Discussion on Papers 7 and 8

MR MILES (Paper 7): The range of measurements required in the field of ground-borne vibration is immense. For example, the use of transducers on building foundations and walls is common when the buildings are in close proximity to piling operations, or perhaps the civil engineer wishes to know the impedance of a floor he has just built, or an architect may try to relate damage in the fabric of a monument with the passage of heavy road vehicles alongside it.

Choosing the right transducer is often difficult and confusing, especially for those not electronically minded. Should I measure vibration in terms of acceleration or velocity, or should I integrate from velocity to get displacement? What cables and signal amplifiers should I use? What effect will the environment have on • my electronic measuring system?