METROLOGY AND MEASUREMENTS

UNIT I

CONCEPT OF MEASUREMENTS

DEFINITION OF METROLOGY:

Metrology is defined as the field of knowledge concerned with the measurement and
includes both theoretical and practical problems with reference to measurement whatever
their level of accuracy in whaever fields of science and technology they occur.
(BS5233:1975)

Metrology is the science concerned with establishment, reproduction, conversion and

transfer of units of measurements and their standards.

TYPES OF METROLOGY:

Scientific Metrology: It deals with the organization and development of measurement

standards and with their maintenance.

Industrial Metrology: It has to ensure the adequate functioning of measuring

instruments used in Industry as well as in production and testing processes. The
metrological activities, testing, and measurements are generally valuable inputs to work
with quality in Industrial activities.

Legal Metrology: It ensures the accuracy of measurements where these have influence
on the transparency of economic transactions, health and safety. E.g. the weight of
prepackaged flour. It seeks to protect the public against the inaccuracy in Trade. Legal
Metrology is directed by a national organization known as National Service of Legal
Metrology.
The Functions of Legal Metrology are
to ensure the conversion of National standards and to guarantee their accuracies
by comparison with international standards.
To regulate, advise, supervise and control the manufature and calibration of
measuring instruments.
To inspect the use of these instruments with measurement procedures for public
interest.
To organize the training sessions on Legal Metrology and to represent the country
in international activities related with metrology.

NEED FOR MEASUREMENT:

1. Find the true dimensions of the part.

2. Ensure the public health and safety.
3. Evaluate the performance of the system.
 4. Ensure the interchangeability

FUNDAMENTAL MEASURING PROCESS

There are two important requirements of the Measurement

1. The standards used for comparison must be accurate and internationally accepted.
2. The apparatus or instrument and the process used for comparison must be
provable.

Measurand Result
Comparison Process

Standard

GENERALISED MEASURING SYSTEM (GMS):

A GMS consists of the following elements

1. Primary Sensing Element

2. Variable Conversion Element
3. Variable Manipulation Element
4. Data Transmission element
5. Data Processing Element
6. Data Presentation Element

Primary Sensing Element:

It receives the energy from the measurand medium and produces the output
corresponding to it.

Variable Conversion Element:

One form of energy is converted to another form.

E.g. The Pressure is converted to Displacement

Variable Manipulation Element:

Manipulate the signal given to it by preserving the original nature of the signal.

E.g. The Amplier which produces the greater magnitude of voltage as output when a
smaller magnitude of voltage is given as Input.
Data Transmission Element:

Data or Signal is transmitted from one place to another

Data Processing Element:

1. Convert the data into useful form

2. Separate the signal hidden in noise
3. Provide corrections to the measured physical variables to compensate for zero
error, temperature error scaling etc.

Data Presentation Element:

Elements that communicate the information about the measured variable.

( Explain with the example discussed in the class)

METHODS OF MEASUREMENT:

Direct Method: Parameter to be measured is directly compared with standard. It is not

so accurate method of measurement. E.g. Measuring the Length of a rod using steel tape.

Primary Measurement:
Physical Parameters are measured by comparing directly with reference standards.
It provides subjective information only.
E.g. Matching of two weights when determining the mass of the grocery items.

Secondary Measurement:
It involves only one translation to be done on the quantity under the measurement.

Tertiary Measurement:
It involves two translations.

Indirect Measurement: Value of the quantity o be measured is obtained by measuring

other quantities. E.g. Angle Measurement by using Sine bar.

Absolute Method: This ia also called as Fundamental Method. It is based on the

measurement of the base quantities used to define a particular quantity. E.g. Measuring a
quantity (length) directly in accordance with the definition of the quantity (definition of
the length in units).

Comparison Method: The value of the quantity to be measured is compared with the
known value of same quantity or another quantity related to it. In this method, only the
deviations from the master gaugs are noted. E.g. Dial indicators, Comparators.
Coincidence Method: It is also called as Differential Method of Measurement. In this
there is a small difference between the value of the value of the quantity to be measured
and the reference. The reference is determined by the observation of the coincidence of
certain lines and signals. E.g. Measurement by Vernier Caliper

Substitution Method: The quantity is measured by direct comparison on an indicating

device by replacing the measurable quantity with another which produces the same effect
on the indicating device. E.g. Measurement of mass by Borda Method.

Transposition Method: In this method, the value of the Qty to be measured is balanced
by an initial known value P of the same quantity. Then the value of the qty measured is
put in place of that known value and is balanced again by another known value Q. E.g.
Determination of the mass by means of balance and known weights, using the Gauss
double weighing method.

Deflection Method: The value of the Qty to be measured is directly indicated by the
deflection of a pointer on a calibrated scale. E.g. Dial Indicator

Complementary Method: The value of the Qty to be measuredis combined with the
known value of the same qty. E.g. Determination of the volume of a solid by liquid
displacement.

METROLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF MEASURING INSTRUMENTS:

Range of Measurement: It indicates he size values between which measurements can be

made on the given instrument.

Scale Range: It is the difference between the values of the measured quantities
corresponding to the terminal scale marks.

Instrument Range: It is the capacity or total range of values which an instrument is

capable of measuring.

Scale Spacing: It is the distance between the axes of two adjacent graduations on the
scale.
If the instrument have constant spacing throughout the scale it is called as Linear Scales.
If the instrument have variable spacing it is called as Non Linear Scales.

Scale Division Value: It is the measured value of the measured quantity corresponding to
one division of the instrument.

Parallax: It is the apparent change in the position of the Index relative to the scale marks
when scale is observed in any other direction other than perpendicular to its plane.

Reading Error: It is the difference between the reading of the instrument and the actual
value of the dimension being measured.
TERMINOLOGIES:

Accuracy: It is the closeness of agreement between a test result and the accepted
reference value (ISO 5725).

Accuracy = √ (repeatability)^2 + (Systematic Error)^2

Calibration: It is a set of operations that establish , under specified conditions, the

relationship between values of quantities indicated by a measuring instrument or values
represented by a material measure and the corresponding values realized by standards.

Correction: It is the value which is added algebraically to the uncorrected result of a

measurement.

Drift: It is the slow change of metrological characteristic of a measuring instrument.

Error: It is the difference between the measured value and the true value.

Inspection: It involves measurement, investigation or testing of one or more

characteristics of a product and comparing the results with specific requirements to
determine whether the requirements have been fulfilled.

Measurand: It is a particular quantity subject to measurement.

Precision: It is the closeness of agreement between the independent test results obtained
under stipulated conditions.

Readability: It refers to the ease with which the readings of a measuring instrument can
be read.

Repeatability: It is the closeness of agreement among a no of consecutive measurements

of the output for the same value of the input under the same operating conditions.

Reproducibility: It is the closeness of agreement among the repeated measurements of the

output for the same value of Input under the same operating conditions over the period of
time is called as Reproducibility.

Response Time: It is the time elapsed between the sudden change in the measured
quantity until the instrument gives an indication different from the true value by an
amount less than the given permissible value.

Sensitivity: It is the smallest change in the value of the measured variable to which the
instrument responds.

Stability: it is the ability of a measuring instrument to constantly maintain its

metrological characteristics with time.
Standardisation: It is the process of formulating and applying rules for orderly approach
to a specific activity for the benefit and with the cooperation of all concerned in
particular.