9/10/2013

Activity 1 (2 minutes):

Topic 1: The Process of Measurement: An

Overview
Outcomes:
At the end of this topic, you should be able to:

What is this?

1. Explain the difference between direct comparison

and indirect comparison measurement methods
2. Explain the functions of the basic elements of a
measurement system

What is the input

variable?

What is it used for?

What is the output?

How does the input
change to output?

3. Identify the basic elements of a given

measurement system

Activity 2
No. Measurement Measurand
system
1.

Alcohol bulb
thermometer

2.

Tire pressure
gauge

3.

Mechanical
dial indicator

4.

Fuel gauge

5.

Odometer

Sensor

1.1 Introduction
Signal
conditioner

Display

1.2 The Significance of Mechanical Measurement

Measurement provides quantitative information
on the actual state of physical variables and
processes that otherwise could only be estimated
Measurement provides a comparison between
what was intended and what was actually
achieved.
Many daily operations require measurement for
proper performance.

Process of measurement consists of obtaining a

quantitative comparison between a predefined
standard and a measurand (measured variable):

1.3 Fundamental Methods of Measurement

Two basic methods of measurement:
1. Direct comparison with either a primary or a
secondary standard and
2. Indirect comparison through the use of a
calibrated system.

secondary standard

calibrated system

To be useful, measurement must be reliable.

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1.4 The Generalized Measuring System

Most measuring systems fall within the framework
of a general arrangement consisting of three phases
or stages:
Calibrated systems

Stage 1. Detection-transduction (sensor-transducer)

Stage 2. Signal-conditioning
Stage 3. Terminating (readout-recording) stage

Secondary standard

1.4.1 First, or Sensor-Transducer, Stage

Primary function of first stage detect or sense
the measurand
Should be insensitive to all other possible input
Unwanted sensitivity is measuring error:
Display
system

- Noise (varies rapidly)

- Drift (varies slowly)

Signal
conditioner
Sensor

1.4.2 Second, or Signal-conditioning, Stage

1.4.3 Third, or Readout-Recording, Stage

Purpose of second stage modify transduced

information so that it is acceptable to the third
stage

Provides information sought in a form

comprehensible to human senses or a controller

May perform one or more basic operations, e.g.

- filtering to remove nose

Usually presented in one of the following forms:

- relative displacement
- digital form

- amplification
- differentiation etc.

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To illustrate a very simple measuring

system consider the familiar tire gage
used for checking automobile tire
pressure:

An example of a more complex system:

Signal-conditioning

1.5 Types of Input Quantities

1.5.1 Time Dependence
Mechanical quantities, in addition to their
inherent defining characteristics, also have
distinctive time-amplitude properties, which may
be classified as follows:
1. Static - constant in time
2. Dynamic - varying in time
(a) Steady-state periodic
(b) Nonrepetitive or transient
i. Single pulse or aperiodic
ii. Continuing or random

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1.5.2 Analog and Digital Signals

An analog signal has a value at every instant in
time, and it usually varies smoothly in magnitude
A digital signal is a set of discrete numbers, each
corresponding to the value of the analog signal at
a single specific instant of time

1. Staticconstant in time
2. Dynamicvarying in time
(a) Steady-state periodic
(b) Nonrepetitive or transient
i. Single pulse or aperiodic
ii. Continuing or random

1.7 Calibration

1.6 Measurement Standards

Regardless of measurement method, we must
employ a basis of comparison standardized
units
Standards must be precisely defined and method
of conversion from system to system must be
mutually agreed upon

Output

Output = k Input

Calibration procedure establishes the correct

output scale for the measuring system
Single-point calibration - single simultaneous
observation of input and output
Multipoint calibration - a number of different
input values are applied

1.8 Uncertainty: Accuracy of Results

Error is defined as the difference between the
measured result and the true value of the
quantity being measured

Single-point calibration

Input

Uncertainty - likely upper bound on the

magnitude of the error

Output

Errors can be of two basic types: bias (or

systematic) error and precision (or random) error

Multi-point calibration

Input