Our Objectives

At present traceability exists for static realisations of the mechanical quantities force, torque and pressure. The traceability is established through validated primary calibration devices together with a standardized uncertainty evaluation provided by the Guide to the expression of uncertainty in measurement (GUM). The problems that this project is designed to address arise in dynamic measurements, i.e., those cases in which the frequency-dependent response of a sensor cannot be described by a single parameter (sensitivity) from static calibration. In these cases there will be a need to correct the measurement data for these limitations. This requires that a dynamic model for the system be established through a dynamic calibration.

The aim of this project is to establish traceability for three dynamic mechanical quantities: force, torque and pressure. The required research carried out in this JRP will provide the foundation for a European infrastructure for traceable dynamic measurements of these mechanical quantities. Traceable dynamic measurement of these core mechanical quantities is currently not possible and corresponding research has therefore been addressed as an important topic in the EMRP Outline 2008. Lack of traceability currently prevents industry from making reliable measurements in a range of applications with consequences for safety, quality and efficiency of designed systems. Reliable traceable dynamic measurements would also greatly reduce development efforts and costs, thereby significantly reducing required resources. The support received from the stakeholders (as evidenced by the letters of support included with this submission) also clearly demonstrates the benefits they and other European industrial stakeholders would obtain from successful completion of this JRP.