Acoustic emission calibration instrumentation

An automatic calibration instrument was developed to improve the calibration accuracy of acoustic emission (AE) instrumentation. The instrument facilitates calibration by automatically displaying the maximum value of the stress used to produce AE calibration pulses and the AE pulse. A repeatable AE signal was generated by breaking a graphite rod on the test assembly. By measuring the breaking load of the rod and the maximum root-mean-square values of the resulting AE signals, a relative calibration of the AE measurement system was achieved. Low-noise amplifiers and filters were developed to improve the sensitivity of AE measurements by more than one order of magnitude over commercially available instruments; thus, the smaller signals obtained in parts testing can be detected     

Suppression of phase-noise interference due to closely spaced data and calibration signals

At high frequencies, phase noise, which occurs at frequencies surrounding a data frequency, may seriously interfere with the measurement of nearby signals. Our motivation for removing phase noise was based on our use of simultaneous data and calibration signals, which were closely spaced in frequency. We found that by measuring the source phase noise, we are able to effectively remove phase-noise interference from the measured data and calibration signals. In order to accomplish this phase-noise suppression, a normalization procedure has been developed so that signals on differing measurement channels can be compared. Using this phase-noise suppression procedure and a prototype measurement system, we were able to improve magnitude measurements by 36 dB. We were able to improve phase measurements by a factor of 70. We propose that this procedure can significantly improve measurement accuracy in many situations where two closely spaced signals, which have a common source, must be measured with high accuracy. This procedure can also be used to monitor, and thereby remove, other types of interference besides just phase noise.     

Rayleigh-Mie Doppler wind lidar for atmospheric measurements. II. Mie scattering effect, theory, and calibration

A theoretical and experimental study is conducted for the direct-detection Doppler Lidar developed by the Service d'Aéronomie du Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique. Thanks to a specific design, the double-edge technique that applies primarily to Rayleigh scattering can also be employed in presence of aerosols backscatter. We focus on a careful estimate of the particle-induced error on the wind measurements. With a theoretical model for the Fabry-Perot interferometer and two sets of calibration measurements, the true spectral properties of the interferometer and the calibration curves are recovered. Furthermore, the particle-induced error is estimated for varying values of the scattering ratio at 532 nm. When applied to real atmospheric signals, this error is shown to be negligible. A comparison between ancillary data and the wind and backscatter ratio as retrieved from the Doppler lidar signals confirms our estimate.     

不依赖于长度基准的光栅细分精度的评定方法

分析了光栅细分精度与利萨如图形的关系，给出了通过利萨如图形评定光栅细分精度的方法。该方法将对测量条件要求极高的细分误差评定工作转化为普通的电压测量和计算，使光栅细分精度的评定不再依赖于高精度的长度基准。该方法适用于各种误差模型的光栅信号，也适用于其它任何以相位差为９０度的两种信号进行细分计量仪器。     

Quantitative analysis of powder mixtures by Raman spectrometry: the influence of particle size and its correction

Particle size distribution and compactness have significant confounding effects on Raman signals of powder mixtures, which cannot be effectively modeled or corrected by traditional multivariate linear calibration methods such as partial least-squares (PLS), and therefore greatly deteriorate the predictive abilities of Raman calibration models for powder mixtures. The ability to obtain directly quantitative information from Raman signals of powder mixtures with varying particle size distribution and compactness is, therefore, of considerable interest. In this study, an advanced quantitative Raman calibration model was developed to explicitly account for the confounding effects of particle size distribution and compactness on Raman signals of powder mixtures. Under the theoretical guidance of the proposed Raman calibration model, an advanced dual calibration strategy was adopted to separate the Raman contributions caused by the changes in mass fractions of the constituents in powder mixtures from those induced by the variations in the physical properties of samples, and hence achieve accurate quantitative determination for powder mixture samples. The proposed Raman calibration model was applied to the quantitative analysis of backscatter Raman measurements of a proof-of-concept model system of powder mixtures consisting of barium nitrate and potassium chromate. The average relative prediction error of prediction obtained by the proposed Raman calibration model was less than one-third of the corresponding value of the best performing PLS model for mass fractions of barium nitrate in powder mixtures with variations in particle size distribution, as well as compactness.     

