China's vibration measurement has reached the international advanced level
October 04 23:05:05, 2025
On June 6, the "0.1Hz-50kHz vibration amplitude and phase measurement reference system" developed by the China Institute of Metrology successfully passed expert evaluation. The research achievement has reached international advanced levels in key technical indicators, with some aspects even leading globally. This new national vibration reference and phase characteristics system is part of a technical upgrade project by AQSIQ, covering high-frequency (2kHz–50kHz), intermediate-frequency (20Hz–2kHz), and low-frequency (10Hz–10kHz) horizontal and vertical references, establishing a comprehensive benchmark for vibration measurement.
Vibration measurement plays a crucial role in dynamic testing, with applications spanning mechanical fault diagnosis, modal analysis, seismic monitoring, and object detection. As the national economy and high-tech industries grow rapidly, there's an increasing need not only to measure the amplitude-frequency characteristics of sensors but also to assess their phase-frequency characteristics. To meet this demand, researchers from the Institute of Mechanics and Acoustics at the China Institute of Metrology spent three years conducting in-depth research and achieved several groundbreaking technological advancements.
In the low-frequency vertical sub-reference system, a low-frequency vibration standard was developed. For the first time in the Asia-Pacific region, the zero-difference sinusoidal approximation method for dynamic phase demodulation was applied, enabling precise measurement of acceleration sensitivity and phase shift at 1Hz. This innovation extended the measurable range down to 0.1Hz. The team also introduced novel methods such as the heterodyne time interval approach based on peak and valley, an improved heterodyne sinusoidal approximation method, and an enhanced homodyne interval technique, achieving significant theoretical breakthroughs and reaching international standards.
In the high-frequency piezoelectric vibration table (2kHz–50kHz), heterodyne technology was used for the first time worldwide, allowing accurate measurement of sensitivity amplitude and phase shift for nano-scale vibration sensors within a range of 1–500 nm.
For the intermediate-frequency electromagnetic vibration table, heterodyne technology was adopted for the first time in China, enabling calibration of sensitivity amplitude and phase characteristics. This extended the intermediate-frequency reference range from 20Hz–2kHz to 10Hz–10kHz.
Based on the outcomes of this research, the three benchmarks—high, medium, and low frequency—successfully conducted bilateral comparisons with the German Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (PTB) for sensitivity amplitude and phase characteristics between 10 Hz and 10 kHz. This marks the highest level of international mutual recognition for calibration capabilities (CMC) in China, providing a solid technical foundation for future developments in vibration measurement standards.