EML 3301

Mechanics of Materials Laboratory

Zoom Lecture 6/18/2020

Lab 2 Uncertainty
The following expands on the lab 2
instructions. If conflicts occur, the lab
instructions are to be followed.
 Lab 2: DeltaVamp Uncertainty
• Uncertainty in deltaVamp
– Uncertainty in each measurement
• Store standard deviation in VI
– Select largest one over range (unless truly outlier)
• Use 95% CI or 2 std deviations for Vamp
– 𝑑𝑒𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑉𝑎𝑚𝑝 = 𝑉𝑎𝑚𝑝 − 𝑉𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑒
• Where
– Vamp → measured Vamp for calibration weight
– Vamptare → tare value selected to tare out bias errors
• Propagate uncertainties using RSS
 Lab 2: DeltaVamp Uncertainty
• Uncertainty in deltaVamp
𝑑𝑒𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑉𝑎𝑚𝑝 = 𝑉𝑎𝑚𝑝 − 𝑉𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑒
• RSS

𝜇𝑑𝑒𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑉𝑎𝑚𝑝2 = 𝜇𝑉𝑎𝑚𝑝 2
+ 𝜇𝑉𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑒 2

– Assume 𝜇𝑉𝑎𝑚𝑝 = 𝜇𝑉𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑒

 Lab 2: MOM Uncertainty

• Apply RRS to the relationship developed

relating strain to load
– Can be one RSS, or several
 Lab 2: MOM Uncertainty
• VI: strain gage to measure strain, estimate
stress and load
– Measure some geometry
– Find some material properties
– Measure two analog voltages
– Apply a measured zero value to Vamp and scale
(gain) to get Vg
– Weight things
 Lab 2: MOM Uncertainty
• Measure some geometry
– L1 → you measure, ruler, dial calipers
• Uncertainty is either ½ of smallest measurable distance, or
from manufacturer (cite/inform reader)
– Thickness → 10 provided measurements
• Use 95% CI
• Consider removal of outliers.
• Estimate uncertainty in c …
– Width → 1”, uncertainty +- 0.005”, manufacturer
• These uncertainties can be propagated into an
uncertainty in I, or I can be expanded.
 Lab 2: MOM Uncertainty
• Find some material properties
– E, 6061 T6 Aluminum, look up
• Uncertainty: use 1% of referenced value
• Or look up…
– Gf
• Vishay quotes 0.5% (manufacturer)
 Lab 2: MOM Uncertainty
• Measure two analog voltages
– Vs → constant, estimate 95% CI using standard
deviation stored by VI
– Vamp → estimate 95% CI using standard deviation
stored by VI
 Lab 2: MOM Uncertainty
• Apply a measured zero value to Vamp and scale
(gain) to get ∆Vg
∆𝑉𝑎𝑚𝑝
∆𝑉𝑔 =
𝐴𝑚𝑝_𝑔𝑎𝑖𝑛
– ∆Vamp, covered previously
 Lab 2: MOM Uncertainty
∆𝑉𝑎𝑚𝑝
∆𝑉𝑔 =
𝐴𝑚𝑝_𝑔𝑎𝑖𝑛
• Uncertainty in the amplifiers gain
– Take as 0.2%
• Use RSS to estimate uncertainty in ∆Vg from
uncertainty in ∆Vamp and amplifier gain
– Will need to do for each measured weight of
interest.