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A new method for absolute calibration of high-sensitivity accelerometers and other graviinertial devices

D.I. Mendeleyev Institute for Metrology (VNIIM), St. Petersburg, Russia

Abstract

To investigate the dynamic characteristics of high-sensitivity graviinertial devices (accelerometers, seismometers, and others) it seems advantageous to use for the input signal the gravitational acceleration produced by bodies with a known mass distribution. This eliminates the need for moving the transducer under investigation. Such motion is needed in the inertial acceleration reproduction as well as for inclining a measuring instrument in the Earth's gravity field. Error in measuring the parameters of the transducer motion is determined by the uncertainties of the length- and angle-measuring instruments being used. Particularly, it concerns the angle measurement errors when the gravity field effects have been taken into account.

The existing methods for reproducing gravitational acceleration are based on the use of nonuniform fields of simple shape bodies (sphere, cylinder, and the like). These methods require calculation of the corresponding acceleration, taking into account the spatial mass distribution of the instrument sensing element. The commonly employed approximation results in a procedural error of the order of 10% and over.

It is proposed to calibrate a measuring instrument using a uniform, flat gravity field of varying direction. The set-up designed to realize this method reproduces varying accelerations over the frequency range 0.01 to 0.3 Hz with amplitude less than 1.3 x 10^–7 m/sec². This enables calibration of seismometers of various types with a higher accuracy.