The practice of the uncertainty in

measurement
Abdelouahhab SALI H
Professor of the Higher education
in Mechanical engineering : ENSET RABAT
Presi dent of the Team of Research I ME
Consultant : ANPME
Audi tor I SO17025 attached to the MCI
Funder of C2MT (Morrocan center of
Metrology and the New Technologi es)
06 61 45 02 02
a.sali h@yahoo.fr
Etape 1
y=f(x 1 ,x 2,...x n )
Etape 2
Identify Sources
Quantify the constituents
In type A and type B
Etape 3
Etape 4
Expanded uncertainety
U = k u
c
c
(y)
no Process
Modlisable ?
yes
Numerisation ?
1. Analytic
GUM
2. Numerical
Monte-Carlo
Etape 3
Generate M
realizations of Y
Etape 2
Probability
distributions of xi
3. Synthetic
Mesurement incertainty evaluation
1
2
no
yes
yes
Yes
Yes
intralaboratoire
Mthod
no
u
c
=s
aptitude
no
1
Standard
deviation s
R
is
known ?
Participation in the
aptitude test ?
no
Yes
Method is just ?
Bias validated by the
aptitude test
Bias validated by the
RM
Yes
2 2
ref R C
u s u + =
Etape 4
Expanded uncertainety
U = k u
c
c
(y)
Modify the Method
Or fix a tolerance
no
Modify the Method
Method is apte ?
I. Introduction
II. Analytical method based on the Guide for the
expression of the uncertainty of measure
(GUM).
Stage 1 : Specify the mesurand Y =f(X
1
; : : : ;X
N
)
Stage 2 : Identify the sources of uncertainty
Stage 3 : Quantify the constituents of uncertainty
Stage 4 : Calculate the expanded uncertainty.
III. Practical applications in the calibrations / tries
of laboratories.
Contents
Analytic Method
I. Introduction
II. Numerical method based on the method
Monte Carlo.
Stage 1 : Specify the mesurand Y =f(X
1
; : : : ;X
N
)
Stage 2 : probability distributions for the Xi
Stage 3 : Generated number M of Monte Carlo trials
Stage 4 : Estimate y of Y and calculate expanded
uncertainety.
III. Practical applications.
IV. Comparison with the method GUM.
Contents
Monte-carlo method
I. Of the interest of the synthetics methods
II. The comparisons interlaboratories
III. Application of the standards ISO 5725 in the calculation
of the uncertainties in the tries of laboratories.
Stage 1 : Acquerir the results
Stage 2 : Calculate the averages
Stage 3 : Calculate the average of the averages
Stage 4 : Calculate the standard deviation of every laboratory si
Stage 5 : Cochran test
Stage 6 : Grubbs test
Stage 7 : Calculate the variance of Repeatability sr
Stage 8 : Calculate the variance of Reproducibility sR
Stage 9 : Calculate the expanded uncertainty U=k.uc
IV. Exploitation of the results of intercomparison.
Contents
Synthetic method : ISO 5725
I. Application of the standard ISO / TS 19036
II. Intra-laboratory
Stage 1 : Protocol of the essay intralaboratoire
Stage 2 : The 5M of the process of measurement
Stage 3 : Harvest of the data(x
iA
, x
iB
)
Stage 4 : Calculation of the transformed functions (y
iA
, y
iB
)
Stage 5 : Calculation of the standard deviation of reproducibility sR
Stage 6 : Calculation of the expanded uncertainty U
Stage 7 : Exploitation of the results.
Contents
Synthetic method : ISO/TS 19036
1. Definition of measurement uncertainty
measurement uncertainty :
Non-negative parameter characterizing the
dispersion of the quantity values being
attributed to a measurand, based on the
information used.
I. INTRODUCTION
Systematic Random
true quantity
value
Xi
X
measurement result
U= k.u
c
1. Measurement uncertainty
2. Use of the mesurement uncertainty
Declaration of conformity with a technical specification
(verification)
Comparison of several mesurement results
(aptitude tries)
Confirmation of the choice of mesurement method
(validation of the methods)
The choice of a measuring instrument for an expressed
(need capability )
Part 1 :
Analytic method
GUM
II. Analytical method in 4 stages
Identify the sources of
uncertainty
Specify the mesurand
Y =f(X
1
; : : : ;X
N
)
Quantify the constituents of
uncertainty type A and type B
Calculate the expanded uncertainty
1st stage
2nd stage
3rd stage
4th stage
2 cas
1
st
stage : Specify the mesurand
Y =f(X
1
; : : : ;X
N
) .
1.Physical law : Y = f (X1, X2,,Xn) Where
(X1, X2,,Xn ) input quantities Y output quantitie .
Ex : =M/V, P=F/S , P=gh+v
2
/2, PV=nRT,
Qv=V/t=Cte P, Qm=V/t
2. Empirical law

