IEEE 836-2001

This recommended practice describes the conduct and analysis of precision tests that are to be performed on linear accelerometers using centrifuge techniques. The term "precision," in this context, refers to tests that are conducted to evaluate accelerometer parameters, as opposed to those conducted to establish environmental survivability only. Evaluation may take the form of determining the coefficients of the accelerometer’s model equation, except for bias and scale factor, which are most accurately determined by static multiposition tests. Alternatively, evaluation may only establish that the accelerometer output complies with specific error limit criteria.

The principal error sources encountered during precision centrifuge testing of linear accelerometers are described, along with those test practices and data reduction techniques that have been found most efficient in minimizing or compensating for them.

Revision Standard - Superseded. This recommended practice provides a guide to the conduct and analysis of precision centrifuge tests of linear accelerometers, covering each phase of the tests, beginning with the planning. Possible error sources and typical methods of data analysis are addressed. The intent is to provide those involved in centrifuge testing with a detailed understanding of the various factors affecting the accuracy of measurement, both those associated with the centrifuge and those in the data collection process. Model equations are discussed, both for the centrifuge and for a typical linear accelerometer, each with the complexity needed to accommodate the various identified characteristics and error sources in each. An iterative matrix equation solution is presented for deriving the various model equation coefficients for the accelerometer under test from the centrifuge test data.