Research on electrical strain gages and experimental stress analysis: Case study for a full wheatstone bridge

Gürkan İrsel

doi:10.24012/dumf.1051434

Abstract

This study investigated electrical strain gage technology, which is widely used in experimental stress measurement, on an application. Strain gages are used to precisely measure strain directly in a system. This method is carried out to verify the numerical and analytical calculations performed or to record the strain data generated during the active duty of a system and to investigate the fatigue damage. In particular, verifying numerical calculations in the strength-material recovery optimizations of mass-produced systems contributes to the development of the system. In this study, strain measurement using strain gage and strain measurement technology is presented on an application. Information was given about strain gages. A full bridge wheatstone bridge consisting of 4 linear gages was created on a prototype. The system was tested with a load cell validation. Structural finite element analysis of the prototype and analytical calculation of the fullbridge strain gage connection were performed. The results showed that the measurement with the strain gauge differed 1.20% and 1.40% from the analytical and numerical results, respectively. Thus, precision strain measurement technology was successfully presented in engineering systems.

Highlights

Strain gages are used to measure the strain on an object with high measurement accuracy and small dimensions
The details of the experimental stress analysis performed with a full wheatstone bridge created with strain gages are presented
Strain measurement with strain gauge was demonstrated in detail and successfully with an application analytical and numerical results were determined 1.20% and 1.40% differed with experimental measurement results, respectively

Summary

Introduction

Strain gages are used to measure the strain on an object with high measurement accuracy and small dimensions. Ruge in 1938 [1]. They are used successfully in airplanes, especially in wing and landing gear, in heavy equipments, especially in chassis and gears, bridges, cranes, ships, automobiles, constructions etc. When a displacement occurs on the strain gauge, there is a change in its electrical resistance and with this change the amount of strain is measured. Stress value is obtained by associating this strain value with material properties. Strain measurement with strain gauges is carried out with special amplifiers (data acquisition system). This measurement requires many interrelated components and application expertise, from the selection and positioning of the strain gages to the visualization of the measurement with software.

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