Measurement Techniques and Instrumentation

Code:

F4032

Acronym:

F4032

Level:

400

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Physics

Instance: 2013/2014 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Web Page:	https://moodle.up.pt/course/view.php?id=219
Responsible unit:	Department of Physics and Astronomy
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Astronomy and Astrophysics

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
M:AST	4	Plano de Estudos oficial desde_2013/14	1	-	6	49	162
			2
M:FM	8	Study plan since 2013/2014	1	-	6	49	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

 

•  learn the general concepts and structures of the measurement process, as well as fundamental techniques and instrumentation;

• knowledge on the operating principles and characteristics of major types of sensing elements (transducers) and on signal conditioning elements;

• Study on the origin and characteristics of the noise sources affecting measurement systems and instrumentation, and techniques that are used to minimize their effects;

• Assessment of the factors that determine the integration of the various blocks that constitute a measurement system;

 

Learning outcomes and competences

 

• Knowledge of factors conditioning the process of measurement. - Ability to design and implement measurement systems and instrumentation.

 

• Skills to work in a science experiment or an industrial environment.

 

• knowledge in the area of structural instrumentation targeting measurement processes, enabling the acquisition of skills for professional activity in the area, or proceeding to more advanced studies.

 

Working method

Presencial

Program

1) Structure of a Generic System of Measurement 

 

2) Common Sensors/Transducers 

- Active and Passive Transducers

- Resistive, capacitive and inductive transducers, for the measuremento of displacement, temperature, strain, chemical elements, acceleration, pression;

- electromagnetic and thermoelectric transducers: tacograph, thermocouple and its "laws"

- piezoelectric and piezoresistive sensors, and Hall effect.

 

3) Static Characteristics of Measurement Systems 

- Systematic and statistical characteristics  

- Calibration 

- Accuracy of a measurement systems in steady state 

- Environmental effects: interfering and modifying inputs

- Error measurement and generic techniques for its reduction 

 

4) Dynamic characteristics of measurement systems

- output of 1st and 2nd order systems to a step input;

- output of 1st and 2nd order systems to an oscillating input: gain and phase;

- generalization of stationary response to arbitrary inputs

- dynamic error: system dimensioning, error in open circuit ()"lag" and "lead" compensators) and in closed circuit  ()negative feedback).

 

5) Signal Condicioning/transduction

- bridge circuits (resistive/inductive)

- dimensioning: max sensitivity, linearity, output range, heat dissipation

 

6) Effects of Load Measurement Systems 

- equivalent thevenin and norton circuits 

- networks with blocks of two inputs: propagation of interferences (series and common mode); signal transmission by current and voltage.

 

7) Noise Measurement Systems 

- Types of Noise and its classification

- noise coupling

- noise sources: electrical, environmental

- techniques for noise reduction in measurement systems: physical separation; electrostatic insulation; differential amplification; filters; signal modulation; statistical operations (boxcar averager); autocorrelation; Wiener filters; synchronous detection (Lock-In); PLL-phase locked loops.

 

8) Signal Processing

- analogue and digital signal processing 

- sampling and voltage analogue to digital conversion (ramp, successive aproximation, flash, dual slope) and digital-analog (sum , R-2R);

 

9) Some advanced transducing/sensing elements

- working principle; optical sources and detection; 

- sensing geometries: intensity driven and interferometry configurations

- new magnetic transducers: spin valves, magneto-resistive elements;

Mandatory literature

000009491. ISBN: 0-582-30543-8

Complementary Bibliography

000011067. ISBN: 1-56396-538-0
000010018. ISBN: 0-12-206131-4
000003775. ISBN: 0-7131-3306-6
000010094. ISBN: 0-07-032692-4
Isabel Lourtie; Sinais e Sistemas, Escolar Editora, 2007

Teaching methods and learning activities

lectures, and supervised problem solving tasks / discussion

Software

Scilab
Matlab

keywords

Physical sciences > Physics > Applied physics > Experimental physics
Physical sciences > Physics > Electronics > Applied electronics
Physical sciences > Physics > Metrology

Evaluation Type

Evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Exame	100,00
Total:	100,00

Calculation formula of final grade

written exam mark