ME 307

MECHANICAL MEASUREMENTS LABORATORY

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

I.I.T.BOMBAY

Autumn semester 2021-22

EXPERIMENT NO - 9

NAME: ARVIND MURALI

ROLL NO: 190100074

 EXPERIMENT 9

DETERMINATION OF GAUGE FACTOR OF STRAIN GAUGE

Aim: To attach a strain gauge on a cantilever and determine the gauge factor of the given strain
gauge.

Observation Table:

Potentiometer pot resistance value (Rpot): 625 ohms RG = 1000 ohms

Change in
Sr.N Sample Wt. Measured Output Gauge factor,
resistance Strain (ε)
o (gms) (VGA) in mV K
(ΔR/REq)

1 A 7 -0.000736488 0.000290237 -2.537542615

2 B 13 -0.001367378 0.000580473 -2.35562571

3 C 20 -0.002102967 0.00087071 -2.415232491

4 D 26 -0.002733088 0.001160947 -2.354188627

5 E 33 -0.00346778 0.001451183 -2.389621932

6 F 39 -0.004097132 0.00174142 -2.352753297

Data Analysis:

R1= 150 ohms R2= 150 ohms R3= 150 ohms Rpot= 625 ohms

Resistance of strain gauge at unloaded condition (Rs) = 121 ohms

New Resistance of strain gauge at loaded condition: (Rs1)

DC power supply (VDC)= 12 volts

Distance between hole on the ruler and midpoint of strain gauge (L): 27.5 cm

Width of ruler (b): 3.3 cm Thickness of ruler (h): 1.3 mm

 120.9677419 ohms
135.483871 ohms
Source voltage across Wheatstone bridge: 0.761329305 Volts

Gain of amplifier (G): 50.5

VG= VGA / G=

Calculate RS1 using above equation

Change in resistance

where g is acceleration due to gravity

Calculate stress (σ) using above equation

Now stress σ = E*ε

Calculate strain (ε) using above equation

Gauge factor (GF) = K =

Plot ΔR/Req versus ε and the slope of the graph will give the gauge factor.

Gauge factor (from graph): -2.3365

Use this gauge factor and calculate the weight obtained by putting any two weights on the
platform. Compare the estimated weight with the known weight.

Note: To compare with known weight first calculate the change in resistance for unknown
weight and by using gauge factor formula calculate strain (ε) then using stress-strain
relationship calculate stress and finally unknown weight.
Sample calculations:

Sr. No 1
 V DC ∗RT
Vs = = 12 * 135.483871 / (135.483871 + 2000) = 0.761329305 Volts
R T +2000

49.5 k Ω
Gain (G) = 1+ = 1 + (49.5/1) = 50.5
RG

VG = VGA / G = 7 / 50.5 = 0.138613861 mV

Req V
Let A = − G
R eq + R2 V S

120.96 0.1386∗10−3
A= − = 0.446246503
120.96+150 0.7613

R1
RS1 = 1 = 120 / (1/0.446246503 – 1) = 120.8786506 Ω
−1
A

R S 1−R eq
ΔR/Req = = (120.8786506 - 120.9677419)/(120.9677419) = -0.000736488
R eq

6∗m∗g∗L
Strain ε = = (6* 0.2 * 9.81 * 27.5) / (3.3 * (1.3*10-3)2 * 109) = 0.000290237
b∗h2∗E

Gauge Factor (K) = (ΔR/Req) / ε = -0.000736488 / 0.000290237 = -2.537542615

Plot of ΔR/Req vs ε
 ΔR/Req vs ε
0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0

0 f(x) = − 2.34 x − 0

0
ΔR/Req

0 ΔR/Req vs ε
Linear Fit
0

Kgraph = -2.3365

Conclusion and discussion on results:

1. The gauge factor of the given strain gauge was determined by using a Wheatstone bridge
and the final value of the gauge factor (from the slope of the graph) came out to be
-2.3365.
2. The value of K ranges from -2.352753297 to -2.537542615
3. The ΔR/Req vs ε curve is approximately linear as expected from the theoretical relations.
4. The gauge factor is defined as (dR/R)/(dL/L), and all gauge factor values we obtained are
negative indicating that resistance decreases when the length increases.

Sources of error:

 The masses of sample weights could be erroneous

 Human error (parallax) could creep in during measurement of length, breadth and
thickness
 Possible loose connections in the circuit could result in errors in the measurement