Recent Study in Primary Accelerometer Calibration - Progress, Development and Lessons Learned

Abstract

Primary calibration of accelerometers by laser interferometry has been performed for more than 50 years. It was made possible by the advent of the commercial He-Ne lasers in the 1960ties. During the last 20 years the progress in digital signal treatment has made it available for most interested laboratories.However, these huge progresses have merely reduced but not removed some basic problems.• The quality and basic parameters of the exciter systems • The influence from the mechanical setup on the accelerometer and thereby on the measurement results. This paper describes several topics and considerations found relevant for primary calibration of accelerometers, following recent international intercomparisons and progress in the calibration grade vibration exciter system design.