CE75.

09 Structural Health Evaluation and Monitoring of Buildings

Punchet Thammarak, Ph.D.

Quarter Bridge Measurement (3-wire system)

The resistance from lead wires, RL , and also the change of lead
wire resistance, ΔRL , due to temperature changes will be
cancelled out by 3-wire system.

R1
R + ΔRɛ + ΔRT
Excitation Voltage + (A)

RL + ΔRL

R 4= R
RL + ΔRL
RL + ΔRL

Signal - (B)
(C)
G RG =
Signal +

R2
Wiring Diagram
R R3=R
R + ΔRɛ + ΔRT

RL + ΔRL
RL + ΔRL Referred to Tokyo Sokki Manual E10007E

RL + ΔRL Excitation Voltage –

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 CE75.09 Structural Health Evaluation and Monitoring of Buildings
Punchet Thammarak, Ph.D.

Quarter Bridge Measurement (3-wire system)

The lead-wire resistance compensation can be explained by the following

proof

𝑅 𝑅
𝑉 =𝑉 × −
𝑅 +𝑅 𝑅 +𝑅

𝑅 + 𝑅 + ∆𝑅 𝑅
𝑉 =𝑉 × −
𝑅 + 𝑅 + ∆𝑅 + 𝑅 + 𝑅 𝑅+𝑅

𝑉 𝑅 + 𝑅 + ∆𝑅 1
= −
𝑉 2𝑅 + 2𝑅 + ∆𝑅 2

𝑉 2𝑅 + 2𝑅 + 2∆𝑅 − 2𝑅 + 2𝑅 + ∆𝑅
=
𝑉 4𝑅 + 4𝑅 + 2∆𝑅

𝑉 ∆𝑅 ∆𝑅 1
= = ×
𝑉 4𝑅 + 4𝑅 + 2∆𝑅 𝑅 4 + 4 𝑅 + 2 ∆𝑅
𝑅 𝑅

𝑉 ∆𝑅
𝑉
=
𝑅 ΔRL is insignificant
𝑅 4+4 , dropped out.
𝑅

𝑹
𝑽𝒐 𝟒+𝟒 𝑳
𝜺 = × 𝑹
𝑽𝒆 𝑮𝑭

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 CE75.09 Structural Health Evaluation and Monitoring of Buildings
Punchet Thammarak, Ph.D.

The order of magnitude of the ratios, dismissed above shall be considered in the
following

RL 0.44 Ω/m
R 120 Ω, 350 Ω, 1,000 Ω

Example
If the lead wire is 10m long (one leg), RL = 4.4 Ω. The measurement will be carried
out to the strain level of 10,000 με.

RL/R = 4.4/120 = 0.037 (for 120 Ω gauge) or 4.4/350 = 0.013 (for 350 Ω gauge)
ΔR/R = 0.01 (insignificant)

Thus,

𝑽𝒐 𝟒 + 𝟒 × 𝟎. 𝟎𝟑𝟕
𝜺 = × = 𝟐. 𝟎𝟕𝟑
𝑽𝒆 𝟐

for 120 Ω gage

𝑽𝒐 𝟒 + 𝟒 × 𝟎. 𝟎𝟑𝟕
𝜺 = × = 𝟐. 𝟎𝟐𝟓
𝑽𝒆 𝟐

for 350 Ω gage

Page 40
 CE75.09 Structural Health Evaluation and Monitoring of Buildings
Punchet Thammarak, Ph.D.

Quarter Bridge Measurement (2-wire system)

The resistance in strain gauges, R, and lead wires, RL , used in the

2-wire system, are generally compensated from the factory. In
other words, the value of R + 2RL is tuned to either 120Ω or 350 Ω.

R1
R + ΔRɛ + ΔRT
Excitation Voltage + (A)

RL + ΔRL

R 4= R

RL + ΔRL

Signal - (B) Rs ≈ 0 G RG =
Signal +
(C)

Wiring Diagram R2=R R3=R

R + ΔRɛ + ΔRT

RL + ΔRL
RL + ΔRL
Rs ≈ 0 Excitation Voltage –

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 CE75.09 Structural Health Evaluation and Monitoring of Buildings
Punchet Thammarak, Ph.D.

