Abstract: This paper presents a method to dynamically test the data transfer function of the quartz horizontal-pendulum tiltmeter by using step voltage signal and sine wave voltage signal as calibration signals. We firstly introduced the addition way of the calibration signals to the tiltmeter and derived the expressions of the transfer function and the outputs of force balance feedback quartz horizontal-pendulum tiltmeter when calibration signals were input. Afterward, we performed test experiments and got the tiltmeter' s output responses of the sinusoidal calibration and the step calibration. Based on the above-mentioned test results and using the derived theoretical formula, we carried out nonlinear fitting of sinusoidal calibration output response and step calibration output response respectively, and obtained the period and damping of the force balance feedback quartz horizontal-pendulum tiltmeter according to the fitting results. The laboratory test results show that the period and damping obtained by sine wave calibration test are in good consistent with those obtained by step calibration test, which verifies the effectiveness and consistency of the test method presented in this paper.

Key words: Force balance feedback technique, Quartz horizontal-pendulum tiltmeter, Data transfer function, Measurement method