Innovative piezoelectric acceleration rate sensors

A series of piezoelectric sensors which can measure the acceleration rate of a test structure were developed. These sensors were designed to utilize the fact that the measured signal from piezoelectric sensing elements are strongly influenced by the interfacing circuitry used. A simple analysis is also presented to show that the acceleration rate signal reveals the arrival of a realistic shock earlier than that of the acceleration signal. An experimental setup designed to verify the early detection behavior of acceleration rate sensors versus that of the accelerometers is also described. Factors that have a strong influence on the performance of acceleration rate sensors especially the base strain effect were studied by using finite element analysis as the basis for the main design and principle needed to fabricate an acceleration rate sensor. © 1995 by National Taiwan University.