Quarter Bridge Measurement (2-wire system)

The lead-wire resistance compensation can be explained by the following

proof
𝑅 = 𝑅 + ∆𝑅 + ∆𝑅 + 2𝑅 + 2∆𝑅 = 𝑅 + 𝑅 + ∆𝑅
𝑅 =𝑅 =𝑅 =𝑅
𝑅 = 2𝑅 + 2∆𝑅
∆𝑅 = ∆𝑅 + ∆𝑅

𝑹𝟏 𝑹𝟒
𝑽𝒐 = 𝑽𝒆 × −
𝑹 𝟏 + 𝑹𝟐 𝑹 𝟑 + 𝑹 𝟒

𝑹 + 𝑹𝑴 + ∆𝑹 𝑹
𝑽𝒐 = 𝑽𝒆 × −
𝑹 + 𝑹𝑴 + ∆𝑹 + 𝑹 𝑹+𝑹

𝑽𝒐 𝑹 + 𝑹𝑴 + ∆𝑹 𝟏
= −
𝑽𝒆 𝟐𝑹 + 𝑹𝑴 + ∆𝑹 𝟐

𝑽𝒐 𝟐𝑹 + 𝟐𝑹𝑴 + 𝟐∆𝑹 − 𝟐𝑹 + 𝑹𝑴 + ∆𝑹
=
𝑽𝒆 𝟒𝑹 + 𝟐𝑹𝑴 + 𝟐∆𝑹

𝑹
𝑽𝒐 ∆𝑹 + 𝑹𝑴 ∆𝑹 𝟏+ 𝑴
= = × ∆𝑹
𝑽𝒆 𝟒𝑹 + 𝟐𝑹𝑴 + 𝟐∆𝑹 𝑹 𝟒 + 𝟐 𝑹𝑴 + 𝟐 ∆𝑹
𝑹 𝑹

𝑳
𝒐
𝒆

Page 42
 CE75.09 Structural Health Evaluation and Monitoring of Buildings
Punchet Thammarak, Ph.D.

Quarter Bridge Measurement (2-wire system)

The term RM/ΔR is going to be a problem here (this is huge). The manufacturing of
gauges for 2-wire system must be adjusted (at the factory) such that the total gauge
resistances (strain gauge + lead wire) are close to the desired resistances (either 120
Ω or 350 Ω). Without this proper lead-wire resistance compensation, the initial
reading from “Quarter-bridge measurement” will not be close to zero, which will
cause the strain to fall off the reading range (greater than 19,000 με for UCAM-550 &
50,000 με for NI-9237) easily.

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 CE75.09 Structural Health Evaluation and Monitoring of Buildings
Punchet Thammarak, Ph.D.

1-Gauge Strain Measurement with Temperature Compensation

The temperature strain, if undesired, shall be removed from the measured

strain to obtain the pure mechanical strain. To do so, there are 2 different
approaches as follows:

1. Using 2 gauges, one active gauge and one temperature gauge, on 2

quarter-bridge channels (costly but temperature distribution at each
location can be determined) > See 2-wire system
2. Using 2 gauges, one active gauge and one temperature gauge, on 1
half-bridge channel. The temperature strain will be removed
automatically from the reading, which leaves only mechanical strain.
Temperature profile will be unknown.

F
For thermal strain compensation, the
dummy gauge must be mounted for Temperature Change, ΔT
thermal contact but un-bonded to avoid
the Poisson’s effect (transverse strain).
ԑT

ԑ Mech + ԑ T

F
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CE75.09 Structural Health Evaluation and Monitoring of Buildings
Punchet Thammarak, Ph.D.

Half Bridge Measurement for

Temperature Compensation

(Active-Dummy Method)

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 CE75.09 Structural Health Evaluation and Monitoring of Buildings
Punchet Thammarak, Ph.D.

