Seismic accelerometer

The design, model, implementation, and test of a seismic accelerometer is presented in this paper. The sensing element is a flexural-type piezoelectric ceramic, known as bimorph. The analytical model of this transducer was developed and validated experimentally. The natural frequency (f/sub 0/), the useful flat range, sensitivity, and cutoff frequencies at the lower and upper end of the device are discussed. Experimental results shown that the frequency response of the prototype is from 4 to 120 Hz at /spl plusmn/3 dB with a sensitivity of 27 dB for 1 mV/m/sec/sup 2/. The electromechanical parameters, responsible for controlling the device characteristics, are presented and analyzed in great detail in order to demonstrate a simple technique to measure ground motion.