Torque Measuring

Torque fundamental concepts

Outline

Basics
Physical definition of torque
Use of torque measuring
Mechanical basics

Different methods to measure torque

Principal assembly of strain gage torque transducer
Strain gage and measure bridge
Function
Compensation
Definition of Torque

y
Torque:
The vector product of position x
vector and force called torque z

r
M rF
M r F sin
F
Uses of Torque Measuring

Test Rigs (electric, combustion)

Power
Efficiency factor
Torque over angle rotation measuring
Etc.

Screw application
Detent torque
Calibrate torque key
Etc.
Stress and Strain

Strain is caused by torque

Elastic strain

If balanced forces act on a solid body from outside, a change in form

and volume occurs, which can be measured.
Once these forces stop acting the distortions go back completely,
provided that the deformation has not exceeded a certain limit
(adherence to the elastic range).
Otherwise the body of measurement becomes useless.
Stress and Strain

Strain is defined as the

relative change of length l / l

l

l
Hooks Law

Hooks range of the curve can be written as: The modulus of elasticity E
is the proportionality factor.
It is a material constant
with the unit [N / mm].
It influences the sensor performance
= Normalspannung
normal stress regarding its sensitivity. The module
modulus of elasticity itself is influenced by temperature.

With torsion applies to shear stress :

shear stress
shear module
slip

= poissons ratio
At one axle stress condition the following
(0,3 by metal)
relations apply :
Stress and Strain

The elastic range is influenced

by strain and the modulus of
elasticity. There is an overstrain plastic range
in the plastic range, making the
body of measurement useless

elastic range
Hooks
straight line

B = break strength
S = elastic limit
B= break stress
Conversion English/Metric

Symbol When you know Multiply by To find Symbol

lb-ft Pound-feet 0.1383 kilogram meters kgm

0z-in Ounce-inches 720 gram millimeters gmm

kgm Kilogram meters 7.233 gram millimeters lb-ft

gmm Gram millimeters 0.0014 Ounce-inches oz-in

lb-ft Pound-feet 192 Ounce-inches oz-in

Nm Ounce-inches 0.00521 Pound-feet lb-ft

Nm Newton-meters 8.85 Pound-inch lb-in

Kpm Kilopond-meters 7.233 Pound-feet lb-ft

Kpm Kilopond-meters 86.8 Pound-inch lb-in

Different Methods to Measure
Torque
Mechanical Strain Torsion Angle
resistive piezo electric optical transformer

resistive thick film sensor phase shift

strain gage angle difference shield

magneto elastic optical Differential Eddy-current

transformer

Pattern Photo elasticity

Ring magnet
recognition yoke coil slotted sleeves

capacitive resonators eddy current capacitive

capacitive mechanic surface wave segment disks

absolute differential
strain gage (oscillating string) resonator
Torque Measurement via
Differential Transformer
Due to torsion a coil leaves
its original position and like
that the induction/coupling
changes.
The illustration shows an Mt = 0

idealized coil system, in

practice the system is
Mt 0
positioned on a radius, i.e.
the signal is not linear.
Torque Measurement via
Differential Transformer
Applied for over 50 years
Very small measuring ranges
possible
No active components, low
inductivities
High temperature range
Accuracy is less than strain
gage transducer
Mechanical construction is very
complex
Torque Measurement with
Magneto-Flexible Toric Magnet

Passive system
Low cost
Less accuracy (0,5-1%)

A magnetic field is generated by a ring of magneto elastic material, which is magnetized

in circumferential direction. Influenced by stress a magnetic reorientation occurs,
and an extern magnetic field develops, which is measured with magnetic field sensors.
Torque Measurement using
Torsion Angle
In the range of elastic strain the following
correlation between the torsion angle and
torque M applies :

At circular-cylindrical shaft
applies:

Shear modulus 80.000 N/mm at steel).

Polar moment of inertia
Length of the torsion sector
Principal of Torque Transducer

Torque strain mV/V V

measuring strain-
body gage

V Digit Digit Digit

ADC transmission processing conversion
Voltage
Frequency
RS-232C
Field Bus
Strain Gages
Fig:
Standard strain gage

Cover
Connecting bands
In the strain gage method the
electric resistance of a wire is
measuring grid
changed by the influence of
strain . The length l of the
Support

wire is increased to the

length l+dl. The diameter D
is reduced by the amount dD.
length of
measuring grid
The change of resistance of
a wire is proportional to the
strain of the wire.
Wheatstone-Bridge

Minor changes of Resistance generate a output voltage

KSM uses exclusively the full bridge. In a full bridge R1 and R4 must
be strained and R2 and R3 compressed.

R3 R1
UB
US

R4 R2
Wheatstone-Bridge

Bridge sensitivity EB is the quotient of bridge voltage UB and bridge

supply voltage US
The bridge voltage UB is proportional to the strain, which is
measured

UB k
EB
U S 1000
mV m
[EB ] ; [U B ] mV ; [U S ] V ; [ ]
V m

k k Factor
Example for Strain Gage
Measurement
On the upside and bottom side
of a bending beam (width b and
height h) strain gages are
arranged at l intervals from the
strain gage power flow. In the illustration the
upper strain gage is strained
and the lower strain gage is
width b
compressed.
The strain of the bending
beam at the position l is
calculated as follows:

6l F

b h2 E
Application of Strain Gage in
Industry
The measuring technology with strain gage is universally
applied in practice. This method helps to obtain maximum
accuracies (0,1% or better)
Advantages:
Can be applied in calibration devices
No drift, static measurement are possible

Disadvantages:
Application of strain gage and the evaluation of the signal are complex
An energy supply is required
The ambient temperature for STM torque sensors is maximally 100C

Strain gage application at STM is only performed by

specialists in a clean room
Strain Gage Application

Marking lines on the measuring body to place the strain gage

Pasting the strain gage on the measuring body
Wiring the strain gage
Cover the strain gage
Make the compensation
Strain Gage Application and
Clean Room
Fig:
Workplace for
strain-gage application

Fig:
Endoscope for quality
assurance +
humidity sensor

Clean Room Cell Class 100

Particle size Particle no. / dm Particle no. / dm
inside outside
1,0 0 ~110.000
Pasting in the Clean Room

The body of measurement is

cleaned carefully
Glue is thinly brushed on the strain
gage and contact spot on the body of
measurement, then the product is
aire for 10 minutes
The strain gage is precisely
positioned on the contact spot and
pressed on
Soldering tags are affixed together
with the strain gage in the same
manner
Pasting in the Clean Room

Strain gages are covered with Teflon foil and silicone rubber
pad.
Contact pressure is applied
The applied body of measurement is hardened in the oven
The body of measurement is cleaned carefully again
Wiring

The strain gage bridge is

interconnected with wires of the
same length and the leads
soldered On.
The connecting leads are
covered with Coat.
Wires must fit closely to the
body of measurement. After the
wiring, a temperature
compensation and a zero point
compensation are carried out.
Compensation

Copper wire (positive

temperature coefficient) is
connect in series to one of the
resistor to compensate the
temperature influence
R3 R1
Manganin wire (zero temperature UB
US
coefficient) is connect in series to
compensate Zero-Point R4 R2
Application Examples