R + ΔRɛ + ΔRT

R + ΔRT

R + ΔRɛ + ΔRT

R + ΔRT

Gage R2 must be fully disengaged from the substrate. > No Poisson’s effect.

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 CE75.09 Structural Health Evaluation and Monitoring of Buildings
Punchet Thammarak, Ph.D.

Half Bridge Measurement (Active-Dummy Method, same leg)

R1

R + ΔRɛ + ΔRT Excitation Voltage + (A)

RL + ΔRL

R 4= R

RL + ΔRL
Signal - (B)
RL + ΔRL G Signal +

R2
R3=R
RL + ΔRL

R + ΔRT Excitation Voltage – (C)

Wiring Diagram
R + ΔRɛ RL + ΔRL
+ ΔRT RL + ΔRL
RL + ΔRL
R + ΔRT RL + ΔRL

Page 47
 CE75.09 Structural Health Evaluation and Monitoring of Buildings
Punchet Thammarak, Ph.D.

Half Bridge Measurement (Active-Dummy Method, same leg)

- Compensate temperature strain & lead wire resistances

Strain # 1 : Mechanical strain + Temperature strain

Strain # 2 : Temperature strain

Let &

Resistance#1
Resistance#2

𝑅 + ∆𝑅 + ∆𝑅 + 𝑅 𝑅
𝑉 =𝑉 × −
𝑅 + ∆𝑅 + ∆𝑅 + 𝑅 + 𝑅 + ∆𝑅 + 𝑅 𝑅+𝑅

𝑅 + ∆𝑅 + ∆𝑅 + 𝑅 1
𝑉 =𝑉 × −
2𝑅 + ∆𝑅 + 2∆𝑅 + 2𝑅 2

∆𝑅
𝑉 =𝑉 ×
4𝑅 + 2∆𝑅 + 4∆𝑅 + 4𝑅

𝑉 ∆𝑅 1
=
𝑉 𝑅 4 + 2 ∆𝑅 + 4 ∆𝑅 + 4 𝑅
𝑅 𝑅 𝑅

𝑽𝒐 ∆𝑹𝜺
=
𝑽𝒆 𝑹 𝟒 + 𝟒 𝑹𝑴
𝑹

𝑹
𝑽𝒐 𝟒+𝟖 𝑳
𝜺 = × 𝑹
𝑽𝒆 𝑮𝑭

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 CE75.09 Structural Health Evaluation and Monitoring of Buildings
Punchet Thammarak, Ph.D.

R + ΔRɛ + ΔRT

R - ΔRɛ + ΔRT

R + ΔRɛ + ΔRT

R - ΔRɛ + ΔRT

Gage R2 must be fully bonded with the substrate. > Poisson’s effect.

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 CE75.09 Structural Health Evaluation and Monitoring of Buildings
Punchet Thammarak, Ph.D.

Half Bridge Measurement (Active-Active Method, same leg)

R1
R + ΔRɛ + ΔRT
Excitation Voltage + (A)

RL + ΔRL

R 4= R

RL + ΔRL
Signal - (B)
RL + ΔRL G Signal +

R2
R3=R
RL + ΔRL

R - ΔRɛ + ΔRT
Excitation Voltage – (C)

Wiring Diagram
R + ΔRɛ RL + ΔRL
+ ΔRT RL + ΔRL
RL + ΔRL
R - ɛ ΔRɛ RL + ΔRL
+ ΔRT

Page 50
 CE75.09 Structural Health Evaluation and Monitoring of Buildings
Punchet Thammarak, Ph.D.

