This part of ISO 16063 specifies details of the instrumentation and methods to be used for transverse
vibration sensitivity testing. It applies to rectilinear velocity and acceleration transducers.
The methods and procedures specified in this part of ISO 16063 allow the determination of the
sensitivity of a transducer to vibration in the plane perpendicular to its geometric axis of sensitivity
(see Annex A). Because the magnitude of this transverse sensitivity can vary with the direction of the
applied vibration, the various methods determine the maximum value. Using that value, the ratio of the
transverse sensitivity to the sensitivity on the geometric axis of the transducer can be calculated. In
addition, the angle at which the maximum transverse sensitivity occurs can be determined.
The methods and techniques specified can be applied without re-mounting the transducer away from
its mounting surface during the test, thus avoiding significant uncertainties often encountered in
methods which require repeated mounting. The different methods specified use a single-axis vibration
exciter, a two-axis vibration exciter or a tri-axial vibration exciter. Tri-axial vibration excitation allows
the transverse sensitivity and the sensitivity on the geometric axis to be determined simultaneously,
thus simulating application conditions where the transducer is exposed to multi-axial vibration.
NOTE In accelerometer designs using a bending beam, the transverse sensitivity measured without any
vibration acting on the geometric axis of sensitivity of the accelerometer may considerably differ from the
transverse sensitivity measured in the presence of a vibration acting on the geometric axis of sensitivity (i.e.
when the bending beam is deflected by a vibration to be measured).
This part of ISO 16063 is applicable to a frequency range from 1 Hz to 5 kHz and for a dynamic range
from 1 m/s2 to 1 000 m/s2 (frequency dependent) and from 1 mm/s to 1 m/s (frequency dependent).
Although among all the systems specified it is possible to achieve these ranges, generally each has
limitations permitting its use in much smaller ranges.
The methods specified are by comparison both to a reference transducer and to a laser interferometer.
The methods specified allow an expanded uncertainty of the transverse sensitivity (coverage factor
k = 2) of 0,1 % or less to be achieved, if the expanded uncertainty is expressed as a percentage of the
sensitivity of the test transducer in its sensitive axis.