11 Measurement of Torque 11.1 INTRODUCTION ¢ The main purpose of torque measurement is to determine the mechanical power required or developed by a machine. Torque measurement also helps in obtaining load information necessary for stress or strain analysis. +” Incertain cases, measurement of torque serves as a measure or help in determining some other variable. For example, in the case ofa rotating cylinder viscometer, measurement of torque developed atthe fixed end of the stationary cylinder help in determining the viscosity of the fluid between the movable and stationary cylinder. 11.2 DEFINITION OF TORQUE « Torque represents the amount of twisting effort and is given by: T=Fxr where, T = Torque,Nm F = ForceinN 1 t = Perpendicular distance from the point of 1 7 rotation to the point of application of force of force in m. * The power that a shaft transmits per radian per second of rotation is termed as torque.12 MEASUREMENTS AND CONTROL SYSTEMS 11.3 INSTRUMENTS FOR THE MEASUREMENT OF TORQUE The important torque measuring devices are: 11.3.1 Mechanical torsion meter (stroboscopic method) 11.3.2. Optical torsion meter. 11.3.3. Electrical torsion meter (Torque measurement using slotted discs) 11.3.4 Strain gauge torsion meter (Strain gauges on rotating shafts) 11.3.1 Mechanical Torsion meter BASIC PRINCIPLE « When a shaft is connected between a driving engine and a driven load, a twist (angular displacement) occurs on the shaft between its ends. This angle of twist is measured and calibrated in terms of torque. DESCRIPTION The main parts of the mechanical torsion meter are as follows: « A shaft which has two drums and two flanges mounted on its ends as shown in figure 11.1. « One drum carries a pointer and the other drum has a torque calibrated scale. » Astroboscope to take readings ona rotating shaft. STROBO SCOPE DRUM WITH (AFT ATORQUE oat NS CALIBRATED woe DRUM ON SCALE WHICH POINTER 1S FIXED Figure 11.1: Mechanical Torsion MeterMEASUREMENT OF TORQUE 11.3 — = = ————— —<—= aa OPERATION « One end of the shaft of the torsion meter is connected to the driving engine and the other end to the driven load. e« An angle of twist is experienced by the shaft along its length between the two flanges which is proportional to the torque applied to the shaft. « Ameasure of this angle of twist becomes a measure of torque when calibrated. « The angular twist caused is observed on the torque calibrated scale corresponding to the position of the pointer. As the scale on the drum is rotating, readings cannot be taken directly, Hence stroboscope is used. The flashing light of stroboscope is made to fall on the scale and the flashing frequency is adjusted till a stationary image is obtained. Then the scale reading is noted. APPLICATION « Simple and inexpensive method. «Power of shaft can also be calculated (flashing frequency gives information about speed). LIMITATIONS « Pooraccuracy due to small displacement of the pointer. « Sensitivity is reduced even due to small variations in speed. «. Can be used only on shafts rotating at a constant speed. 11.3.2 Optical torsion meter BASIC PRINCIPLE + Dueto torque, an angular twist (angular displacement) occurs on the shaft between itsends. This angle of twist is measured by using optical means wherein the angular deflection of light rays is proportional to twist and hence the torque. DESCRIPTION The main parts of an optical torsion meter are as follows: « Ashaft on which two castings M and N are connected at a known distance. * A tension strip linking the two castings. © Twomirrors which are fitted and aligned on the castings, + Alight beam falling on the mirror, an optical system and a torque calibrated scale.11.4 MEASUREMENTS AND CONTROL SYSTEMS OPERATION + When the shaft is transmitting torque, a relative movement occurs between castings MandN, and due to this, the mirrors will change position (partial inclination between the two mirrors) since they are attached to the castings. + Asthe mirrors are constantly made to reflect a light beam on the torque calibrated scale, due to the changed position of the mirrors, there will be an angular deflection of the light rays which is measured from the calibrated scale. LIGHT RAY _ Y CASTING M TENSION psa e ' fe z-t- ? a OPTICAL I SYSTEM = \ 7 Fiance = SHAFT casTINGN. Nee Figure 11.2: Optical Torsion Meter + This angular deflection of the light rays is proportional to the twist of the shaft (relative movement of castings M and N) and hence the torque of the shaft. APPLICATIONS Itisused in steam turbines and L.C. engines. 