APL103 Experimental Methods:

EXPERIMENT NO. 4
Objective:
1. To calibrate a strain gauge type load cell.
2. To study various methods of fitting a straight line through a set of data points.

Apparatus:
i) A bent cantilever beam on which resistance type strain gauge have been mounted near the clamped end.
ii) A straight cantilever plate with strain gauges mounted near the support.
iii) Strain meter.
iv) Slotted weights and a load hanger are also provided.

Theory:
Strain gauge load cells measure a given load (of force) with the help of resistance type strain gauges. When a
cantilever beam (shown below) is loaded at its free end, it deflects and the strain produced at the fixed end is
maximum. This strain is can be sensed by strain gauges mounted near the fixed end. Strain gauges are
resistance type transducers in which the applied strain produces a change in resistance (ΔR) of gauge. R can be
measured by the strainmeter which is generally an AC or DC Wheatstone bridge (figure C). With proper care in
installation and operation of strain gauges, these gauges can be made very sensitive and accurate and
insensitive to environmental changes like temperature. A similar method can be used to measure strains due to
torsion as shown in part B of the figure.

P R2
T R1
1,3 strain gauges
2,4
strain gauges G V
1,3
Cantilever beam
2,4 R4 R3

A) Arrangement for Bending Strain B) Arrangement for Torsion C) DC Wheatstone Bridge

In both arrangements (A and B) gauges 1 and 3 are in tension while 2 and 4 are in compression. If all four
gauges are connected as shown in Figure C, we have the full-bridge configuration. This is what you will be
using in this experiment. Sometimes only gauges 1 and 2 are used, while R3 and R4 are fixed and equal
resistances --- this is the half-bridge configuration.

Procedure:
i) Measure the lengths of the two limbs of the bent cantilever arm.
ii) Measure the distance from the hanger to the middle of the strain gauges for the straight canitliever.

A) Bending Strain:
1. Switch on the strainmeters for a few minutes before the readings are taken.
2. With load hanger mounted at the elbow of the bent beam, adjust the bending strainmeter to read zero.
3. Place 50gm on the hanger for the first reading. Gradually load the beam in steps of 100gm. Weights should
be placed without any jerk or vibrations. After every increment of load wait for the reading on the
strainmeter to stabilize and then take the reading. The total load should not exceed 550 gm.
4. During unloading remove the 50gm load first. Then take the subsequent readings by reducing 100gm at
each step.
5. Take the reading for the unknown weight.

B) Torsion:
1. Now place the hanger at the free end of the bent cantilever.
2. With no load on the hanger adjust the torsion strainmeter to read zero. .
3. Gradually load the beam in steps of 0.5 Kg weights. Weights should be placed without any jerk or
vibrations. After every increment of load wait for the reading on the strainmeter to stabilize and then take
the reading. The total load should not exceed 5 Kgs.
4. Now reduce the load in steps of .5 Kgs and take the readings using the same precautions as stated above.
5. Take the readings for the unknown weight.
Analysis:

A) Bending strainmeter readings:

1. Plot the data (strain v.s. load) on a graph paper, first for the increasing load case. On a separate graph paper,
similarly plot the data for the decreasing load case.
2. Calculate the slope and intercept for each set of data by the following methods and for each method draw the
best fit straight line (using different colours or legend):-
a. Visual judgement (graphical method).
b. Method of least squares
3. Determine the value of the unknown weight from the graph.
4. Determine the slope directly from the formulae given below for the bending strain.

B) Torsion strainmeter readings:

1. Convert the load into a torque using an appropriate moment arm.
2. Plot the data (strain v.s. torque) on a graph paper, first for the increasing torque case. On a separate graph
paper, similarly plot the data for the decreasing torque case.
3. Calculate the slope and intercept for each set of data by the following methods and for each method draw the
best fit straight line (using different colours or legend):-
a. Visual judgement (graphical method).
b. Method of least squares
4. Plot the data again with the scale on the ‘x’ axis changed by a factor of 2. Determine the best fit line only using
the visual method for this graph.
5. Determine the value of the unknown weight from the graph.

Comments/ Points for Discussion:

1. What is the difference between straight lines fitted by different methods in part A) of the analysis.
2. Compare the two fits obtained by the visual method in part B) of the analysis. Give reasons for any
difference found.
3. After the loading and unloading cycle, did you observe any difference in the initial and final reading? If
yes, what is it attributed to?

BEST FIT STRAIGHT LINE USING LEAST SQUARES:

y = a 0 + a1 x
n n n
n∑ ( xi yi ) − ∑ xi ∑ yi
1⎛ n n
⎞
a1 = i =1 i =1 i =1
2
, a0 = ⎜ ∑ yi −a1 ∑ xi ⎟
n
⎛ n ⎞ n ⎝ i =1 ⎠
n∑ xi − ⎜ ∑ xi ⎟
2 i =1

i =1 ⎝ i =1 ⎠

BENDING STRAIN AT THE BASE OF THE CANTILEVER:

6 PL
ε=
Ebt 2
P = Load;
L is the distance from the load to the gauges;
E is the modulus of elasticity approximately 2 x 1011 N/m2 for Stainless Steel;
b is the width, and
t is the thickness.

In a half-bridge configuration the strainmeter would show double the above value.