A Precise Calibration Method for Torsional Resonant Column Apparatus

Resonant column apparatus is usually calibrated making use of external acceleration or velocity transducers, according to the related standards. A series experimental study was conducted on the resonant column apparatus of International Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Seismology, to assure a precise calibration of the device. In addition to a piezoelectric accelerometer which was used to check the accuracy of the acceleration transducer of the apparatus, a high-precision encoder was also utilized, to exactly measure the magnitude and also location of the vibration amplitude measurement. To finally check the reliability of the precise calibration, local strain gauges were attached to a dummy specimen and the vibration amplitude measured by the apparatus and also by the strain gauges were measured, which were satisfactorily similar. The proposed calibration method may be followed in similar cases, as stated through the paper