Reg.No.

MANIPAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

(A Constituent Institute of MAHE –Deemed
University)
IVSEM. B.E. (MECHANICAL/IP ENGG.) DEGREE (MAKE UP) EXAMINATION
JULY 2006

SUBJECT : INSTRUMENTATION ( MEE-208/IPE-208 )

REVISED CREDIT SYSTEM
( 28 /7/2006)
Time: 3 Hours. MAX.MARKS: 50
Instructions to Candidates:
™ Answer ANY FIVE full questions.
™ Missing data, if any, may be suitably assumed.

1a) Fig. 1A shows the bourdon tube pressure gauge with digital readout.
Draw a generalized block diagram to show the functional elements of
the system. Explain the function of each element. (04)

1b) Two strain gauges are placed in poisson’s configuration on a steel flat
specimen of cross sectional area of 2cm. The specimen is subjected to
a axial load of 500N. Each strain gauge has a resistance of 120Ω & a
gauge factor 2. Modulus of elasticity for steel is 200GN/m2 & the
poisson’s ratio is 0.3.

i) Show the arrangement of bonding strain gauge on the

specimen & also connecting the strain gauges to the arms of
wheat stone bridge.
ii) Calculate the output voltage of the wheat stone bridge for the
above said load if the bridge is excited with 6 volt DC. (04)

1c) Explain the basic principle on which the bimetallic thermometer works.
How the deflection of the bimetallic strip is related to temperature
change. (02)

2a) Define the terms that are employed to describe the quality of an
instrument readings. (04)

2b) Explain with neat sketch the working of Bridge man gauge. Also derive
an expression for the unknown pressure to be measured. (04)

2c) Define gauge factor. What does it mean if a strain gauge has a low
gauge factor. Give at least four grid materials of different gauge factor. (02)

MEE-208/IPE-208) Page 1 of 4
3a) A tensile force link is to be made by mounting two strain gauges back
to back on a thin aluminium strip, as shown in fig. Q.3A & for
compensate temperature variation two dummy gauges are used.
Strain gauges with gauge resistance of 120Ω & gauge factor of 2.2 are
used. Maximum force applied is 400N. Young’s modulus of strip
material is 6.9x1010 N/m2.

(i) If the output from the bridge is connected to an oscilloscope, which

is set at 10mV/cm of trace deflection, find the deflection of the trace
at maximum load. The input impedence of the oscilloscope may be
taken as infinity. Bridge excitation voltage is 6V.

(ii) When a 100kΩ resistance is placed in parallel with one of the

gauges, the trace shift is 1cm. Find the trace deflection for the
maximum load, corresponding to this setting of the oscilloscope. (05)

3b) The element of a resistance thermometer is constructed of a 50cm

length & of 0.03 mm diameter nickel wire. What will be the nominal
resistance of the element (Resistivity of nickel wire is 7.8 micro ohm-
cm.) If we assume that the temperature coefficient of resistivity
(0.0067°C) is constant over the common range of ambient
temperatures, what will be the change in resistance of the element per
degree centigrade. (02)

3c) Explain with neat sketch how is a venture flow meter used to measure
flow. (03)

4a) A copper constantan thermocouple was found to have linear calibration

between 0°C to 400°C with emf at maximum temperature equal to
20.68 mv. If the indicated emf is 8.92 mV in the thermocouple circuit
with a reference junction temperature of 25°C, determine the
temperature of the hot junction. Explain the thermoelectric law used. (03)

4b) Explain with neat sketches how the torque & power can be measured
using strain gauge Torque meter with slip rings. (04)

4c) The differential pressure across an orifice in an airline is measured by a

simple water manometer. The manometer registers a differential head
of 100mm water when the flow rate in the line is 10,000 m3/Hour of air
at a density of 2 kg/m3. A proposal is made to use the same installation
to measure the rate of flow of water in the line, using mercury in place
of water in the manometer. Estimate the difference in the levels of
mercury on the two sides of manometer which would be obtained for a
flow rate of 2000 m3/Hour of water. Assume that coefficient of
discharge remains the same & there is negligible compression of air.
The density of mercury is 13.6 x 103 kg/m3. (03)

5a) What are pyrometers? Explain the working of an optical pyrometer. (04)

MEE-208/IPE-208) Page 2 of 4
5b) For a Mcleod gauge, with a capillary of 1mm diameter & effective bulb
volume of 80 cm3, find the reading as indicated by mercury column due
to a pressure of 10 Pascal. (02)

5c) Explain the measures taken to minimize the instrumental errors &
environmental errors. (02)

5d) i) On what basic principle, the obstruction meter work.

ii) An orifice meter (Cd= 0.61) measuring the flow rate of air in a pipe is
substituted by a venturi meter (Cd= 0.96) having the throat diameter
same as that of the orifice. For the same flow rate, determine the ratio
of the pressure drops for the venturi to orifice. (02)

6a) Explain with neat sketch how is a strain gauge load cell used to
measure force. (03)

6b) What are the advantages of electrical detector transducer element. (03)

6c) A gas (density = 0.8 kg/m3) flows through a 20cm diameter pipe at the
rate of 1000 m3/Hour. The flow is measured by a Pitot tube located
centrally in the pipe & connected to an inclined manometer (inclination
12 in 1). It contains oil of specific gravity 0.85 as manometric liquid. If
the average velocity of the gas is 0.8 of the maximum velocity,
determine the manometric reading for this flow. (04)

7a) What is a strain gauge rosette? A delta rosette is mounted on a steel

plate having a modulus of elasticity 200 GN/m2 & poisson’s ratio 0.3.
The three strains measured are ∈1= +395µ m/m, ∈2= +80µ m/m, &
∈3 = -250µ m/m.
i) Calculate the principal strains & the orientation angle for the principal
axis of the stress.
ii) With a neat sketch show the delta rosette. (04)

7b) Explain with neat sketch how an elastic diaphragm gauge is used to
measure pressure. (03)

MEE-208/IPE-208) Page 3 of 4
MEE-208/IPE-208) Page 4 of 4