STRAIN GAUGES

INTRODUCTION




Strain is the amount of deformation of a body to an applied force
For axial direction:

Because of Poisson strain phenomena, D will be contracted in lateral
direction, with magnitude depends on Poisson ratio (v)

=

STRAIN GAUGE
Strain gage is a device whose electrical resistance varies in the
proportion of the amount of strain in the device

The resistance is given by:



where =resistivity of conductor material
L=length of conductor
A=cross-sectional area of conductor




A
L
R =
If differentiated this equation become:



Then the equation:

= -

A
dA
L
dL d
R
dR
+ =

D
dD
A
dA
D A
2
2
~
~
lateral strain
Strain gauge factor:



( ) v c

2 1+ + =
a
d
R
dR
=

= 1+2 +

WHEATSTONE BRIDGE CIRCUIT
For Wheatstone bridge arrangement
Output voltage:


Balanced bridge condition:
R
3
R
1
-R
4
R
2
=0, then if the strain is induced
R
3
=R
3i
+AR
3

s o
V
R R
R
R R
R
V
|
|
.
|

\
|
+

+
=
4 1
4
3 2
3
) )( (
4 1 3 3 2
3 1
R R R R R
R R
V V
i
s o
+ A + +
A
=