INSTRUMENTATION AND MEASUREMENT

LAB SESSION#3
TO EXPLORE & STUDY STRAIN GAUGE SENSOR & PRESSURE SENSOR

Semester: ____________________
Student name: ________________
Student ID: ___________________
Class ID: ______________________

TASK CLO1 CLO2 CLO3

Total Marks Total Total

Marks Obtained Marks Marks
TASK#1: 2.5 0 0
Characteristics of Strain Gauge sensor
TASK#2: 2 0 0
Over weight Alarm
TASK#3 1.5 0 0
To observe change in pressure through
pressure sensor
TASK #4 1.5 0 0
TASK #5 1.5 0 0
Lab performance 1 0 0
Total Marks 10 0 0

Signature of faculty/lab engineer: __________________________

Remarks (if any): ____________________________________________

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OBJECTIVES:
 PART ‘A’: To Measure the strain applied to the strain gauge sensor.
 PART ‘B’: To observe the change in pressure through pressure sensor.
 PART ‘C’ : To understand the function of different structures in LABVIEW

PART ‘A’
THEORY:

STRAIN GAUGE:
Strain gauge is a device for indicating the strain of a material or structure at the point of
attachment. It is a sensor whose resistance varies with applied force; it converts force,
pressure, tension, weight, etc., into a change in electrical resistance which can then be
measured. When external forces are applied to a stationary object, stress and strain are the
result. Stress is defined as the object's internal resisting forces, and strain is defined as the
displacement and deformation that occur.

LOAD CELLS:
One important and direct application of the SG’s is for the measurement of force or weight.
These transducer devices, called ‘Load cells’ measure deformations produces by the force or
weight.
Practically load cells are made with the yoke assembly having several strain gauges that are
mounted to measure the application of force.

STRAIN GAUGE MODULE:

Figure 3-1 shows a strain gauge transducer circuit having a transduction ratio of 1mV/g. The
load cell used in this experiment has a measuring range of 0 to 5kg with 20mV+-10% full-scale
output; the recommended excitation voltage is +-5V DC, and the output transduction ratio of
4mV+-10% /kg.
In Figure 6-1, an instrumental amplifier consists of operational amplifiers U4, U5 and U6, with a
total voltage gain of 2*R15 / (R24+R25). To obtain an output of 1 mV/g, the voltage gain of the
Instrumental amplifier must be 250 (4mV/kgx250 =1mV/g). Owing to the load cell output is
20mV; offset voltages of operational amplifiers will cause deviations. Therefore an operational
amplifier with extra -low offset voltage model 0P~07 and may be recommended for improving
the deviations.

Under a null weight condition, the output voltage of the load cell is not zero, and the output
transduction ratio is not exactly at 4mV/kg, it can be improved with providing an offset voltage
to the input of instrumentation amplifier, and the latter can be improved with adjusting the R24
to increase the voltage gains.
R22 may be from +12V to -12V. By adjusting the R22, the transduction output is easily obtained
a zero under null weight condition.

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 Fig 3-1
TASK#1

Determine the characteristics of Strain Gauge sensor

PROCEDURE:
1. Set the strain gauge module KL-64007 on the Trainer KL-62001 and connect the power cable
between the module and the trainer.
2. Power up the trainer and adjust potentiometer R22 for null weight condition to Vo20 = 0V.
3. Put the maximum weight provided on the strain gauge (not more than 5 Kg). Adjust R24 for
Vo20 maximum (or whatever you think is suitable). This is the full scale output of your
instrument.
4. Measure and record the output voltage Vo20 for different weights.

OBSERVATIONS: /1.5

Weight 20g 40g 60g 80g 100g 120g 140g 160g 180g 200g

Vo20

5. Plot the weight vs. voltage graph using the recorded data on a given graph paper.
6. Find out the transduction ratio using the data and the graph.
Hint: Mention the transduction ratio YOU HAVE SET and the transduction ratio from the
recorded data.

3
/3.5

4
TASK#2

Over weight Alarm.

PROCEDURE:
1. Repeat steps 1 to 3 in the experiment above.
2. Connect Vo20 on the module to V+ of COMPARATOR on the Trainer KL-62001.
3. Connect V- of the comparator to VR2 of the Potentiometer on KL-62001.
4. Connect VR1 to +12V and VR3 to -12V on KL-62001.
5. Connect Vo of comparator to Alarm Sin on KL-62001.
6. Change the weights and observe the alarm buzzer.

Fig 3-2

PART ‘B’
THEORY:
PRESSURE SENSOR
A pressure sensor is a device for pressure measurement of gases or liquids. Pressure is an
expression of the force required to stop a fluid from expanding, and is usually stated in terms of
force per unit area. A pressure sensor usually acts as a transducer; it generates a signal as
a function of the pressure imposed.
The pneumatic pressure sensor is based on the piezoresistive (change in conductivity of
semiconductors) effect. When a constant-current source is applied to the bridge, the change in
resistance will be converted into the change in voltage.

Fig 3-3

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 Figure 3-4

In Figure 3-4,
Q1 provides fixed current source. U3 is non-inverting amplifier.
Gain = Vf1/V3 = (1+R13/R12) = 2 .U3 is used for output voltage (Vo19) adjustment.

Since R8 = R14

U1 and U2 are non-inverting amplifier. Use VR1 to adjust the current through U1 feedback
loop (R3). Use VR5 to adjust the current through U2 feedback loop (R7)

TASK#3
To observe change in pressure through pressure sensor

PROCEDURE:

1. Power on the Pressure sensor module KL-64007.

2. Use lead wire to short +Vo and –Vo point.
3. Adjust VR1 so that VU26 is equal to 0 volt.
4. Disconnect the lead wire between +Vo and –Vo.
5. Adjust VR11 so that Vo19 is close to 1500mV.
6. Adjust VR5 for the fine tune so that Vo19 is equal to 1500mV.
7. Use bellows to input air pressure to P1. What’s the status of Vo19?
8. Use bellows to input air pressure to P2. What’s the status of Vo19

OBSERVATIONS:

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 PART ‘C’
THEORY:
In any programming language, structures are used to create conditions. In LabVIEW, structures
are accessed by opening the functions palette and selecting Structures. The following are some
examples of structures:

 The while loop is similar to the do loop or while in text-based programming languages. It
executes its subdiagram (or subroutine) until it receives a false value
 The for loop executes a subdiagram a set number of times specified by the value in the
count terminal
 The case structure is similar to if/else, switch/case, or match/with in text-based
programming languages. It contains multiple subdiagrams — one for each possible value of
the input to the case structure

TASK#4
Build a VI that simulates a heating and cooling system. The system must be controlled manually
or automatically. Design the VI so that:

 The air conditioner is turned on when the temperature is above 80°F

 The heater is turned on when the temperature is less than 60°F
 The heater and the air conditioner are turned off when the temperature is between 60°F
and 80°F

TASK#5
Build a VI that simulates a lighting system in a house with four rooms. The design must include
four lights (LEDs) and at least five switches — one switch per light and one master switch that
will turn all of the lights off simultaneously (think of this as a circuit breaker). The program
should also interact with real LEDs located on the NI-ELVIS board.

 The front panel of the program should include five switches and four LEDs.
 The back panel requires a case structure for the master switch to turn off all the lights.