ISO 16063-17:2016

Overview

ISO 16063-17:2016 - "Methods for the calibration of vibration and shock transducers - Part 17: Primary calibration by centrifuge" specifies instrumentation, environmental conditions and procedures for the primary calibration of accelerometers using centrifuge (rotational) methods. It applies to rectilinear accelerometers with zero‑frequency response (mainly strain‑gauge and piezoresistive types) including primary standard and working transducers. The standard covers a calibration range from 10 m/s² to 20 000 m/s² (higher accelerations possible) with applicable limits of uncertainty of ±1 % of reading.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Calibration principle: generation of known centripetal acceleration by rotating the accelerometer at controlled radii and rotational frequencies (acceleration ∝ radius × (rotational frequency)²).
• Two methods:
  • Method 1 - uses a measured rotation radius (radius uncertainty < ±0.15 %) and measured rotational frequency to calculate reference acceleration and sensitivity.
  • Method 2 - used when radius cannot be measured with required uncertainty; uses two radial positions and matched output frequencies; distance between positions measured with uncertainty ≤ ±0.5 %.
• Apparatus requirements:
  • Balanced rotational table/arm rotating about a vertical axis; levelling within ±0.5° for lower ranges and ±2° for higher accelerations.
  • Rotational frequency stability within ±0.05 %.
  • Transducer axis alignment within ±0.5°.
  • Heavy, vibration‑isolated base and low hum/noise when rotating.
• Instrumentation performance:
  • Rotational frequency measurement contribution (expanded, k=2) ≤ 0.05 %.
  • Voltage measurement contribution (expanded, k=2) ≤ 0.01 %.
• Preferred test points: six acceleration values chosen from 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 m/s² (and multiples of ten); nominal reference acceleration 100 m/s² (second choice 50 m/s²).
• Uncertainty reporting: combined and expanded uncertainties calculated per Annex A (coverage factor k = 2) and reported with calibration results.

Applications and users

ISO 16063-17 is used by:

• National metrology institutes and accredited calibration laboratories performing primary accelerometer calibration.
• Transducer manufacturers validating sensor sensitivity and linearity.
• Aerospace, automotive, defense and industrial test laboratories requiring traceable, high‑acceleration calibrations.
• Organizations implementing vibration test programs that need accurately calibrated sensors for shock and vibration characterization.

Keywords: ISO 16063-17, centrifuge calibration, accelerometer calibration, vibration transducers, primary calibration, strain gauge accelerometers, piezoresistive accelerometers, rotational frequency, measurement uncertainty.

Related standards

• ISO 16063 (series) - other primary calibration methods (laser interferometry, reciprocity, gravity, etc.), e.g. Part 1, Part 11, Part 12, Part 16 and Part 21.
• ISO 2041 - vibration and shock vocabulary.
• GUM / ISO/IEC Guide 98-3 - expression of measurement uncertainty.