ISO 16063-15:2006

Overview

ISO 16063-15:2006 defines primary methods for the calibration of angular vibration transducers (angular accelerometers, angular velocity transducers and rotational angle transducers) using laser interferometry. The standard specifies instrumentation, procedures and uncertainty limits to determine the magnitude and phase of the complex sensitivity of angular transducers under steady-state sinusoidal angular vibration. It is tailored for primary calibrations and for measuring instruments such as rotational laser vibrometers.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and ranges
  • Frequency range: 1 Hz to 1.6 kHz (lower frequencies, e.g. 0.4 Hz, achievable using specific methods plus low-frequency exciters).
  • Dynamic (angular acceleration) range: 0.1 rad/s² to 1000 rad/s² (frequency-dependent).
• Six primary methods
  • Methods 1A / 1B (fringe-counting): magnitude calibration, typically 1 Hz–800 Hz.
  • Methods 2A / 2B (minimum-point detection): magnitude calibration, typically 800 Hz–1.6 kHz; use fixed rotational angle amplitudes.
  • Methods 3A / 3B (sine-approximation): magnitude and phase calibration, 1 Hz–1.6 kHz; support low-frequency operation.
  • Interferometer Type A: Michelson/Mach–Zehnder with retro-reflector at radius R (limited to ~3° rotational angle amplitude).
  • Interferometer Type B: uses a circular diffraction grating on the table circumference (not limited in angle if grating covers 360°).
• Uncertainty and performance
  • Magnitude of sensitivity: ±0.5% at reference conditions, ±1% outside reference.
  • Phase shift: ±0.5° at reference, ±1° outside reference (expanded uncertainty, k = 2).
  • Instrument and exciter specs: frequency generator stability/uncertainty ~0.05%, exciter distortion limit 2% (typical), tight control of transverse/rocking motion and lateral run-out for interferometer accuracy.
• Instrumentation
  • Laser source, interferometer signal processing, precision angular vibration exciter (electrodynamic or brushless motor based), seismic blocks and measurement electronics.

Applications and who uses it

• Primary calibration laboratories and national metrology institutes performing primary angular vibration calibration.
• Manufacturers and test labs for angular sensors, inertial measurement units (IMUs), gyroscopes, and rotational laser vibrometers.
• Aerospace, automotive, navigation and research organizations requiring traceable magnitude and phase characterization of angular transducers.
• Useful when demanding low uncertainty and phase-accurate calibration is required for system-level inertial sensor validation.

Related standards

• ISO 16063-1 (basic concepts)
• ISO 16063-11, -12, -13 (other primary calibration methods)
• ISO 2041 (vibration and shock vocabulary)
• ISO 16063 series (additional parts address comparison methods, shock, seismometer and laser vibrometer calibration)

Keywords: ISO 16063-15:2006, angular vibration calibration, laser interferometry, angular accelerometer, angular velocity transducer, rotational angle transducer, primary calibration, interferometer, fringe-counting, sine-approximation.