This paper deals with the measurement of the magnetic flux generated by the armature of electromagnetic rail launchers linked with external pick-up loops. In particular we discuss possible methods to experimentally evaluate measurement uncertainty when the magnetic flux is obtained by numerical voltage integration. These methods aim at an approximate identification of the correlation among voltage samples introduced by the analog-to-digital converter, only based on the available measurements without requiring additional tests and instruments. An estimate of this correlation allows to better evaluate the overall measurement uncertainty, thus providing the applicability limits of the proposed inductive technique and contributing to a better understanding of the current and force distribution in the armature.
2. Novotny, M., D. Slepicka, and M. Sedlacek, "Uncertainty analysis of the RMS value and phase in the frequency domain by noncoherent sampling," IEEE Trans. Instrum. Meas., Vol. 56, No. 3, 983-989, 2007.
doi:10.1109/TIM.2007.894189
3. Xi, J. and J. F. Chicharo, "A new algorithm for improving the accuracy of periodic signal analysis," IEEE Trans. Instrum. Meas., Vol. 45, No. 4, 827-830, 1996.
doi:10.1109/19.517004
4. Betta, G., C. Liguori, and A. Pietrosanto, "Propagation of uncertainty in a discrete Fourier transform algorithm," Measurement, Vol. 27, 231-239, 2000.
doi:10.1016/S0263-2241(99)00068-8
5. Attivissimo, F., N. Giaquinto, M. Marracci, and B. Tellini, "Effect and compensation of ADC nonlinearity on magnetic accommodation measurements," Measurement, Vol. 46, No. 3, 1340-1348, 2013.
doi:10.1016/j.measurement.2012.11.006
6. Ferrero, R., M. Marracci, and B. Tellini, "Characterization of inductance gradient and current distribution in electromagnetic launchers," IEEE Trans. Instrum. Meas., Vol. 60, No. 5, 1795-1801, 2011.
doi:10.1109/TIM.2010.2091186
7. Ferrero, R., M. Marracci, and B. Tellini, "Uncertainty analysis of local and integral methods for current distribution measurements," IEEE Trans. Instrum. Meas., Vol. 62, No. 1, 177-184, 2013.
doi:10.1109/TIM.2012.2212503
8. Ferrero, R., M. Marracci, and B. Tellini, "Dynamic experiments of current distribution in rail launcher multi-brush armatures," Proc. IMTC, 1-5, Graz, Austria, May 13-16, 2012.
9. Ferrero, R., M. Marracci, and B. Tellini, "Current distribution measurements in rail launcher multibrush armatures during launch," IEEE Trans. Instrum. Meas., Vol. 62, No. 5, 1138-1144, 2013.
doi:10.1109/TIM.2012.2220038
10. Cordero, R. R., G. Seckmeyer, D. Pissulla, and F. Labbe, "Uncertainty of experimental integrals: Application to the UV index calculation," Metrologia, Vol. 45, 1-10, 2008.
doi:10.1088/0026-1394/45/1/001
11. Edwards, T. S., "Effects of aliasing on numerical integration," Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing, Vol. 21, 165-176, 2007.
doi:10.1016/j.ymssp.2005.08.009
12. BIPM JCGM 100:2008, "Evaluation of measurement data --- Guide to the expression of uncertainty in measurement,", GUM 1995 with Minor Corrections, 2008.
13. Pogliano, U., "Traceability of electrical quantities obtained by sampling," Measurement, Vol. 42, 1439-1442, 2009.
doi:10.1016/j.measurement.2009.07.018
14. Pogliano, U., "Evaluation of the uncertainties in the measurement of distorted power by means of the IEN sampling system," IEEE Trans. Instrum. Meas., Vol. 55, No. 2, 620-624, 2006.
doi:10.1109/TIM.2006.870129
15. Nuccio, S. and C. Spataro, "Approaches to evaluate the virtual instrumentation measurement uncertainties," IEEE Trans. Instrum. Meas., Vol. 51, No. 6, 1347-1352, 2002.
doi:10.1109/TIM.2002.808036
16. Locci, N., C. Muscas, and E. Ghiani, "Evaluation of uncertainty in measurements based on digitalized data," Measurement, Vol. 32, 265-272, 2002.
doi:10.1016/S0263-2241(02)00034-9
17. Ferrero, R., M. Marracci, and B. Tellini, "Analytical study of impulse current measuring shunts with cage confiuration," IEEE Trans. Instrum. Meas., Vol. 61, No. 5, 1260-1267, 2012.
doi:10.1109/TIM.2011.2175823