Developing standard uncertainties for piston gauge pressure measurements through predictive uncertainty analysis

As uncertainties on piston gauges effective areas are reduced, uncertainty specifications provided with the calibration of piston gauges become less and less adequate for estimating a global uncertainty specification on pressure. Many of the parameters or effects introducing uncertainties when measuring pressure are not covered in the calibration reports or mentioned in commercial documentation. A predictive uncertainty analysis has been performed on a new line of piston gauges to derive standard uncertainties for several configurations and operating modes.