+ + = ons interracti effect y Y
1
st
stage (2/10)
Mesurement = Comparison
Inconnue
Comparateur talon
traabilit
Tracability
Unknown
Standard
Comparator
1
st
stage (3/10)
Definitionof mesurand
To define the mesurand exactly
is an indispensable operation
Concentration in HR% ?
1
st
stage (4/10)
Examples of definitions of mesurands
1) Distance entre le centre de la face
suprieure de la cale et le plan sur
lequel elle est adhre, 20 C et
en position verticale.
2) Distance entre les deux centres
des faces de la cale, 20 C, la
cale tant en position horizontale.
3) Distance entre deux plans
parallles, 20 C, la cale tant
en position horizontale.
Distance between the center and superior
face and the plan in 20C and in vertical
position
Distance between both centers of the
faces, in 20C in horizontal position
Distance between two parallel plans in
20C in horizontal position
1
st
stage (5/10)
Definitionof mesurand
To define with enough details the mesurande it is :
Avoid wasting time with the user of the mesurement
result of a bad understanding
Do not introduce causes of uncertainties bound to a
"vague" definition of what we want to measure
Choose a process of measure adapted to the mesurand
1
st
stage (6/10)
Mathematic model
Mesurement method
Operating mode
Mathematic model
1
st
stage (7/10)
Example of writing of the mathematical model
Mesurement method: Measure of the temperature of the
water ( t ) contained in one be toffee-nosed by means of
a thermometer with dilation of liquid.
Operating mode : To place the thermometer and to
immerse it until the line locates, wait 2 minutes then read
(l), apply the correction of calibration indicated in the
certificate(+C), begin again a the next time of the
operation, the announced mesurement result is the
average of both obtained values.
Modle mathmatique ?
1
st
stage (8/10)
Example of writing of the mathematical model
Mathermatic model :
C
l l C l C l
t +
+
=
+ + +
=
2 2
2 1 2 1
1
st
stage (9/10)
Other example of mathematical model
(volume measurement of water with a balance)
Where M is the mass read on the balance and t
is the temperature read on the thermometer C.
is the coefficient of expansion of the glass.

W
is the density of the water.
a is the density of the air.
|
|
.
|

\
|
|
.
|

\
|
|
|
|
.
|

\
|

= C t
a w
M V 20 1
1


1
st
stage (10/10)
Application : process of mesurement mass
Write the mathematical model of the
determination of the mass of an object, whose
density we know, by means of a simple weighing on
a calibrated balance of laboratory, with standards
masses (OIML)
Do not focus its attention on the instrument, but be
interested in the process which obtaining of mesurement
result.
The uncertainty characterizes the result not the instrument
In the process are going to intervene :
Instruments, standards,
The operators,
The mesurement method and the operating mode,
The environment of the measurement (temperature, pressure),
The moderate object,
2nd stage : Identify the sources of uncertainty
(1/3)
2nd stage (2/3)
ISHIKAWA
We use collectively the diagram of 5M
MEANS METHOD
MATERIAL
(SUBJECT)
MIDDLE :
ENVIRONMENT
Uncertainty
WORKFORCE
(OPERATOR)
Time of flow(oilcans, pipettes,)
Calibation
Repeatability
type of Liquid
Resolution
Excentration
Temperature
Humidity HR%
Incertainety
Qualification
Skillful -
hability
Parallaxe
Temperature
Derive
Forme
Coefficient of expansion
Thickness of the line
Pressure atm.
Exemple : Uncertainty of calibration of the glass of the laboratory
2nd stage (3/3)
Repetability
B
u
2
A
u
2
u
C
2
+ =
Standard uncertainty
Type A method
Type B method
3rd stage : Quantify the constituents of
uncertainty type A and type B
u
C
u
B
u
A
Two methods :
Type A : Evaluation by means of statistical
methods
Type B : Evaluation by the other means
The evaluations of type A are based on
probability distributions while the evaluations
of type B are based on laws in priori
1. TypeAmethod : (Randomerrors)
u
A

=
Dependent measurements
u
A=
1 cas :
u
A
=

n
2 cas :
u
A
=
r
12
if =0
Insufficient resolution
3 cas :
0
0,25
0,5
0,75
1
1,25
1,5
1,75
2
2,25
2,5
2,75
3
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

/ n
n
Independents measurements
3rd stage
Type A method : (Random errors)
Evaluation of the repeatability of mesurement process. The
measures are dependent.
Observations :
90,040 mm 90,044 mm 90,049 mm 90,046 mm 90,041 mm 90,054
mm 90,056 mm 90,052 mm 90,063 mm 90,060 mm
( ) ( ) m 9 , 7
1
1
10
1
2
=

=

= i
i
x x
n
x s
2. Type B method : (Systematic errors)
2cas : empirical law : Experiment
u
B
=
1 cas : physical law
Law of propagation
of uncertainty

+ + = ons interracti effect y Y
Not of interractions
i i
x a y Y

+ =
Law of propagation of
uncertainty
u
B
u
A
, /n or r/12
Law of propagation of uncertainty


