Because of their size, massive structures such as buildings and bridges vibrate at low frequencies. Significant levels of vibration can be generated by external events, such as nearby building work or heavy traffic, and analysing the extent of the vibration can give an indication of its source and severity. Vibration can not only affect the safety and structure of a building, but also cause distress to its occupants.
Suitable for use in this field are Monitran’s special purpose, low frequency accelerometers, whose piezoresistive sensor elements operate from 0 Hz to a few hundred Hz, depending on the chosen operating range. Their low frequency response allows them to be used in structural health monitoring.
Three output types are offered: bipolar amplified (with internal strain gauge amplifier), bipolar unamplified (requires external strain gauge amplifier) and three-wire 4-20mA.