NDT:DETERMINATION OF PRINCIPAL STRESSES USING STRAIN-GAUGES

FY M.Tech Structural Engineering

GUIDED BY : PRESENTED BY :

DR. R . R . JOSHI 122119009 Aniruddh Pansambal

PROFESSOR APPLIED MECHANICS COEP 122119010 Shivam Patil
122119011 Shubham Patil
122119012 Shraddha Phalle

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What is a strain gauge?
•A strain gauge is a resistor used to measure strain on an object. When an external
force is applied on an object, due to which there is a deformation occurs in the
shape of the object.
•This deformation in the shape is both compressive or tensile is called strain, and it
is measured by the strain gauge.

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What is a strain gauge?
•When an object deforms within the limit of elasticity, either it becomes narrower
and longer or it become shorter and broadens.
•As a result of it, there is a change in resistance end-to-end.The strain gauge is
sensitive to that small changes occur in the geometry of an object.
• By measuring the change in resistance of an object, the amount of induced stress
can be calculated.

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Characteristics of Strain Gauges
•These are appropriate for longer periods with certain precautions
•They provide precise values with a change in temperature and other factors
•These are easy to manufacture because of simple components
•They are easy to maintain and has a long operating life
•This is totally encapsulated to protect from damages like handling and installation

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Types of Strain Gauges
1.Mechanical type
•Mechanical type of device such as extensometer or extension meter was used to
measure strain by measuring change in length
2.Photoelectric type
•Photoelectric strain gauge was also introduced which uses a light beam to
produce electric current corresponding to deformation
3.Electrical strain gauge
•The most commonly used strain gauge is an electrical resistance strain gauge.

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Working Principle of strain gauge
•The small changes in resistance of a gauge
are measured using the concept of
Wheatstone bridge. The figure illustrates
the general Wheatstone bridge, which has
four resistive arms and an excitation
voltage, VEX.
•The Wheatstone bridge has two
parallel voltage divider circuits. R1 and R2
form a one voltage divider circuit, R3 and
R4 form second voltage divider circuit.

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Working Principle of strain gauge
•The output voltage VO is given by

Vo=[R3/(R3+R4 )-R2/(R1+R2)]* VEX

•If R1/R2 = R4/R3, then the output voltage is zero and the bridge is said to be a
balanced bridge.

•A small change in resistance leads to a nonzero output voltage. If ‘R4’ is replaced

with a strain gauge and any changes in the resistance of strain gauge will
unbalance the bridge and produce nonzero voltage.

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Gauge factor of strain gauge
•The gauge factor GF is given as

GF= (∆R⁄RG )/ ε

Where,

•‘ΔR’ is the change in resistance due to strain.

•‘RG’ is the resistance of the undeformed gauge.

•‘ε’ is the strain.

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Strain Rosettes
•Since for strain analysis in biaxial state of stress we should know strain in three
directions and due to drawbacks in a strain gauge, Strain rosettes came in to
picture.

•Strain rosette can be defined as the arrangement of strain gauges in three

arbitrary directions. These strain gauges are used to measure the normal strain in
those three directions.

•Depending on the arrangement of strain gauges, strain rosettes are classified in to

Rectangular strain gauge rosette, Delta strain gauge rosette, Star strain gauge
rosette

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Strain Rosettes

Rectangular strain gauge rosette

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Strain Rosettes
•From the above strain rosettes we get three values of strains ie- strain A,B and C.
• By putting the values of the above strains and the angle these strain gauges make
with principal axes we get three equations on sloving these 3 equations we get
values of normal and shear strains.

εn = εx (Cosθ)^2 +εy (Sinθ)^2 + γxy Sinθ. Cosθ

•where εx = normal strain at a point in x-direction

•εy = normal strain at a point in y- direction

•γxy = shear strain at a point on x face in y direction
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Two Element Rectangular Rosette

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Three Element Rectangular Rosette
Delta Rosette

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Advantages and Drawbacks
Advantages
•Inexpensive, Affordable and Accurate.

Drawbacks
• A strain gauge is capable only of measuring strain in the direction in which gauge
is oriented.

•There is no direct way to measure the shear strain or to directly measure the
principal strains as directions of principal planes are not generally known.

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Applications
• Aerospace

•Cable bridges

•Rail monitoring

•Torque and power management in rotating equipment

•Vibration and torque measurement

•Bending and deflection measurement

•Tension, strain, and compression measurement 

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References
1) AM2540 Strength of Materials Laboratory - Course Material, IIT Madras
2) ME 8381-STRENGTH OF MATERIALS LAB MANUAL

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THANK YOU !

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