Increasing confidence in measurements and control

This article presents a general approach to increasing the accuracy of measurements and pattern recognition. A criterion for informativeness of an ensemble of signals is derived for the general case of an arbitrary signal distribution. An algorithm for determining the values of parameters from measurement signals is based on the probabilistic distance of measured points from calibration points. Translated from Imeritel'naya Tekhnika, No. 4, pp. 14–17, April, 1996.     

Methodology for determining aerosol optical depth from Brewer 300-320-nm ozone measurements

With a Brewer spectrophotometer, an estimation of total ozone is made from relative measurements of direct-sun ultraviolet radiation at six wavelengths from 300 to 320 nm. During normal operations, one of six neutral-density filters is selected automatically to maintain the detector in its linear response range. On the basis of these standard direct-sun observations, estimates of aerosol optical depth can be derived, provided that a calibration of the relative measurements is available for each neutral-density filter. To obtain the calibration, we implemented a routine to measure direct-sun signals with a fixed neutral-density filter and applied the Langley method to the measured photon counts. Results show that if a sufficiently large number of cloud-free mornings or afternoons is available, a reliable calibration can be achieved even at sea-level sites that are characterized by large aerosol variability. The derived aerosol optical depths appear consistent with those measured independently by a multifilter rotating shadow-band radiometer. Existing relatively long-term series of direct-sun ozone measurements by Brewer instruments may be used for retrieval of aerosol optical depth.     

Radiometric calibration of an airborne CO2 pulsed Doppler lidar with a natural earth surface

Radiometric calibration of an airborne CO2 pulsed Doppler lidar has been accomplished with surface retroreflection signals from the White Sands National Monument, New Mexico. Two circular passes were made at altitudes of 6.3 and 9.3 km. The computed calibration factors for both altitudes are in excellent agreement with the value derived from standard ground-based measurements involving a fixed sandpaper target of known reflectance. This finding corroborates a previous study that successfully calibrated an airborne cw Doppler lidar with a variety of natural Earth surfaces. The present results indicate that relatively uniform Earth surface targets can be used for in-flight calibration of CO2 pulsed airborne and, in principal, other infrared lidars.     

A Method to Calibrate the Measured Responses by MEMS Accelerometers

Abstract: Micro‐electro‐mechanical system (MEMS) accelerometers have been receiving attention because of their low cost and small size. Accurate vibration measurements of both amplitude and phase at all frequencies in the measurement frequency range are important for the reliable vibration analysis. However, it has been observed that such accelerometers show some deviation. Hence, a simple calibration method in frequency domain has been used for correcting both amplitude and phase for the measured signals by the MEMS accelerometers. The paper presents the calibration procedure and results of this study applied on two MEMS accelerometers with different technical specifications.     

比较法相位型振动校准系统的研究和实现

介绍比较法振动传感器幅相特性测量技术的基本原理和传统实现方法。详细描述了一种新型的基于虚拟仪器技术的比较法相位型振动校准系统,它将绝对法振动校准中正弦逼近的算法运用于比较法,通过对参考传感器和被校传感器两路信号的采集和处理,能够在宽频带范围内实现加速度传感器复合灵敏度的精确校准,在小相位差的测量上实现了与相位标准同等级的精确测量。运用虚拟仪器技术,还能够实现信号频谱分析及失真度的精确计算。     

Calibration methods in small-scale and field measurements of ladar characteristics of aircraft on unobstructed paths

We propose a method for small-scale experimental studies of the ladar characteristics of objects using a stationary land-based laser test bench, based on calibration of signals by employing adaptive specular/diffuse reference standards. We describe methods for field measurements of ladar characteristics of aircraft in flight by laser tracking systems for direct detection and heterodyne detection of the reflected signal, with the help of airborne reference standards and a moving object simulator.     