11.3.3 Electrical torsion meter (TORQUE MEASUREMENT USING SLOTTED DISCS) BASIC PRINCIPLE + Due to the applied torque, there is a relative displacement between the two slotted discs. Due to this relative displacement of the slotted discs, a phase shift exists between the pulse generated by the transducers. When these pulses are connected to an electronic unit, it will show a time lapse between the two pulses. This time lapse between the two pulses is proportional to the twist of the shaft and hence the torque of the shaft.MEASUREMENT OF TORQUE 11.6 DESCRIPTION ‘The main parts of an electrical torsion meter are us follows: + Ashaft connected between a driving engine and a driven load. «+ Twoslotted discs atta hed on either side of the shaft. SHAFT TEETH va raven PMSIDE \P> MAGNETIC OR PHOTOELECTRIC TRANSDUCERS: SIDE CONNECTED TO DRIVING ENGINE 0 LEAR Ne SER tt Figure 11.3: Electrical torsion meter « Transducers (magnetic or photo electric) to count pulses from the slotted disc. OPERATION The teeth produce voltage pulses in the transducers. When torque is not applied on the shaft, the teeth of both the dises perfectly align with each other and hence the voltage pulses produced in the transducers will |:.ve zero time difference. But when torque is applied on the shaft, there is a relative displacement of the slotted discs due to the twist experienced by the shaft and hence the teeth of both the discs will not align with each other and hence the voltage pulses produced inthe transducers will havea time difference (thats, time lapse). This time lapse between the pulses of the two discs is proportional to the twist of the shaft and hence the torque of the shaft. ‘A measure of this time lapse becomes a measure of torque when calibrated116 MEASUREMENTS AND CONTROL SYSTEMS SS APPLICATIONS « Used to measure torque on rotating shafts, ADVANTAGES { + Thereis no signal leakage problems i + There is no noise creation. 11.3.4 Strain gauge torsion meter (STRAIN GAUGES ON ROTATING SHAFTS) BASIC PRINCIPLE + Astrain gauge is a metallic conductor. When this strain gauge is stretched or compressed, its resistance changes on the account of the fact that both length and diameter of the strain gauge (conductor) changes. | + When strain gauges are bonded (fixed) to a shaft subjected to torque, due to the twist in the shaft, the strain gauges will be strained (that is, will undergo change in dimensions). Due to this, the resistance of the strain gauges also changes. This change in resistance of the strain gauges will be proportional to the torque in the shaft. DESCRIPTION The arrangement consists of the following: « Four bonded wire strain gauges mounted on a 45 degree helix with the axis of the shafts rotation. These gauges are placed in pairs diameterically opposite to each other. + Allthe four strain gauges are connected to a wheatstone bridge circuit which is used to measure change in the resistance of the strain gauges. « The system is temperature compensated and a change in resistance of the strain gauges will occur only due to the twist (torsional deflection). OPERATION © When the shaft is subjected to a torque, strain gauges | and 4 will elongate due to tension (component of shear stress) and strain gauges 2 and 3 will contract due to compression (component of shear stress). « Due to the tensile and compressive effects on the strain gauges, their resistance will change and this change in resistance of the strain gauges is measured using the wheat stone bridge circuit.MEASUREMENT OF TORQUE 17 —Y « This changes in resistance of the strain gauges will be proportional to the torque subjected on the shaft. Hence a measure of this change in resistance of the strain gauges becomes a measure of torque when calibrated. . GAUGE2 GAUGE 4 WHEAT STONE BRIDGE CIRCUIT Figure 11.4: Strain gauge torsion meter APPLICATION « Used to measure torque on rotating shafts. ADVANTAGES «Fully temperature compensated. + Sensitivity ishigh. LIMITATIONS + Itisdifficult to connect the bridge cireuit to the power source. « Itis difficult to connect the display (galvanometer) to the bridge circuit.