ME314/514

EXPERIMENTAL MEASUREMENTS AND INSTRUMENTATION LABORATORY

LAB 8: Stain Gauge Measurement

WRIGHT STATE UNIVERSITY

Objective: There are three objectives to this lab: 1) to use a strain gauge including the
Wheatstone bridge, 2) to calibrate a cantilever beam to measure weight using the strain
gauge as the sensor, and 3) determine the ringing frequency of your newly made
measurement device.
References: LabVIEW help, Chapter 1, 3, and 11 of textbook. National Instruments web
site: http://zone.ni.com/devzone/cda/tut/p/id/4179 . See also the links presented on this
web site.
Boundaries of Lab Report:
Abstract: Strain gauges, calibration, and ringing frequency (do not branch into a
general discussion of second order systems, we have already done this)
Introduction: Strain gauges, calibration, and ringing frequency (do not branch
into a general discussion of second order systems, we have already done this)
Theory: Strain gauges, calibration, and ringing frequency (do not branch into a
general discussion of second order systems, we have already done this. Focus on
the ringing frequency.)
Experimental Apparatus and Procedure: Strain gauges, cantilever beam,
Wheatstone bridge, and LabVIEW program. Do not give details of the Data
Acquisition system just say what you are using in terms of data acquisition.
Results and Discussion: Strain gauges, calibration, and ringing frequency
Conclusions: Strain gauges, calibration, and ringing frequency
A formal lab report is due on March 21, 2008, by 2:00 pm. You may deposit it in my
mailbox in Room 209 RC or you can come to my office.
Equipment:
1. Computer
2. LabView Software
3. Data Acquisition Card
4. Connector Box
5. Breadboard
6. Six 1 ohm resistors and Three 118 ohm resisters
7. Voltmeter
8. 9 Volt Battery
9. One Omega SGD-1.5/120-LY11 linear strain gauge with a nominal resistance of
120 ohms, a GF = 1.99, and tolerance of 0.35%
10. One aluminum bar with poisons ratio = 0.33
11. One C-clamp
12. Two alligator clamp wires
13. Four precision Mini-clip test jumpers
14. Small connector wires
1

15. One vernier caliper

16. Weights
17. One balance scale for entire class
Theory: The theory for strain gauges is given in Chapter 11 of your book. For purposes
of this lab I would like to remind you of a few concepts and give you a few particulars to
this lab.
Strain gauges measure the strain in a material by sensing a resistance change. In
general this resistance change is sensed as a voltage change across a Wheatstone bridge.
The Wheatstone bridge used in this experiment is a Quarter Bridge Type I Wheatstone
bridge. This type of Wheatstone bridge is shown in Figure 1. The quarter bridge refers to
the fact that only one active strain gauge is in the bridge circuit and not two, three, or four
active strain gauges. The Type I implies there is no inactive strain gauges used for
temperature compensation. We only have the one strain gauge in our experiment. From
our book the equation relating output voltage to a resistance change in the strain gauge is
E o R

Eo
4R
This can be altered to relate the output voltage to the strain by using the stain gauge
factor
E o GF

Eo
4
To be more precise more effects can be included in the equation such as the effect of the
lead resistances. We also will only look at changes in strain from a zeroed point. In this
case the following equation should be used

4Vr
1 RL

GF 1 2Vr
R g

where
Vr

VCH
VEx

Rg = R4 = the beginning strain gauge resistance,

R1=R2=R3 the resisters in the circuit which should be as close as possible to Rg
RL = the lead wire resistance
GF = the gauge factor
VEx = the excitation voltage
VCH = the measured voltage

Figure1.ElectricalschematicofWheatstonebridgecircuit
(From

National

Instruments

Website:
http://zone.ni.com/devzone/cda/tut/p/id/4172).
Note that in this lab the strain gauge has been mounted to register a bending moment
strain. For purposes of this lab we do not have to relate this strain to a stress. We simple
have to record the strain for different conditions. This is fortunate because the strain
gauges are not mounted exactly aligned with the long axis of the cantilever beam.
With this strain gauge you are required to do two things: calibrate it so that it can
measure the weight of a light object and then measure the ringing frequency of this
measurement device. The calibration of a measurement device can be performed by
putting known weights on the end of the device and recording the measured output. Since
the device is linear only two points should be required. However, it is always a good idea
to obtain a few other points. I would recommend three. The ringing frequency can be
obtained by perturbing the system and watching its time response. The formula for the
ringing frequency is
This formula will not help you because you do not know the damping ratio or the natural
frequency. You need to get the ringing frequency by measuring the response of the beam
to a step perturbation.
Procedure:
1. Make the circuit shown in Figure 1.
2. Alter your LabVIEW program to measure strain.
3. Set your sampling rate and number of samples to numbers that provide good
representations of the waveform.
4. Because you essentially have a linear system for measuring weight, over a certain
range anyways, you only need two points to do your calibration; I would
recommend three. You may want to add a numerical output to the program for this
operation.
5. Perturb the beam downward with your finger and let it go. Make measurements
during this time to determine the ringing frequency.

CAUTION!!!
1. Try not to leave the battery connected when you are not making measurements. We
need to try and make these batteries last.
Desired Results:
1. Provide plots of your data used to determine the ringing frequency.
2. Provide a table of your calibration data.
3. Provide an equation that converts the voltage reading that you get from the strain
gauge system to the appropriate weight.