= + = =
+ =
1
1 1
2 2
1
2
2
2
. . . . 2 .
n
i
n
i j
j i ij j i
n
i
i i B
u u r c c u c u


= + = = (
(

+
(

=
1
1 1 1
2
2
2
) ( ). ( ). , ( . 2 ) ( .
n
i
n
i j
j i j i
j i
n
i
i
i
B
x u x u x x r
x
f
x
f
x u
x
f
u
n Correlatio x x r
j i
: 1 ) , ( 1 Where
We put the sensibility coefficient
i
i
x
f
c

=
physic law : Particular case: law in the
form of product (chemists)

=
(

=
n
i
B
xi
xi u
y Y u
1
2
) (
* ) (

=
(

=
n
i
B
xi
xi u
y
Y u
1
2
) ( ) (
Absolute uncertainty
Relative uncertainty
2 hypotheses :
The function is a product
Factors are independent
3rd stage
Quantification of the standard uncertainty u(xi)
An evaluation of the standard uncertainty is made by
a scientific judgment based on all the available
information which can understand :
Results of previous measurements
The experience or the behavior of materials and used instruments
Specifications of the manufacturer
Data supplied by certificates of calibration and the other
documents
The uncertainty assigned to reference values
Two informations are necessary :
Range
Form
3rd stage
Quantification of the standard uncertainty u(xi)
3rd stage
Probability density functions (PDF)
Gaussian distribution :
range : 2a 99,73% 3
variance a
2
/ 9
standard deviation a / 3
-a a
Rectangular distributions :
range 2a
variance a
2
/ 3
standard deviation a / 3
-a a
3rd stage
Forms of usual probability distributions
Arc sine ( en U ):
Range 2a
variance a
2
/ 2
standard deviation
2 / a
a -a
3rd stage
Forms of usual probability distributions
Distribution
a priori
Method of
calculation
Real case
Rectangular
Digital resolution, hystrsis,
Instrument is conform to a class,
Homogeneity and stability of an
middle of comparison,
Arc sine
Temperature of an environment,
Gaussian
distribution
Uncertainty calculated from the
method spc
3 / a u
=
2 / a u
=
3 / a u
=
One micrometer in 1/1000 is in accordance with the
class I. Its e.m.t. is 7m.
We suppose that the corresponding uncertainty
follows a rectangular distributions :
u (class) =7 / 1,732 =4,04 m
3rd stage
Example 1
One micrometer in 1/1000 is in accordance with the
class I. Its e.m.t. is 7m.
We suppose that the corresponding uncertainty
follows a rectangular distributions :
u (class) =7 / 1,732 =4,04 m
3rd stage
Example 1
A manometer with dial in a resolution of 0,05 bar,
We suppose that the corresponding uncertainty
follows a rectangular distributions :
u (resolution) =0,025 / 1,732 =0,014 bar
3rd stage
Example 2
A manometer with dial in a resolution of 0,05 bar,
We suppose that the corresponding uncertainty
follows a rectangular distributions :
u (resolution) =0,025 / 1,732 =0,014 bar
3rd stage
Example 2
A laboratory is regulated in temperature in 2 C
We suppose that the corresponding uncertainty
follows a arc sine distributions :
u (temperature ) =2 / 1,414 =1,41 C
3rd stage
Example 3
A laboratory is regulated in temperature in 2 C
We suppose that the corresponding uncertainty
follows a arc sine distributions :
u (temperature ) =2 / 1,414 =1,41 C
3rd stage
Example 3
A glass of laboratory presents an error of
indication of +0,03 ml, its certificate of
calibration mentions an uncertainty of
0,08 ml to 2 uncertainties-types :
We suppose that the corresponding uncertainty
follows a rectangular distributions
u (correction) = 0,08 / 2 = 0,04 ml
3rd stage
Example 4
A glass of laboratory presents an error of
indication of +0,03 ml, its certificate of
calibration mentions an uncertainty of
0,08 ml to 2 uncertainties-types :
We suppose that the corresponding uncertainty
follows a rectangular distributions
u (correction) = 0,08 / 2 = 0,04 ml
3rd stage
Example 4
Several operators realize a measure of strength
with a spring dynamometer.
The maximal distance from the values observed by
the diverse operators is 3 N.
u (oprateur) =1,5 / 3 =0,5 N
3rd stage
Example 5
Several operators realize a measure of strength
with a spring dynamometer.
The maximal distance from the values observed by
the diverse operators is 3 N.
u (oprateur) =1,5 / 3 =0,5 N
3rd stage
Example 5
U = k. u
c
k coverage factor.
According to the GUMthe standard ENV 13005.
For an interval of 95,45 % confidence this factor is
equal to 2.
The final result :
Y = y U
4th stage : Calculate the expanded uncertainty
Unit
Applications of calculation of the
uncertainties
analytical method
Application 1 :
Mesureof Concentration of cadmium