ICP® seismic accelerometers from PCB Piezotronics offer high
sensitivity for ground vibration applications
PCB Piezotronics,
a world leader in vibration, acoustic, pressure, force and torque
sensors, offers a range of ICP® high sensitivity seismic
accelerometers for use in ground vibration measurements. The
accelerometers are specifically designed to enable detection
of ultra-low level, low frequency vibrations associated with
large civil engineering structures, foundations and earth tremors.
Such is their sensitivity that the accelerometers can literally
detect a dropped pin.
As a result of their specific design, these sensors typically
exhibit exceptional measurement resolution with a high output
signal and lower noise floor. All units are hermetically sealed
in a titanium or stainless steel housing with models including
a 2-pin military style connector providing the added benefit
of superior RF and EMI protection through electrical case isolation.
A typical example of PCB Piezotronics' range of seismic accelerometers
is model 393B31 which operates down to 0.07Hz with a sensitivity
of 10V/g. This performance makes it ideal for use in a wide variety
of civil engineering applications including bridge movement detection,
remote pipeline intrusion detection, military establishment intruder
detection and rail movement detection - monitoring the effects
of train movement on nearby buildings and structures.
Vibration monitoring of civil structures and ancient buildings
and monuments is an essential practice to ensure the safety of
occupants and protect the structures from catastrophic demise.
Studies have shown that crowds in a stadium grandstand or theatre
balcony can impart tremendous forces and harmonic motion to a
structure when acting in a synchronous manner. Earth tremors,
foot traffic, trucks and trains impart vibrations that can cause
structures to sway, shift, crumble or collapse so permanent monitoring
with high sensitivity accelerometers enables trending, analysis
and alerts when such structural motion exceeds established safety
limits. This provides information for corrective or evasive action.
Decaying infrastructures such as bridges have received increased
publicity in recent years and vibration monitoring is among a
number of techniques for determining their health and longevity.
Vibration measurements using PCB Piezotronics seismic accelerometers
can provide data for continuous monitoring, modal analysis and
structural integrity investigations. High sensitivity accelerometers
generate signals in response to a wide variety of stimuli including
traffic, wind and programmatic impulse. When analysed, these
signals provide civil and structural engineers with insight to
determine the safety of a structure and investigative analysis
can lead to recommendations for remedial construction or further
monitoring.
July 2016