Acoustic Emission Sensor Calibration for Absolute Source Measurements

This paper describes sensor calibration and signal analysis techniques applicable to the method of acoustic emission (AE) and ultrasonic testing. They are particularly useful for obtaining absolute measurements of AE wave amplitude and shape, which can be used to constrain the physics and mechanics of the AE source. We illustrate how to perform calibration tests on a thick plate and how to implement two different mechanical calibration sources: ball impact and glass capillary fracture. In this way, the instrument response function can be estimated from theory, without the need for a reference transducer. We demonstrate the methodology by comparing calibration results for four different piezoelectric acoustic emission sensors: Physical Acoustics (PAC) PAC R15, PAC NANO30, DigitalWave B1025, and the Glaser-type conical sensor. From the results of these tests, sensor aperture effects are quantified and the accuracy of calibration source models is verified. Finally, this paper describes how the effects of the sensor can be modeled using an autoregressive-moving average (ARMA) model, and how this technique can be used to effectively remove sensor-induced distortion so that a displacement time history can be retrieved from recorded signals.     

New vector signal measuring system, featuring wide bandwidth, large dynamic range and high accuracy

A new measurement system, with two receiver channels per measurement port, has been developed that provides absolute magnitude and absolute phase relationship measurements over wide bandwidths. Gain ranging is used at radio frequency to provide optimum noise performance and a swept yttrium iron garnet (YIG) preselector filter is used to avoid spurious signals. A new absolute vector error correction method is used to calibrate the measurement system in order to allow for absolute vector measurements, and it also removes the time-varying responses caused by the swept YIG preselector filters. A quasi-reciprocal mixer with a characterised non-reciprocal ratio is used to provide the absolute calibration standard. The two receiver channels can be adapted to a wide variety of applications, including wide bandwidth vector signal analyser measurements, mixer measurements and harmonic measurements. The two channels can also be used as an absolute calibrated transmitter/reflectometer.     

A Simple Method for the Calibration of Traditional and Electronic Measurement Current and Voltage Transformers

The calibration of measurement transformers represents a classical task in the practice of electrical measurements. Most commercial instruments that are expressly designed for this purpose found their working principle on a scheme that is based on the idea of Kusters and Moore. Although they can assure very high accuracy, the need to employ a high-performance electromagnetic circuit makes them very expensive and usually not suitable for measurements at frequencies that are higher than 50 or 60 Hz. For this reason, these kinds of instruments cannot be employed for the calibration of the new generation of current and voltage transducers, such as electronic measurement transformers, whose employment is growing in all the applications where wide bandwidth is required. In this paper, a new method for the calibration of electromagnetic voltage and current measurement transformers (VTs and CTs) and electronic voltage and current measurement transformers (EVTs and ECTs) is discussed, and a deep metrological characterization is carried out. The novelty of the proposed method is represented by a completely different approach to the measurement of the ratio and phase errors of the measurement transformers. The method is based on the proper digital signal processing of the signals that are collected at the secondaries of the transformer under test and of a reference transformer when the same signal is applied to their primary. Since no auxiliary electromagnetic circuits are required, this solution can be easily implemented in a simple and cost-effective way. In spite of its simplicity, the tests that are developed on a prototype clearly point out that the proposed system is suitable for the calibration of measurement transformers with precision class up to 0.1 in the frequency range from 50 Hz to 1 kHz.     

任意波发生器应用及校准述评

介绍了任意波发生器,以及任意波发生器的应用原因(产生复杂信号;产生没有其它合适信号源的信号;产生仿真信号);介绍了几种典型的应用情况(扰乱理想波形;模拟传感器;替代信号源;模拟电路与数字电路的混合测试;复杂调制;多功能信号源),讨论了如何产生任意波形(标准波形库;图像编辑;数据传输;数据表修改;FFT编辑器;公式编辑器);对任意波发生器校准现状、校准内容、以及校准对策进行了综述、总结、分析和讨论.在充分评述了任意波发生器校准所需要的各种技术基础上,展望了其校准技术的发展趋势.     

