Strain Gauge

Tutorial
Typical Questions

Process Control & Instrumentation EEE4093F

R. Verrinder (2008)

Example 1:

Strain Gauges

A uniaxial strain gauge with an unstrained

resistance of 50W and a gauge factor of 3 is
glued onto a steel rod 1m long. The steel rod is
placed under tension and it stretches by 1.3mm.
What will the new resistance of the strain gauge
be?

Process Control & Instrumentation EEE4093F

R. Verrinder (2008)

Answers: Example 1
R 50W
S 3
L 1m

L 1.3 103 m
R
R

L
L

R R S

L
1.3 103

503

195 103 W

RS R R 50 195 103 50.195W

Process Control & Instrumentation EEE4093F
R. Verrinder (2008)

Example 2: Strain Gauges

A uniaxial strain gauge is placed on a steel reinforcing

bar. The bar has a cross-sectional area of 1cm2 (1 x
10-4 m2) and the steel has a Youngs Modulus of 200 x
103 MPa. The bar is then pulled by a force of 1000N.

a) How much will the strain will be placed on the bar if

we know that
F

b) If the strain gauge has a sensitivity of 2 and a basic

resistance of 75W, what will its resistance be after
the bar is stretched?
Process Control & Instrumentation EEE4093F
R. Verrinder (2008)

Answers: Example 2a
A 1 104 m 2
E 200 109 Pa
F 1000 N

FA
E

1000

7
4
1

10
1

10

1 107

50
9
E 200 10
Process Control & Instrumentation EEE4093F
R. Verrinder (2008)

Answers: Example 2b
S 2
R 75W

R
R

R 2 75 50 106 0.0075W
RS R R 75.0075W

Process Control & Instrumentation EEE4093F

R. Verrinder (2008)

Example 3: Strain Gauges

The picture shows a badly-designed link holding two

cables together. We can see that when the cables are
placed under tension, the bar will bend. Show where
you would place strain gauges to measure:

a) How much the bar is bending

b) How much tension the bar is under

Process Control & Instrumentation EEE4093F

R. Verrinder (2008)

Answers: Example 3a and 3b

a) Place one strain
gauge on the top
and bottom of the
beam

b) Place the strain

gauge on the side of
the beam
Process Control & Instrumentation EEE4093F
R. Verrinder (2008)

Example 4: Strain Gauges

A factory decides to make a quick and simple

scale by welding a hook on the end of a steel
bar, and then putting a strain gauge on the
bar. The bar has a rectangular cross-section of
10mm x 25mm and a Youngs Modulus of 210
MPa

a)

What is the relationship between the mass

hung on a hook and the strain on the bar.
Assume that the mass of the hook and bar is
negligible

b)

If a uniaxial strain gauge, with a gauge factor

of 2 and a basic resistance of 100W, was
attached to the bar what would the relationship
between mass and resistance be?

Process Control & Instrumentation EEE4093F

R. Verrinder (2008)

Example 4 Cont.: Strain Gauges

c)

Design a simple circuit which would give an output of

1V/kg when our input voltage is 10V

d)

If the bar had a coefficient of expansion of 3x10-6 m/C,

what would the error on the mass reading be if the bar
heated up by 10C

e)

Show how you would arrange the strain gauges to

prevent errors from temperature changes

f)

Design a new circuit using the arrangement in e)

Process Control & Instrumentation EEE4093F

R. Verrinder (2008)

Answers: Example 4a
A 0.01 0.025 0.00025 m 2
E 210 106 Pa
g 9.8 m /s2

F A Mg A
E

AE

M
g
250 106 210 106

9.8

5357.14

Process Control & Instrumentation EEE4093F

R. Verrinder (2008)

Answers: Example 4b
S 2
R 100W

18.666 103 M
R

R
R S R 18.666 103 M

2 100 18.666 103 M

37.3333103 M
0.04 M

Process Control & Instrumentation EEE4093F

R. Verrinder (2008)

Answers: Example 4c

Process Control & Instrumentation EEE4093F

R. Verrinder (2008)

Answers: Example 4c cont.

R R
V1 Vi

2
R

Vo V1 V2

if V2

Vo AVi
A

Vi
2

R R Vi
Vo Vi

2
R

V1 V2
Vo

if M 1 kg; V 1V

1
100.04 Vi
Vi

200
.
04

2
10002.0004 10002.0004

1000
Vi
10

R 100W
R 0.04 M

Vi 10V

R2 R1.A 1103 1000 1106 1M

100 0.04 M
Vo 10.
5
200

0
.
04
M

Process Control & Instrumentation EEE4093F

R. Verrinder (2008)

R2
R1

Answers: Example 4d
S 2
R 100W

3 106 / C
T 10 C

R
R

L
L

L 0.0002ML
L 0.0002M L T

and R 0 .04 M

SR
L 0.04 M

0.0002M
L 2 100

Process Control & Instrumentation EEE4093F

R. Verrinder (2008)

0.0002M L 30 10
0.0002M L 30 10
0 .0002ML 6 10 M

L 0.0002M L 3 106 10
6
6

-9

Answers: Example 4e

Process Control & Instrumentation EEE4093F

R. Verrinder (2008)

Answers: Example 4f

Process Control & Instrumentation EEE4093F

R. Verrinder (2008)