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.
Wireless sensors are more favorable in measuring structural response compared to conventional sensors. This is because they are easier to use with no issues with cables and are considerably cheaper. There are several applications that can be used in recording and analyzing data from MEMS sensor installed on an iPhone. The Vibration App is one of the applications used and there has not been adequate research conducted in analyzing the performance of this App. This paper analyzed the performance of the Vibration App by comparing it with the performance of an ICP sensor. Results show that natural frequency results are more accurate (error less than 5%) in comparison to the amplitude results. This means that built- in MEMS sensor in smartphones are good at estimating natural frequency of structures. In addition, it was seen that the results became more accurate at higher frequencies (5.0Hz and 10.0Hz).