Next-Generation Rectilinear Wide-Bandwidth Accelerometer Measurements  

This project will develop and implement a next-generation calibration system for measurement of dynamic acceleration that would replace four aging calibration systems used in five NIST SP250 measurement services. NIST customers, especially in the automotive and aerospace industries, need lower uncertainty in vibration calibrations due to increased global competitive pressures and safety requirements. The goals of this effort will be to reduce the uncertainties of accelerometer calibrations by a factor of four and to reduce the cost of accelerometer calibrations by a factor of two while reducing turn-around time.

Customer requirements drive the need for a cost-effective, operationally efficient, and reliable system to calibrate the magnitude and phase sensitivity of accelerometers with reduced uncertainty and turn-around time. The proposed system would operate over the extended frequency range of 5 Hz to 20 kHz, covering the majority of current vibration measurement service requests. Current NIST measurement services require multiple systems using multiple methods to cover this frequency range. This project will overcome the technical challenges of simultaneously decreasing the measurement uncertainties and costs of current accelerometer calibrations by using a single standard source of dynamic acceleration (vibration generator) that is part of a new calibration system with improved operational efficiency.  After finalizing the design and fabrication of a suitable vibration generator, a system for the calibration of accelerometers will be constructed by incorporating an interferometer and developing automation software to enable automated and more efficient calibration procedures.