Sultan Qaboos University

College of Engineering
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
MEIE4125: Instrumentation and Measurement
Assignment # 5 (Sensing Elements)

Problem 1:
A platinum resistance sensor is to be used to measure temperatures between 0 and 200 °C. Given that the
resistance RT Ω at T °C is given by RT = R0(1 + αT + βT2) and R0 = 100.0, R100 = 138.50, R200 = 175.83 Ω, calculate:
(a) the values of α and β;
(b) the non-linearity at 100 °C as a percentage of full-scale.

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Problem 2:
Four strain gauges are bonded onto a cantilever as shown in Figure 1 below. Given that the gauges are placed
halfway along the cantilever and the cantilever is subject to a downward force of 0.5 N. The magnitude of
strain e is given by:

where E is Young’s modulus for the cantilever material and the other quantities are defined in Figure 1. Use
the data given below to calculate the resistance of each strain gauge.

Figure 1: Cantilever load cell with practical elastic sensing elements using strain gauges

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or
∆𝑅
= 𝐺𝑒
𝑅0

For full-bridge configuration of circuit. Thus,

The resistance under tension load (resistance increases) is

The resistance under compression load (resistance decreases) is

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Problem 3:
A variable dielectric capacitive displacement sensor consists of two square metal plates of side 5 cm,
separated by a gap of 1 mm. A sheet of dielectric material 1 mm thick and of the same area as the plates can
be slid between them as shown in Figure 2. Given that the dielectric constant of air is 1 and that of the
dielectric material 4, calculate the capacitance of the sensor when the input displacement 𝑥 = 0.0, 2.5 and 5.0
cm.

Figure 2: Capacitive sensing elements

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Problem 4:

Figure 3: A circular Pressure diaphragm

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Problem 5:
A doped silicon wafer has a thickness of 0.5 mm and a Hall coefficient of 2 × 10 −2. If the current through the
wafer is 7.5 mA, find the Hall voltage for a magnetic flux density of 0.2 T. Use,

𝑅𝐻
𝑉 = ( ) 𝐼𝐵
𝑡

Where,
𝑉 = Hall Voltage (V)
𝑅𝐻 = Hall Coefficient
𝑡 = slab thickness
𝐼 = Current
𝐵 = Magnetic flux density
Solution:
Given: 𝑡= 0.5 mm, 𝑅𝐻 = 0.02, 𝐼 = 7.5 mA, 𝐵 = 0.2T
Thus,

𝑅𝐻 0.02
𝑉=( ) 𝐼𝐵 = ( ) (7.5 × 10−3 )(0.2) = 6 𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡
𝑡 0.5 × 10−3

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Problem 6:
A strain gauge is bonded to a steel of beam which is 𝐿 = 10.0 cm long and has a cross-sectional area of 𝐴 =
4.00 cm2. Young’s modulus of elasticity for steel is 𝐸 = 20.7x1010 N/m2. The strain gauge has a nominal
(unstrained) resistance of 𝑅 = 240 Ohms and a gauge factor 𝐺 = 2.20. When a load is applied, the gauge’s
resistance changes by ∆𝑅 = 0.013 ohms. Calculate
a) The change in the length of steel beam (∆𝐿)
b) The amount of force (𝐹) applied to the beam

Recall that, the stress is 𝜎 = 𝐸𝜀.

Solution:
a)
Strain is (by definition):
∆𝐿
𝜀=
𝐿

Knowing that,

∆𝑅
= 𝐺𝜀
𝑅
Thus, the gauge factor is given as:
∆𝑅 1 ∆𝑅 𝐿
𝐺= =
𝑅 𝜀 𝑅 ∆𝐿
As such,
∆𝑅 𝐿
∆𝐿 =
𝑅 𝐺

0.013 0.10
∆𝐿 = = 2.46 𝜇𝑚
240 2.20

b)

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Problem 7:
A variable reluctance sensor consists of a core, a variable air gap and an armature. The core is a steel rod of
diameter 1 cm and relative permeability 100, bent to form a semi-circle of diameter 4 cm. A coil of 500 turns
is wound onto the core. The armature is a steel plate of thickness 0.5 cm and relative permeability 100.
Assuming the relative permeability of air = 1.0 and the permeability of free space = 4π × 10-7 H m-1, calculate
the inductance of the sensor for air gaps of 1 mm and 3 mm.

Figure 4: Inductance Sensor

Solution:

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Problem 8:
The Table below gives values for the e.m.f. of a Type T thermocouple relative to a reference junction
temperature of 0 °C. Use the table to calculate:
a) the percentage non-linearity at 150 °C if the temperature range is 0 to 300 °C;
b) the temperature inside a vessel if an e.m.f. of 11.5 mV is measured relative to a reference junction of
20 °C.

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