Overview
ISO 16063-45:2017 - Methods for the calibration of vibration and shock transducers - Part 45 describes laboratory and in‑situ calibration procedures for vibration transducers that have a built‑in calibration coil. The standard covers instrumentation, measurement procedures and evaluation of expanded uncertainty for calibrations typically in the frequency range 0.1 Hz to 100 Hz. It defines how to obtain and use electrical sensitivity, vibration sensitivity, and the coefficient of calibration coil to transfer laboratory calibration into field (in‑situ) use.
Key Topics
- Scope and purpose
- Calibrate vibration transducers with integrated calibration coils in laboratory and on site.
- Provide procedures to measure electrical sensitivity, vibration sensitivity and coil coefficient.
- Measurements and equations
- Electrical sensitivity S = E / Ue (output voltage per exciting coil voltage).
- Vibration sensitivity Sv = E / X (output voltage per mechanical input).
- Coefficient of calibration coil c = Selectrical / Sv and relation Sc = Sv · c (as given in the standard).
- Instrumentation
- Frequency generator and indicator, voltage measuring instrumentation and appropriate measuring systems for 0.1 Hz–100 Hz.
- Calibration workflow
- Laboratory: determine sensitivity by primary or comparison methods; measure electrical sensitivity and compute coil coefficient.
- In‑situ: measure electrical sensitivity with field instrumentation and compute vibration sensitivity using the laboratory coil coefficient.
- Preferred amplitudes and frequencies
- Use amplitude steps in 1–2–5 series and frequencies from the one‑third‑octave series (ISO 266).
- Uncertainty
- Annex A/B provide methods and examples for uncertainty budgets and expanded uncertainty (coverage factor k=2).
- Example attainable expanded uncertainties are given (e.g., laboratory sensitivity ~1–2%, in‑situ sensitivity ~5–10%, depending on conditions).
Applications
- Calibration and verification of seismometers, pendulum transducers, and electromagnetic vibration transducers used in:
- Seismic monitoring and geophysical networks.
- Structural health monitoring of bridges and buildings.
- Condition monitoring in industry (rotating machinery, civil infrastructure).
- Calibration laboratories and on‑site maintenance teams needing traceable in‑situ calibration.
- Beneficiaries include metrology labs, calibration service providers, instrument manufacturers, system integrators and field technicians.
Related Standards
- ISO 16063‑1 (Basic concepts for vibration and shock transducer calibration) - normative reference.
- ISO 266 (preferred frequency series - one‑third‑octave).
- ISO/TS 10811‑2 (environmental vibration classes referenced in uncertainty examples).
ISO 16063-45:2017 is a practical, traceability‑focused standard for converting laboratory coil calibrations into reliable in‑situ sensitivity measurements for transducers with built‑in calibration coils.