Vibration is generally the movement or mechanical oscillation of a machine or structure about a fixed position. The vibration of an object, machine, or structure can be measured using various transducers, and it is essential to distinguish which sensor is the best fit for an application.

Sensors with built-in electronics, such as IEPE and MEMS, have a limited environmental temperature range in which they are viable. In contrast, PE sensors can be used under very high environmental or surface temperatures and have a broad measurement range but require special cables and a charge amplifier for signal conditioning.

Additional factors must be considered to achieve the best acceleration measurement results—elements like sensor mounting, cable fixation, avoiding group loop scenarios, sampling rate selection, and the data acquisition used.

Where is Vibration Measurement used?

Vibration measurement is used in applications such as monitoring the health of rotating machinery, testing and calibrating instruments, detecting faults in components and structures, and measuring sound levels in the environment. Vibration measurement can also be used for measuring the acceleration, velocity, and displacement of a system or object, as well as for analyzing the frequency content of a vibration signal. Additionally, vibration measurement can be used to determine the material properties of a sample, such as its stiffness, damping, and modulus of elasticity, as well as its natural frequency or resonance frequency.