Microfluidic dual emitter electrospray ionization source for accurate mass measurements

A glass microfluidic device with two independent electrospray ionization (ESI) emitters has been designed to sequentially generate ions from different solutions for mass analysis. Rapid modulation between the emitters is accomplished by turning on and off the voltage that simultaneously generates the fluid flow rate and ESI potential. The time required to switch between the two electrospray signals is less than 70 ms. Using the second emitter to introduce a reference compound for internal calibration, accurate mass measurements (less than 3 ppm mass error) were obtained with a time-of-flight mass spectrometer.     

Limitations arising from two-photon absorption of solvent in pulsed-laser thermal lens detection: determination of the two-photon absorption coefficient of ethanol at 266 nm

Two-photon absorption of the solvent under pulsed-laser excitation at 266 nm produces a high background thermal lens signal interfering with the analyte signal. Discrimination of both solvent and analyte signals along with calibration of the photothermal response has allowed the determination of the two-photon absorption coefficient of ethanol. The obtained value, 3.0x10(-10) cm W-1, is close to the literature values obtained from transmittance measurements using picosecond or femtosecond laser pulses.     

A calibration-independent laser-induced incandescence technique for soot measurement by detecting absolute light intensity

Laser-induced incandescence (LII) has proved to be a useful diagnostic tool for spatially and temporally resolved measurement of particulate (soot) volume fraction and primary particle size in a wide range of applications, such as steady flames, flickering flames, and Diesel engine exhausts. We present a novel LII technique for the determination of soot volume fraction by measuring the absolute incandescence intensity, avoiding the need for ex situ calibration that typically uses a source of particles with known soot volume fraction. The technique developed in this study further extends the capabilities of existing LII for making practical quantitative measurements of soot. The spectral sensitivity of the detection system is determined by calibrating with an extended source of known radiance, and this sensitivity is then used to interpret the measured LII signals. Although it requires knowledge of the soot temperature, either from a numerical model of soot particle heating or experimentally determined by detecting LII signals at two different wavelengths, this technique offers a calibration-independent procedure for measuring soot volume fraction. Application of this technique to soot concentration measurements is demonstrated in a laminar diffusion flame.     

Is an oscillator-based measurement adequate in a liquid environment?

Oscillator-based measurements with quartz crystal resonators are analyzed. The investigations have shown that classical thickness monitors as well as many chemical vapor sensors based on a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) work properly, even with simple oscillators. It was demonstrated that, for applications in a liquid environment, more sophisticated electronics are necessary. Also a comparison between the experimental results in liquids and the theoretical predictions is hardly possible without the knowledge of the oscillator behavior. As our solution, we present an automatic gain-controlled oscillator with two output signals, the oscillator frequency, and a signal that represents the damping of the quartz resonator. A calibration method is introduced, which allows one to calculate the series resonance frequency f/sub s/ and the series resistance R/sub s/ from these oscillator signals.     

An ultrasonic time-delay spectrometry system employing digital processing

Time-delay spectrometry (TDS) is a swept-frequency technique that has proven useful in several ultrasonic applications. Commercial TDS systems are available, but only in the audio frequency range. Several ultrasonic research TDS systems have been constructed, and they have been used effectively for substitution calibration of hydrophones and for measurement of attenuation and sound velocity in materials. Unfortunately these systems depend on features of commercial equipment no longer manufactured, so a new system has been designed using modern equipment and straightforward signal processing. This system requires a frequency source with a reasonably linear sweep of frequency versus time, audio frequency filters, a standard double-balanced mixer, a power splitter, a waveform digitizer capable of handling audio frequency signals, and a personal computer. An optional implementation that shifts the signal to a lower frequency for more convenient digitization and easier velocity measurements additionally requires an audio frequency oscillator and an audio-range analog multiplier. The processing steps are performed with standard signal processing software. To demonstrate the operation of the system, substitution calibration measurements of hydrophones as well as attenuation measurements on a tissue mimicking material were obtained and compared to a custom TDS system previously described by the authors. The data from these two TDS systems agree to within +/- 0.5 dB in the 1-10 MHz frequency range used. Higher frequency source transducers could be used to extend this range.