High Shock, High Frequency Characteristics of a Mechanical Isolator for a Piezoresistive Accelerometer, the ENDEVCO 7270AM6*

A mechanical isolator has been developed for a piezoresistive accelerometer. The purpose of the isolator is to mitigate high frequency shocks before they reach the accelerometer because the high frequency shocks may cause the accelerometer to resonate. Since the accelerometer is undamped, it often breaks when it resonates. The mechanical isolator was developed in response to impact test requirements for a variety of structures at Sandia National Laboratories (SNL). An Extended Technical Assistance Program (ETAP) with the accelerometer manufacturer has resulted in a commercial mechanically isolated accelerometer that is available to the general public, the ENDEVCO 7270AM6*, for three shock acceleration ranges of 6,000 g, 20,000 g, and 60,000 g. The in-axis response shown in this report has acceptable frequency domain performance from DC to 10 kHz and 10(XO)over a temperature range of {minus}65 F to +185 F. Comparisons with other isolated accelerometers show that the ENDEVCO 7270AM6 has ten times the bandwidth of any other commercial isolator. ENDEVCO 7270AM6 cross-axis response is shown in this report