Midsem Examination Sensing and Actuation AT74.

03 October 7, 2010

Time: 10:00-11:30 h. Open Book

Marks: 100
Attempt all questions.

Q.1 The output from a resistance temperature detector follows the relation, R = 1000 + 2.5T ,
when R is resistance in Ω, T is temperature in ºC varying from 0-100 ºC. Design a signal
manipulation circuit for this sensor that converts the output signal to voltage varying between 0-5
V linearly corresponding to temperature varying between 0-100 ºC. Assume that voltage source
power supply is available but current source power supply is not available. (20)
Solution

R = 1-1.25 kΩ
20 kΩ

Differential
Amplifier Summing
1kΩ Amplifier
1V 1kΩ
Voltage 1kΩ
(-1 to -1.25 V) Voltage output
(0 to 5 V)
1V

Q.2 A capacitance pickup device driven by an alternating current (ac) source is used to
determine position of a moving object fixed on a parallel plate of the capacitor as shown below.
When the distance between the two parallel plates is 10 mm, the magnitude of the output
reading, Eo, indicates 0.5 V. When the distance between the two parallel plates is 5 mm, the
magnitude of the output reading, Eo, indicates 0.8 V. Determine the distance between the two
parallel plates when the magnitude of the output reading indicates 1 V. (15)

Moving
Object

R Eo
Fixed Plate

Eb

Solution
Output reading is determined from
Eb
E o = iR = R (1)
1
R+
sC

1
when
εA
C= (2)
x
Thus,
sεAREb
Eo = (3)
sεAR + x
E o1 sεAR + x 2
= (4)
Eo 2 sεAR + x1
E o1 (ωεAR )2 + x22
= (5)
Eo 2 (ωεAR )2 + x12
Substitute all the parameters of the first two cases,
0.5
=
(ωεAR )2 + 0.005 2 (6)
0.8 (ωεAR )2 + 0.012
ωεAR = 0.0048 (7)
Substitute the parameters of the last two cases,
1
=
(ωεAR ) + 0.005 2
2
(8)
0.8 (ωεAR )2 + x 2
x = 0.0028 m = 2.8 mm (9)

Q.3 A rate-integrating gyro used to measure pitch angle is equipped on a car moving on a
road which has the height (in m), h, expressed as a function of horizontal distance (in m), x, by
h( x) = 20 sin (0.001x ) .

(a) Determine the output deflection (in degree), θ , of the rate-integrating gyro as a function of
horizontal distance (in m), x, by assuming that the transient response of the gyro is neglected.
The rate-integrating gyro has angular momentum of the constant-speed-spinning wheel, H s , of
20 N.m.sec, angular viscosity coefficient of the output axis, B , of 80 N.m.sec, and moment of
intertia of everything that rotates around the output axis, I y , of 40 N.m.sec2. (10)

(b) If at a moment, the steady-state output deflection of the rate-integrating gyro indicates 0.2
degree, determine the height of the road. (5)

2
Solution
(a)
The slope of the road is the differentiation of the height respect to the horizontal distance.
dh( x)
= 0.02 cos(0.001x ) (1)
dx
The pitch angle is the arctan of the slope.
⎛ dh( x) ⎞ 180
φ ( x) = arctan⎜ ⎟ = arctan(0.02 cos(0.001x )) rad = arctan(0.02 cos(0.001x )) degree (2)
⎝ dx ⎠ π
Determine the relation between the pitch angle input and the deflection output of the rate-
integrating gyro.
θ K
= (3)
φ τs + 1
Hs
K= (4)
B
Iy
τ= (5)
B
Substitute H s = 20 N.m.sec, B = 80 N.m.sec, I y = 40 N.m.sec 2 into (1)-(3),

20 N.m.sec
Sensitivity = K = = 0.25 (6)
80 N.m.sec
40 N.m.sec 2
Time constant = τ = 0.5 sec (7)
80 N.m.sec
θ 0.25
= (8)
φ 0.5s + 1
At the steady state, the relation follows
θ
= 0.25 (9)
φ
Substitute the pitch angle to determine the output deflection.
180
θ ( x) = 0.25 arctan(0.02 cos(0.001x )) = 14.32 arctan(0.02 cos(0.001x )) degree (10)
π
(b)
At a moment θ = 0.2° , determine the horizontal position of the car.
1 ⎛ 1 ⎛ 0.2 ⎞ ⎞
x= arccos⎜⎜ tan⎜ ⎟ ⎟⎟ = 797.68 m (11)
0.001 ⎝ 0.02 ⎝ 14.32 ⎠ ⎠
3
Determine the height of the road,
h( x) = 20 sin (0.001 × 797.68) = 14.31 m (12)

Q. 4 Four identical strain gages are used to determine unknown forces acting on a cube along
x and y directions as shown in the below figure. Strain gage 1 is attached along x direction, strain
gage 2 are attached along y direction, strain gages 3 and 4 are used for temperature compensation
and output balancing at no load. Each strain gage has nominal resistance, R, of 350 Ω with gage
factor, Sg, of 3. The supply voltage, Ei, is 5 V.