Half Bridge Measurement (Active-Active Method, same leg)

- Compensate temperature strain & lead wire resistances

Strain # 1 : Mechanical strain + Temperature

Strain # 2 : Mechanical strain (Poisson’s eff.) + Temperature

Let &

𝑅 + ∆𝑅 + ∆𝑅 + 𝑅 𝑅
𝑉 =𝑉 × −
𝑅 + ∆𝑅 + ∆𝑅 + 𝑅 + 𝑅 − 𝜈∆𝑅 + ∆𝑅 + 𝑅 𝑅+𝑅

𝑅 + ∆𝑅 + ∆𝑅 + 𝑅 1
𝑉 =𝑉 × −
2𝑅 + 1 − 𝜈 ∆𝑅 + 2∆𝑅 + 2𝑅 2

1 + 𝜈 ∆𝑅
𝑉 =𝑉 ×
4𝑅 + 2 1 − 𝜈 ∆𝑅 + 4∆𝑅 + 4𝑅

𝑉 ∆𝑅 1+𝜈
=
𝑉 𝑅 4 + 2 1 − 𝜈 ∆𝑅 + 4 ∆𝑅 + 4 𝑅
𝑅 𝑅 𝑅

𝑉 ∆𝑅 1+𝜈
= ×
𝑉 𝑅 𝑅
4+4
𝑅

𝑹
𝑽𝒐 𝟒+𝟖 𝑳
𝜺 = × 𝑹
𝑽𝒆 𝑮𝑭(𝟏 + 𝝂)

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CE75.09 Structural Health Evaluation and Monitoring of Buildings
Punchet Thammarak, Ph.D.

R + ΔRɛ + ΔRT

R - ΔRɛ + ΔRT

Page 52
 CE75.09 Structural Health Evaluation and Monitoring of Buildings
Punchet Thammarak, Ph.D.

Half Bridge Measurement (Active-Active Method, same leg)

R1

R + ΔRɛ + ΔRT Excitation Voltage + (A)

RL + ΔRL

R 4= R

RL + ΔRL
Signal - (B)
RL + ΔRL G Signal +

R2
R3=R
RL + ΔRL

R - ΔRɛ + ΔRT Excitation Voltage – (C)

Wiring Diagram
R + ΔRɛ RL + ΔRL
+ ΔRT RL + ΔRL
RL + ΔRL
R - ΔRɛ RL + ΔRL
+ ΔRT

Page 53
 CE75.09 Structural Health Evaluation and Monitoring of Buildings
Punchet Thammarak, Ph.D.

Half Bridge Measurement (Active-Active Method, same leg)

- Compensate temperature strain & lead wire resistances

Strain # 1 : Mechanical strain (Tens) + Temperature

Strain # 2 : Mechanical strain (Comp) + Temperature

Let &

𝑅 + ∆𝑅 + ∆𝑅 + 𝑅 𝑅
𝑉 =𝑉 × −
𝑅 + ∆𝑅 + ∆𝑅 + 𝑅 + 𝑅 − ∆𝑅 + ∆𝑅 + 𝑅 𝑅+𝑅

𝑅 + ∆𝑅 + ∆𝑅 + 𝑅 1
𝑉 =𝑉 × −
2𝑅 + 2∆𝑅 + 2𝑅 2

2∆𝑅
𝑉 =𝑉 ×
4𝑅 + 4∆𝑅 + 4𝑅

𝑉 ∆𝑅 2
=
𝑉 𝑅 4 + 4 ∆𝑅 + 4 𝑅
𝑅 𝑅

𝑉 ∆𝑅 2
= ×
𝑉 𝑅 𝑅
4+4
𝑅

𝑹𝑳
𝑽𝒐 𝟐+𝟒
𝜺 = × 𝑹
𝑽𝒆 𝑮𝑭

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CE75.09 Structural Health Evaluation and Monitoring of Buildings
Punchet Thammarak, Ph.D.

R + ΔRɛ + ΔRT

R - ΔRɛ + ΔRT

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 CE75.09 Structural Health Evaluation and Monitoring of Buildings
Punchet Thammarak, Ph.D.

