Tri-axial accelerometer calibration by means of a three-axis acceleration field for low-frequency vibrations,

In this paper a calibration procedure is described concerning the experimental evaluation of both main and transverse sensitivities of tri-axial accelerometers. A rotary test bench allows us to create a three-axis field of acceleration, so that the matrix of main and transverse sensitivities can be evaluated by a direct method. Uncertainty of the methodology is also estimated. The procedure allows to correct on line transverse sensitivity effects; it has been set up and validated on the same test bench. Finally, the validity of the procedure has been tested for multi-axis accelerometers of classical and innovative type. The proposed method appears to be useful for calibration of tri-axial accelerometers, in particular for low-cost ones, operating in the range of frequency of 0 -5 Hz.