Electrical Strain

Gages

The electrical resistance strain is a metal wire or

metal foil strip which is wafer-like and can be
stuck onto surfaces like a postage stamp.

Straingauge

Typical bonded strain gages

When a strain gauge is bonded to an object,

and the
object changes in size, the resistance of the
strain
gauge will change. The resistance R is given by
the
expression:

R= l/A
Where:

l is the length of the wire in meters

is the resistivity of the material in ohm

meters

When strain gauges measure the changing

dimensions of an object, they are measuring strain.
Strain is the ratio of the change in dimension of an
object to the original dimension
Mechanical strain

= L / L

When subject to strain, its resistance R changes, the

fractional change in resistance R/R being
proportional to the mechanical strain i.e.
Electrical strain

R/R= G . L/L

where G is the gauge factor (1.8 2.2)

Potential
Divider

Potential Divider with differential

amplifier

Wheatstone Bridge

The four arms of the

bridge circuit are
formed by the
resistance R1 to R4.
The corner points 1 and
4 are connected to the
input voltage Vin

R
1

R
2

4
R
3

The corner points 2 and

3 are connected to the
output voltage Vo.

3
Vin

R
4

V
o

Quarter strain gauge bridge with differential ampli

Half strain gauge bridge with differential amplifie

Full strain gauge bridge with differential

amplifier

Interpretation of
results
(Example 1)

Meter reading

(Example 2)

Meter reading

Strain Gages - review

Strain = Elongation / Original Length

Change in length = Change in electrical resistance

Electrical Resistance change is very small, too small

to be accurately measured using ordinary
voltmeters

Wheatstone Bridge

Converts a change Voltage change is too

small to be accurately
in electrical
resistance from a
measured and for this
strain gage to a
reason an amplifier is
change in voltage
used
Changes in strain
are linearly related
to a change in
voltage output