The Quality of Measurements : A Metrological Reference

Preface.- From the Author.- 1. Basic Concepts of Metrology.- 1.1. Property and Quantity.- 1.2. The Size and Value of the Quantity. The Unit of the Quantity. The Scale of the Quantity.- 1.3. Measurement.- 1.4. Method and Procedure of Measurement.- 1.5. Measuring Equipment.- 1.5.1. Measuring Transducers.- 1.5.2. Measures.- 1.5.3. Measuring Instruments.- 1.5.4. Measuring Setups and Measuring Systems.- 2. Measurement Errors.- 2.1. Classification of Measurement Errors.- 2.2. Laws of Random Measurement Error Distribution.- 2.2.1. Some Information from the Theory of Probability.- 2.2.2. Normal Distribution Law.- 2.2.3. Generalized Normal Distribution Law.- 2.2.4. Basic Static Distributions Applied in Processing Measurement Results.- 2.3. Systematic Measurement Errors.- 2.3.1. Systematic Errors Due to the Properties of Measuring Equipment and the Measurement Conditions Deviating from the Normal Conditions.- 2.3.2. Normalized Metrological Characteristics of Measuring Equipment.- 2.3.3. Measurement Method Errors.- 2.3.4. Systematic Errors Due to an Operator’s Inaccurate Performance.- 2.3.5. Elimination of Systematic Errors.- 3. Measurement Uncertainty.- 3.1. Error and Uncertainty.- 3.2. Classification of Measurement Uncertainties.- 3.3. Procedure for Estimation of the Uncertainty of the Measurement Result.- 4. Methods for Estimation of Measurement Results and Their Uncertainties.- 4.1. Elimination of Overshoots from the Measurement Series.- 4.2. Check of the Hypothesis about the Normal Distribution of Experimental Data.- 4.3. Direct Multiple Measurements Subject to Normal Distribution.- 4.4. Direct Multiple Measurements Subject to Generalized Normal Distribution.- 4.5. Indirect Measurements.- 4.5.1. Statistical Manipulation with the Linear Dependence of Measurement Result on Input Quantities.- 4.5.2. Method of Linearization of Non-Linear Dependence.- 4.5.3. Reduction Method.- 4.6. Joint and Aggregate Measurements.- 5. International System of Units SI.- 5.1. Systems of Units, Principles of Their Formation.- 5. 2. Base Units SI.- 5.3. Derived Units SI. Dimension of Quantities and Units. Multiple and Sub-multiple Units.- 5.4. Quantities and Units of Physical-Chemical Measurements.- 6. Measurement Assurance.- 6.1. Uniformity and Traceability of Measurement.- 6.2. Measurement Assurance.- 6.3. Standards of Units.- 6.4. Verification and Calibration of Measuring Equipment.- 6.5. Increase of the Unit Size during its Transfer to a Measuring Instrument under Calibration or Verification.- 6.6. Measurement Chains.- 6.7. Organization Basis of Measurement Assurance.- 6.8. Measurement Assurance in the World on the Basis of the Arrangement between the Directors of the National Metrology Institutes.- 7. Verification and Calibration Intervals.- 7.1. Basic Concepts.- 7.2. Basic Concepts of the Theory of Metrological Reliability.- 7.2.1. Mathematical Model of МХ (Metrological Characteristic?) Drift.- 7.2.2. Basic Instability Equation and its Solution.- 7.2.3. Instability Distribution Laws.- 7.3. Criteria for Setting the Verification and Calibration Intervals.- 7.3.1. Probability of Metrological Serviceability.- 7.3.2. Metrological Serviceability Coefficient.- 7.3.3. Probability of Operation without Metrological Failures (Probability of No-Failure).- 7.4. Substantiation of Primary Verification and Calibration Intervals.- 7.5. Correction of Verification and Calibration Intervals in the Process of Operation of Measuring Equipment.- 7.5.1. Correction of Verification Intervals of a Group of Measuring Equipment with recording the Values of Error of Each Specimen during its Verification.- 7.5.2. Correction of Verification Intervals of a Group of Measuring Equipment with Recording the Alternative Sign (Whether the Measuring Device is Serviceable or Not) and the Error Character of the Measuring Device, Which is Rejected as Defective, during its Verification.- 7.5.3. Correction of Verification Intervals of a Group of Measuring Equipment with Only Recording the Alt

This book provides a detailed discussion and commentary on the fundamentals of metrology. The fundamentals of metrology, the principles underlying the design of the SI International System of units, the theory of measurement error, a new methodology for estimation of measurement accuracy based on uncertainty, and methods for reduction of measured results and estimation of measurement uncertainty are all discussed from a modern point of view. The concept of uncertainty is shown to be consistent with the classical theory of accuracy. The theory of random measurement errors is supplemented by a very general description based on the generalized normal distribution; systematic instrumental error is described in terms of a methodology for normalizing the metrological characteristics of measuring instruments.

A new international system for assuring uniformity of measurements based on agreements between national metrological institutes is discussed, in addition to the role and procedure for performance of key comparisons between national standards. The conclusion describes a new methodology for assurance of measurement accuracy (based on the provisions contained in the ISO 5725-series standards) that is now becoming more and more common around the world. All of the theoretical statements and calculation methods are illustrated using examples.

This book will be of interest to personnel working in government metrological services (or in the metrological services of legal entities), and to specialists who use measuring instruments or make use of measured data in their daily activities It will be useful to students at technical universities when studying the academic disciplines of Metrology, Standardization, and Certification; Metrology and Measurement Assurance; and Metrology and Measuring Instruments.