Half Bridge Measurement (Active-Active Method, opposite leg)

R1 R4
R + ΔRɛ + ΔRT R - ΔRɛ + ΔRT
Excitation Voltage +

RL + ΔRL RL + ΔRL

RL + ΔRL RL + ΔRL
Signal -
G Signal +

R2=R R3=R

Excitation Voltage –

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 CE75.09 Structural Health Evaluation and Monitoring of Buildings
Punchet Thammarak, Ph.D.

Half Bridge Measurement (Active-Active Method, opposite leg)

- Compensate temperature strain & lead wire resistances

Strain # 1 : Mechanical strain (Tens) + Temperature

Strain # 4 : Mechanical strain (Comp) + Temperature

Let &

𝑅 + ∆𝑅 + ∆𝑅 + 𝑅 𝑅 − ∆𝑅 + ∆𝑅 + 𝑅
𝑉 =𝑉 × −
𝑅 + ∆𝑅 + ∆𝑅 + 𝑅 + 𝑅 𝑅 + 𝑅 − ∆𝑅 + ∆𝑅 + 𝑅

2∆𝑅
𝑉 =𝑉 ×
4𝑅 + 2∆𝑅 + 2𝑅

𝑉 ∆𝑅 2
=
𝑉 𝑅 4 + 2 ∆𝑅 + 2 𝑅
𝑅 𝑅

𝑉 ∆𝑅 2
= ×
𝑉 𝑅 𝑅
4+2
𝑅

𝑹
𝑽𝒐 𝟐+𝟐 𝑳
𝜺 = × 𝑹
𝑽𝒆 𝑮𝑭

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CE75.09 Structural Health Evaluation and Monitoring of Buildings
Punchet Thammarak, Ph.D.

Full Bridge Measurement

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CE75.09 Structural Health Evaluation and Monitoring of Buildings
Punchet Thammarak, Ph.D.

R + ΔRɛ + ΔRT
1
R - ΔRɛ + ΔRT
3 2
R + ΔRɛ + ΔRT

4
R - ΔRɛ + ΔRT

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 CE75.09 Structural Health Evaluation and Monitoring of Buildings
Punchet Thammarak, Ph.D.

R1 R4
R + ΔRɛ + ΔRT
R - ΔRɛ + ΔRT
Excitation Voltage +

RL + ΔRL RL + ΔRL

RL + ΔRL RL + ΔRL
Signal -
RL + ΔRL
G RL + ΔRL
Signal +

RL + ΔRL RL + ΔRL

Excitation Voltage –
R - ΔRɛ + ΔRT R + ΔRɛ + ΔRT
R2 R3
RL + ΔRL
RL + ΔRL
RL + ΔRL
Wiring Diagram
RL + ΔRL

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 CE75.09 Structural Health Evaluation and Monitoring of Buildings
Punchet Thammarak, Ph.D.

Full Bridge Measurement (Uni-axial Strain)

- Compensate temperature strain & lead wire resistances

Strain # 1 : Mechanical strain + Temperature

Strain # 2 : Mechanical strain (Poisson’s eff.) + Temperature
Strain # 3 : Mechanical strain + Temperature
Strain # 4 : Mechanical strain (Poisson’s eff.) + Temperature

Let

𝑅 + ∆𝑅 + ∆𝑅 + 𝑅
𝑉 =𝑉 ×
𝑅 + ∆𝑅 + ∆𝑅 + 𝑅 + 𝑅 − 𝜈∆𝑅 + ∆𝑅 + 𝑅

𝑅 − 𝜈∆𝑅 + ∆𝑅 + 𝑅
−
𝑅 + ∆𝑅 + ∆𝑅 + 𝑅 + 𝑅 − 𝜈∆𝑅 + ∆𝑅 + 𝑅

1 + 𝜈 ∆𝑅
𝑉 =𝑉 ×
2𝑅 + 1 − 𝜈 ∆𝑅 + 2∆𝑅 + 2𝑅

𝑉 ∆𝑅 1+𝜈
=
𝑉 𝑅 2 + 1 − 𝜈 ∆𝑅 + 2 ∆𝑅 + 2 𝑅
𝑅 𝑅 𝑅

𝑉 ∆𝑅 1+𝜈
= ×
𝑉 𝑅 𝑅
2+2
𝑅

𝑹
𝑽𝒐 𝟐+𝟒 𝑳
𝜺 = × 𝑹
𝑽𝒆 𝑮𝑭 𝟏 + 𝝂

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 CE75.09 Structural Health Evaluation and Monitoring of Buildings
Punchet Thammarak, Ph.D.

