High Performance Data Acquisition Systems

The Accelerometer Cable - It Can't Get No Respect

Scott Walton

Dr. Patrick Walter, Texas Christian University
 

Abstract:  The accelerometer cable can often be viewed as the Rodney Dangerfield of shock and vibration measurements - it can’t get no respect.  Yet, the measurement of valid shock and vibration data is dependent on the cable transmitting the accelerometer output to its subsequent signal conditioning components with fidelity.  The term fidelity, as used here, implies no unacceptable degradation of the output of the accelerometer in terms of frequency content, signal/noise ratio, or amplitude linearity.  This paper highlights both mechanical and electrical cable characteristics of importance in maintaining signal fidelity.

 

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