Vibration Measurements: Accelerometer Basics

Accelerometers are widely used to monitor vibration in aerospace, automotive and manufacturing applications. Mechanical engineers often use them to diagnose problems with rotating equipment or assess the stability of structures that are subject to periodic stresses (such as monitoring the vibrations caused by trains/trucks crossing bridges, etc.) They are also often used in monitoring for condition-based maintenance, allowing engineers to examine the vibrations produced by a piece of equipment to assess its health, and monitoring the stresses sensitive equipment undergoes during transportation.

This blog will discuss and compare several different accelerometer types that can be used for vibration measurement. And for a deeper dive, read our handbook on Vibration Measurements.