Thermal Stability of Acrylic Collecting Surface for Acoustic Hail Sensor

The energy discharged by hailstorms poses a significant threat to human property, ranging from agriculture to vehicles. To prevent damages, a deeper understanding of this phenomenon is essential. Acousto-electric sensors represent a promising option for in-situ measurement of ongoing storms. These sensors utilize piezoelectric elements to acquire electrical signals generated by the vibration of a collecting surface upon impact. The signals are then processed to estimate the energy of the impacts. Given that the collecting surface is exposed to weather conditions, it is important to investigate whether the electrical signals are temperature-dependent. This study presents an evaluation of the thermal stability of the signals obtained from such sensors, using acrylic as the collecting surface. An experiment was designed to simulate hail impacts in a highly repetitive manner, ensuring that temperature is the only variable parameter. The temperature range considered corresponds to the most common ground temperatures during hail events. The results demonstrate excellent stability in both the signals and energy estimations.