A MEMS gravimeter with multi-axis gravitational sensitivity

Richard P. Middlemiss, Paul Campsie, William Cunningham, Rebecca Douglas, Victoria McIvor, Vinod Belwanshi, James Hough, Sheila Rowan, Douglas J. Paul, Abhinav Prasad, Giles D. Hammond

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution book

1 Citation (Scopus)
44 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

A single-axis Microelectromechanical system gravimeter has recently been developed at the University of Glasgow. The sensitivity and stability of this device was demonstrated by measuring the Earth tides. The success of this device was enabled in part by its extremely low resonant frequency. This low frequency was achieved with a geometric anti-spring design, fabricated using well-established photolithography and dry etch techniques. Analytical models can be used to calculate the results of these non-linear oscillating systems, but the power of finite element analysis has not been fully utilised to explore the parameter space before now. In this article finite element models are used to investigate the behaviour of geometric anti-springs. These computer models provide the ability to investigate the effect of the fabrication material of the device: anisotropic <100> crystalline silicon. This is a parameter that is difficult to investigate analytically, but finite element modelling is used to take anisotropy into account. The finite element models are then used to demonstrate the design of a three-axis gravimeter enabling the gravity tensor to be measured - a significantly more powerful tool than the original single-axis device.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationINERTIAL 2022 - 2022 9th IEEE International Symposium on Inertial Sensors and Systems, Proceedings
Place of PublicationPiscataway, NJ
PublisherIEEE
Number of pages4
ISBN (Electronic)9781665402828
ISBN (Print)9781665402835
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 8 Jun 2022

Publication series

NameINERTIAL 2022 - 2022 9th IEEE International Symposium on Inertial Sensors and Systems, Proceedings

Keywords

  • MEMS
  • gravimeter
  • geophysics
  • intertial navigation

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