Understanding accelerometer design

Discover the core principles behind piezoelectric accelerometers and how design impacts sensitivity, size, and performance in dynamic measurement applications.

How piezoelectric accelerometers work: principles and designs

All piezoelectric accelerometers operate on the same basic principle: a seismic mass applies force to a piezoelectric material, typically a crystal or ceramic. The resulting stress generates an electrical charge proportional to the applied force. This force is influenced by the size of the mass and the level of acceleration. Additionally, the output charge depends on the amount of piezoelectric material used, meaning that accelerometers with higher sensitivity are often larger and heavier.

Three primary accelerometer designs

Drawing showing the three primary designs of accelerometer

The construction of a Konic™ Shear accelerometer