Phase effect in time-stamped accelerometer measurements – an experimental approach

Laboratory of Geodesy and Geodetic Applications, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Patras, Greece

^⋆ Correspondence: stiros@upatras.gr

Received: 20 October 2012
Accepted: 28 October 2012

Abstract

The phase error in a high quality accelerometer was investigated on the basis of systematic experiments on a prototype platform permitting controlled vertical harmonic oscillations. The recordings of an accelerometer and of an ultra-high frequency GPS fixed on this platform were compared with those of a LVDT transducer, controlling the platform movement. All sensors were supported by independent GPS timing. The output of this study is that the recordings of accelerometers are characterized by a random phase error, which, however, decreases with the increase of the oscillation frequency, as dictated from the laws of mechanics. Such errors are important given the increasing use of combinations of accelerometers with various sensors for a wide range of applications. A simple method for the correction of such errors is proposed.