parts and the sealed
stainless steel casing, the sensors are much more rugged/reliable when
0 compared to servo or flexure based designs and can operate for long durations
in outdoor conditions.  For these reasons, it is common to find arrays of
Share piezoelectric seismic accelerometers in applications ranging from civil
infrastructure monitoring, to vibration limit switches to operating modal
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deflection shape measurement.
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0 As far as challenges with piezoelectric seismic accelerometers, there are just a
few points to consider.  Foremost, remember that all piezoelectrics are AC

  coupled.  Their low frequency response is governed by the discharge time
constant (DTC) of the accelerometer (coupled with DTC of the
measure/recording device).  A typical seismic accelerometer may have a DTC
of greater than 5 seconds which allows for a calibrated flat frequency response
(-5%) down to 0.1 Hz.  If true DC response is required, then the piezoelectric
based measurement is abandoned for a DC responding based transduction
method such as Variable Capacitance.  Another important consideration to
remember is the extremely high sensitivity of some seismic accelerometer and
that even modest shock levels like the snapping attachment of a magnetic
mount can generate 100’s of g’s and thereby 1000’s of volts of output which
can damage the internal impedance conversion electronics.  Finally, even for
modest overloads such as gentle installations, the overload recovery time for
the long time constant seismic accelerometers is measured in minutes.  It is
prudent to wait at least 5 minutes after installation and power up for the
sensor bias signals to completely settle to a zero based level.

If you have additional questions or concerns with seismic sensing choices

please ask your sensor vendor field application engineer or contact us directly. 

http://www.modalshop.com/calibration.asp?ID=212[12/07/2015 21:47:21]
Accelerometer Application Focus on Seismic Sensors | Calibration | The Modal Shop, Inc.

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