Fy

Fx
R1
R4 R2
E0
Ei
R3

(a) Determine the voltage output, E0, as a function of the forces along x direction, Fx, and along y
direction, Fy. Assume that the cube has a length of 1 cm each side. The cube is made of the
material having the Young’s modulus, E, of 150 GPa with the Poisson’s ration, ν, of 0.3. (10)
(b) Determine the magnitudes of Fx and Fy, when tension force Fx and tension force Fy as shown
in the figure are applied to the system, the voltage output shows 6.5 × 10 −4 V but when the
tension force Fx and compression force Fy are applied to the system, the voltage output shows
2.6 × 10 −3 V. (5)
Solution
Fx
σx = (1)
Ax

Fy
σy = (2)
Ay

(σ x − νσ y ) 1 ⎛⎜ Fx Fy ⎞
⎟
εx = = −ν (3)
E E ⎜⎝ Ax Ay ⎟⎠

(σ y − νσ x ) 1 ⎛⎜ Fy F ⎞
εy = = −ν x ⎟ (4)
E E ⎜⎝ Ay Ax ⎟⎠
4
 ΔR1 S g ⎛ Fx Fy ⎞
= S gε x = ⎜ −ν ⎟ (5)
R1 E ⎜⎝ Ax Ay ⎟⎠

ΔR2 S g ⎛ Fy F ⎞
= Sgε y = ⎜ −ν x ⎟ (6)
R2 E ⎜⎝ Ay Ax ⎟⎠

r ⎡ ΔR1 ΔR2 ⎤ (1 + ν ) S g Ei ⎡ Fx Fy ⎤
E0 = ⎢ − ⎥ E = ⎢ − ⎥ (7)
(1 + r ) 2 ⎣ R1
i
R2 ⎦ 4E ⎣⎢ Ax Ay ⎥⎦
(1 + 0.3)3 × 5
E0 = 9
4 × 150 × 10 × 1 × 10 −4
[ ]
Fx − Fy = 3.25 × 10 −7 Fx − Fy [ ] (8)

(b)
[ ]
6.5 × 10 −4 = 3.25 × 10 −7 Fx − Fy ; Fx − Fy = 2000 (9)

[ ]
2.6 × 10 −3 = 3.25 × 10 −7 Fx + Fy ; Fx + Fy = 8000 (10)

Thus,
Fx = 5000 (11)

Fy = 3000 (12)

Q.5 Inclined manometer made of circular tube of different diameters filled with mercury is
used to determine the pressure difference, P1-P2, at two ends of the manometer. When the
pressures at two ends of the manometer are the same, the mercury level at the inclined tube is set
at 0 mm as shown in the below figure.

P1 P2

Φ20 cm Φ5 cm x

45º

(a) Determine the pressure difference, P1-P2, at the two ends of the manometer as a function of
mercury level at the inclined tube, x. Use mercury mass density of 13,550 kg/m3 and
gravitational acceleration of 9.8 m/s2. (10)

5
(b) If the inclined tube end is opened to atmospheric pressure of 101,325 Pa and the mercury
level at the inclined tube, x, is read at 40 cm, determine the pressure at the vertical tube end. (5)
Solution
(a)
Apply conservation of volume,
πD12 y πD22 x
= (1)
4 4
When y is the level of mercury in the vertical tube end. Thus,
D22 x
y= (2)
D12
Since,
⎡⎛ 5 ⎞ 2 ⎤
h = y + x sin (45°) = ⎢⎜ ⎟ + sin (45°)⎥ x = 0.77 x (3)
⎢⎣⎝ 20 ⎠ ⎥⎦

P1 − P2 = ρgh = 13550 × 9.8 × 0.77 x = 102248.3 x (4)

(b)
P1 = 101325 + 102248.3 × 0.4 = 142224.32 Pa (5)

Q.6 Design a concept and mechanism of a sensor used to determine the friction coefficient
and friction force between the tire of motorcycle and road while the motorcycle is running. (20)