Experience of using tensoresistive strain gauges in corrosive environments

Abstract

This work is devoted to the analysis of the design, installation and use of strain gauges in highly aggressive environments of potassium salts. The strain gauge system is a part of an integrated automated system for monitoring the deformation of a complex building structure. This structure is a special (industrial) building of the mining and processing plant of the Petrikovsky potassium salt deposit in the Republic of Belarus. Ensuring the performance of monitoring systems is one of the main problems in aggressive conditions. Strain gages are susceptible to salt exposure, as they are very poorly protected in the conventional design. Conventional strain-strain sensors are not designed to operate in such conditions and require the development of new solutions that will provide the desired measurement accuracy and will be durable. This paper presents new solutions for measuring deformations with high accuracy. The created sensors were tested both in the laboratory and in the test conditions at the potash plant site for two years.