Issue #98, November 2015
Welcome to the November edition of Dynamic Sensors & Calibration Tips. Our team celebrated Thanksgiving this past week and would like to express our sincere thanks to you for being part of the Sound and Vibration Community. It is a privilege to share this newsletter and the resulting conversations with you each month. Thank you.

6 Essential Shock Calibration Techniques
By Mike Dillon, Calibration Product Manager

What are the most common shock accelerometer calibration techniques? Mike Dillon will discuss the advantages, disadvantages, and characteristics of the 6 techniques standardized by ISO 16063 Part 22 in this short video.

For more detailed information about the 6 techniques, please look below at our full-length article titled, "ISO 16063-22 - Shock Calibration via Reference."


Click to watch the video
Acceleration Sensing Technologies for Severe Mechanical Shock
By PCB Piezotronics

"Severe mechanical shock" is a term without a unique definition. This article from Sound and Vibration Magazine provides examples of types of mechanical shock, coupled with lessons learned over the years, and pitfalls discovered, with acceleration sensing technologies used in past severe shock measurements. Due to the uniqueness and severity of some of the shock environments being considered, often the ultimate success or failure of these approaches can only be evaluated in the actual test application. Nevertheless, a descriptor of laboratory evaluation techniques employed during sensor development is provided...

Click to read the full article

Tip of the Month:

In shock calibration, a small amount of material with suitable damping (like felt or rubber) placed at the impact surface helps to mechanically filter out high frequencies to avoid ringing the shock sensor's sensing element resonances.  This provides for a smoother output pulse and consistency in the calibration.  Clean excitation is always an advantage when comparing the sensor under test and the ICP reference standard.


Shock sensor calibration
Blast from the Past:
ISO 16063-22 - Shock Calibration via Reference

Part 22 of the vibration and shock calibration standard covers "Shock calibration by comparison to a reference transducer." Compared to the general accelerometer calibration techniques discussed last month, shock calibration is a specialty method.  As such, there are a number of accepted apparatus and methods depending on the desired shock acceleration magnitude and pulse width.


 Click to read the full article
Thanks for joining us for another issue of Dynamic Sensors & Calibration Tips. As always, please speak up and let us know what you like. We appreciate all feedback: positive, critical or otherwise. Take care!

TMS 25 Years
Sincerely,
Mike Lally signature
Michael J. Lally 
The Modal Shop, Inc.
A PCB Group Company
[email protected]
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