Design and Testing of Low-cost MEMS Accelerometer on 1D Shake Table

Abstract

This paper presents a system that integrates a low- cost Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) accelerometer sensorwith a Raspberry Pi to evaluate its effectiveness in detecting and measuring seismic activity. The MEMS accelerometer is employed to measure ground motion intensity in terms of acceleration, while the Raspberry Pi functions as the central processing unit, managing data processing, storage, and analysis. Data is stored on external memory for further analysis. The primary objective of this research is to explore a cost-effective solution for enhanced seismic monitoring and research. The effectiveness of the MEMS-based system is assessed by comparing its performance with that of a calibrated accelerometer, which is placed on a shake table at Khwopa Engineering College designed to simulate seismic activity. The shake table generates controlled oscillations that mimic natural vibration patterns. By analyzing the output of the MEMS accelerometer, the study examines whether the sensor accurately follows the vibration patterns produced by the shake table. The findings indicate that the acceleration data captured by the MEMS sensor closely aligns with the oscillations provided by the shake table, exhibiting minimal offset and noise factor. This study concludes that low-cost MEMS-based accelerometers can serve as a viable alternative to conventional, high-cost mechanical geophones, provided that proper noise filtration and thorough analysis of any offset are conducted. The results underscore the potential of MEMS technology in advancing the field of seismic research through cost-effective solutions.