ME 2114E/TME2114-1

STRAIN GAUGE TECHNIQUE

04 Mar. 17

Name Matric Number

WANG WEIXIN A0103700A
1. Introduction
The purpose of this experiment is to introduce students to the use of certain measuring
equipment commonly found in the applied mechanics laboratories. In this case a
cantilever beam is used as an object to illustrate the use of a strain meter. The results are
further used to study the static behaviour of a cantilever beam under a point load at the
free end.

2. Objectives

Through this experiment we understand the relationship between the loading weight and
the strain wh To introduce the use of certain measuring equipment commonly found in
the applied mechanics laboratories.

To study the static behaviour of a cantilever beam under a point load at the free end.

3. Experimental Procedure
(1) Measure the width b and thickness t at three different sections along the length of the
beam.
(2) Set up the clock gauges so as to measure the end deflection YL
(3) Connect the strain gauges measuring the surface strains at locations A and C to the
strain meter using, the quarter bridge configuration.
(4) Load the beam and at each load increment record the deflection, YL and the strain
readings A e f and g .
(5) Unload the beam and on unloading, record the corresponding strain readings
A e f and g .Disconnect the strain gauges at A and C and remove the clock
gauges.
(6) Connect the strain gauges measuring the surface axial strain at locations A and B to
the strainmeter using the half-bridge configuration. Load the beam and at each load
increment record the strain reading, AB.
 4. Table & Sample calculation
P in YL (mm) A () Theoretical e ()
KG Loading Unloading Average Loading Unloading Average A () Loading Unloading Average

0.25 0.443 0.450 0.4465 21 20 20.05 20.09 30 31 30.05

0.50 0.88 0.88 0.865 40 40 40 40.18 59 60 59.5
0.75 1.30 1.31 1.305 61 60 60.05 60.27 88 89 88..5
1.00 1.72 1.74 1.73 79 79 79 80.36 117 117 117
1.25 2.14 2.16 2.15 100 99 99.5 100.45 145 147 146
1.50 2.57 2.57 2.57 118 118 118 120.54 174 174 174

P in f () g () AB () 1 ()
KG Loading Unloading Average Loading Unloading Average Loading Unloading Average

0.25 13 13 13 -8 -8 -8 39 40 39.5 30.105

0.50 25 25 25 -17 -17 -17 78 78 78 60.159
0.75 37 37 37 -26 -26 -26 117 118 117.5 85.969
1.00 49 50 49.5 -39 -35 -37 156 156 156 117.584
1.25 62 61 61.5 -44 -44 -44 194 196 195 147.070
1.50 73 73 73 -52 -52 -52 234 234 234 174.027

Calculation of theoretical strain @ point A, as E=110GPA,

P=0.250KG
3 PL 3 x 0.25 x 9.81 x 0.3
A= Ebt = 110 x 109 x 0.02533 x 0.00628 =20.09

Taking P=0.250kg,
e + g 1
1= 2 + 2 [(e- g) +(2 f -e -g)]
30.5+(8) 1
1= 2 + 2 [(30.5- (-8)) + (2 X 13 -30.5 (-8))]
1=34.02
e + g 1
2= 2 - 2 [(e- g) +(2 f -e -g)]
 30.5+(8) 1
2= 2 - 2 [(30.5- (-8)) + (2 X 13 -30.5 (-8))]
2=-11.52
5. Graphs
(i) P against YL
1.60

1.40

1.20 Slope=0.584kg/
mm
1.00

0.80
P

0.60

0.40

0.20

0.00
0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50 3.00

(ii) P against A
1.60

1.40 Slope=0.0128 /Strain

1.20

1.00

0.80

0.60

0.40

0.20

0.00
0.00 20.00 40.00 60.00 80.00 100.00 120.00 140.00

(iii) P against AB
12

Slope=0.0064 /Strain
10

0
0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 10.00 12.00

Slope=0.0084 /Strain
 (iv) P against e
1.60

1.40

1.20

1.00

0.80
P

0.60

0.40

0.20

0.00
20.00 40.00 60.00 80.00 100.00 120.00 140.00 160.00 180.00 200.00

(v) P against 1

1.60

1.40
Slope=0.0083 /Strain
1.20

1.00

0.80
P2

0.60

0.40

0.20

0.00
20.00 40.00 60.00 80.00 100.00 120.00 140.00 160.00 180.00 200.00

5(3) From graph 1(i),

 P 4 L
X =E
YL bt
4 X 0.3 3
X 0.2172 X 9.81 X 10
E= 0.02533 X 0.00628

E=36.68 Gpa
5 (4) For 1(ii),Slope=0.0128 /Strain , and for 1(iii) Slope=0.0064 /Strain, the ratio is about twice
of 1(ii) to 1(iii).

5(5) From the graph 1(ii), it shown that the theoretical values of strain are very close to what we
have calculated from the equation.

5(6) Both 2 values are very close to each other. As the maximum principal strain is the strain
gauge.

5(7) The values of unloading for A e f and g are only used to get the average values
of loading weight. This will help us to get more accurate result while we compute
the strain in every equation.

6. Summary of the experiment

.
7. Conclusion

In this experiment, we designed and implemented a