Comparison Between Performance of Wireless MEMS Sensors and an ICP Sensor With Earthquake-Input Ground Motions
Wireless sensors are more favorable in measuring structural response compared to conventional sensors in terms of them being easier to use with no issues with cables and them being considerably cheaper. Previous tests have been conducted to analyze the performance of MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) sensor in sinusoidal excitation tests. This paper analyzes the performance of in-built MEMS sensors in devices by comparing with an ICP sensor as the reference. Earthquake input amplitude excitation in shaking table tests was done. Results show that MEMS sensors are more accurate in measuring higher input amplitude measurements which range from 100gal to 250gal than at lower input amplitudes which range from 10gal to 50gal. This confirms the results obtained in previous sinusoidal tests. It was also seen that natural frequency results have lower error values which range from 0% to 3.92% in comparison to the response spectra results. This also confirms that in-built MEMS sensors in mobile devices are good at estimating natural frequency of structures. In addition, it was also seen that earthquake input amplitudes with more frequency contents (Gyeongju) had considerably higher error values than Pohang excitation tests which has less frequency contents.