3 R + ΔRɛ + ΔRT
R + ΔRɛ + ΔRT 1
4 R - ΔRɛ + ΔRT
2
R - ΔRɛ + ΔRT

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 CE75.09 Structural Health Evaluation and Monitoring of Buildings
Punchet Thammarak, Ph.D.

R1 R4
R + ΔRɛ + ΔRT R - ΔRɛ + ΔRT
Excitation Voltage +

RL + ΔRL RL + ΔRL

RL + ΔRL RL + ΔRL
Signal -
G Signal +

Excitation Voltage –
R - ΔRɛ + ΔRT R + ΔRɛ + ΔRT
R2 R3
RL + ΔRL
RL + ΔRL
RL + ΔRL Wiring Diagram
RL + ΔRL

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 CE75.09 Structural Health Evaluation and Monitoring of Buildings
Punchet Thammarak, Ph.D.

Full Bridge Measurement (Bending Strain)

- Compensate temperature strain & lead wire resistances

Strain # 1 : Mechanical strain (Tens) + Temperature

Strain # 2 : Mechanical strain (Comp) + Temperature
Strain # 3 : Mechanical strain (Tens) + Temperature
Strain # 4 : Mechanical strain (Comp) + Temperature

Let

𝑅 + ∆𝑅 + ∆𝑅 + 𝑅
𝑉 =𝑉 ×
𝑅 + ∆𝑅 + ∆𝑅 + 𝑅 + 𝑅 − ∆𝑅 + ∆𝑅 + 𝑅

𝑅 − ∆𝑅 + ∆𝑅 + 𝑅
−
𝑅 + ∆𝑅 + ∆𝑅 + 𝑅 + 𝑅 − ∆𝑅 + ∆𝑅 + 𝑅

2∆𝑅
𝑉 =𝑉 ×
2𝑅 + 2∆𝑅 + 2𝑅

𝑉 ∆𝑅 2
=
𝑉 𝑅 2 + 2 ∆𝑅 + 2 𝑅
𝑅 𝑅

𝑉 ∆𝑅 1
= ×
𝑉 𝑅 𝑅
1+
𝑅

𝑹
𝑽𝒐 𝟏+𝟐 𝑳
𝜺 = × 𝑹
𝑽𝒆 𝑮𝑭

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 CE75.09 Structural Health Evaluation and Monitoring of Buildings
Punchet Thammarak, Ph.D.

Measurement Type Coefficient (per V/V) Sensitivity (per 1 μɛ)

𝑅
Half-Bridge Completion 4+4
(2-wire system)
𝑅 0.5
𝐺𝐹
𝑅
Half-Bridge Completion 4+4
(3-wire system)
𝑅 0.5
𝐺𝐹
𝑅
Half-Bridge Completion 4+8
(Axial Strain,Active-Dummy)
𝑅 0.5
𝐺𝐹
𝑅
Half-Bridge Completion 4+8
(Axial Strain, Active-Active)
𝑅 ≈ 0.65
𝐺𝐹 1 + 𝜈
𝑅
Half-Bridge Completion 2+4
(Bending Strain, Same leg)
𝑅 1
𝐺𝐹
𝑅
Half-Bridge Completion 2+2
(Bending Strain, Opp. leg)
𝑅 1
𝐺𝐹
𝑅
Full-Bridge Completion 2+4
(Axial Strain)
𝑅 ≈ 1.3
𝐺𝐹 1 + 𝜈
𝑅
Full-Bridge Completion 1+2
(Bending Strain)
𝑅 2
𝐺𝐹

Page 65