FACULTY OF

ENGINEERING

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E The Accuracy Of Measurement Systems
C In The Steady State
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R Dr. Bashir NOURI
O Department of Mechatronics Engineering
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I Faculty of Engineering
C An-Najah National University
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M Introduction:
E Accuracy is a property of a complete measurement system rather than a
C single element. It is quantified using measurement error (E).
H  E = Measured Value – True Value = System Output – System Input
A
Measurement Error of a System of Ideal Elements
T
I=I O =I O =I O I O I O =O
R 1
k 1
1
k
2
2
2 3
k 3
3 i
ki
i n
kn
n

True
O 1 2 3 i n Measured
Value Value
N A system of n-ideal elements in series (The system is perfectly linear and not
subjected to environmental inputs and the bias (a) is zero.
I
a=0
C
 Oi = ki Ii Input-output equation for ideal element with zero intercept.
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M i  1,   ,n
k i  Linear Sensitivity or Slope
E  O2  k 2 I2  k 2 k1 I
C O3  k 3 I3  k 3 k 2 k1 I
H  O  On  ( k 1 k 2 k 3   k i   k n ) I
A  E  O  I  ( k1 k 2 k 3   k i   k n  1 ) I
T if k 1 k 2 k 3   k i   k n  1  E  0

R  The system is perfectly accurate.

O Example: Thermocouple Temperature Measurement System.
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Simple temperature measurement system
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M TM  k 1 k 2 k 3 TT

E k 1 k 2 k 3  ( 40  10 6 ) ( 1000 ) ( 25 )  1
 TM  TT  E  TM  TT  0
C
H  The system is perfectly accurate.
A The real system is in error because:
T 1. The input temperature changes the sensitivity of the thermocouple (k1)
R 2. Changes in reference junction temperature (TC ≠ 0) cause the e.m.f to
O change.

N 3. The ambient temperature affects the output voltage of the amplifier

(ambient temperature is a modifying input that changes k2).
I 4. The sensitivity of the indicator (k3) depends on the stiffness of the
C restoring spring, that is affected by changes in environmental temperature
and wear.
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 FACULTY OF
ENGINEERING

M Conclusions:
E The error of a measurement system depends on the non-ideal characteristics
e.g. nonlinearity, environmental and statistical effects of every element in the
C system.
H  The general model of a single element must be used.
A
T O(I) = k I + a + N(I) + kM IM I + kI II

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M Error Reduction Techniques

E Compensation methods for nonlinear and environmental effects.

1. A compensating nonlinear element into the system.
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H
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T Example: Design a nonlinear deflection bridge to compensate for the nonlinearity
of thermistor.
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2. Isolation: To isolate the transducer from environmental changes (I M = II = 0)

M
3. Zero environmental sensitivity (kM = kI = 0): The element is completely
E insensitive to environmental inputs.
C Example: Use a metal alloy with zero temperature coefficient of expansion and
H resistance as a strain gauge element.

A 4. Compensation methods for interfering environmental effects.

T a) Opposing environmental inputs: Is a successful method of coping with

environmental inputs (Interfering Inputs).
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M b) Differential system: The use of two matched strain gauges in adjacent arms
of a bridge (will be discussed later in the course) to provide compensation for
E ambient temperature changes. One strain gauge is measuring a tensile strain
C (+ e) and the other an equal compressive strain (- e). The deflection bridge
effectively subtracts the two resistances so that the strain effect is doubled and
H the environmental effects cancel out.
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5. High – gain negative feedback: An important method of compensating for

M modifying inputs and nonlinearity.
E Example: Closed loop force transducer
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Questions
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