1. What type of metal will be used to fabricate the Subtense Bar instrument?

RESEARCH INFORMATION:

METAL: GALVANIZED STEEL

Galvanized steel is among the most popular steel types because of its extended durability, having the
strength and formability of steel plus the corrosion protection of the zinc-iron coating. The zinc
protects the base metal by acting as a barrier to corrosive elements, and the sacrificial nature of the
coating results in a long-lasting and high-quality steel product.

According to 7 Things You Didn’t Know Were Galvanized | Crossroads Galvanizing, 2020 Precision
instruments and computer casings are usually made from galvanized steel because it is resistant to rusting
due to exposure to high humidity and moisture. It is important to galvanize the entire surface so two
different metals are not in contact, generating a tiny electrical current that accelerates corrosion.

According to How Long Does Galvanized Steel Last in Extreme Temperatures? | Crossroads
Galvanizing, 2020 Galvanized steel goes through a special process that gives it the absolute best
protection available against corrosive agents in the environment and extremes of temperature. The same
way galvanized steel does noy corrode when it’s exposed to rain and snow, it also stands up well in extreme
heat and extreme cold.
That is because the process of galvanizing steel does not just coat it with a layer of zinc. It also forms a
layer of an alloy of iron and zinc just below the zinc coating that provides the steel beneath it with still
more galvanic protection. Even if something were to melt or abrade the top zinc layer away, this layer
protects steel from corrosion, too. But, exactly what are the high and low temperature extremes for keeping
galvanized steel in good condition?
The reason for this is that zinc and steel expand at different rates. Iron has a thermal expansion coefficient
of 7.5. That means that it expands by 7.5 millionths of its original volume for every 1° F increase in the
surrounding temperature.Zinc has a thermal expansion coefficient of 19. That means it expands by 19
millionths of its volume for every 1° F increase in the surrounding temperature.

HDG Steel in Extreme Hot

By the time galvanized steel has been heated from, say, room temperature of 72° F to the kinds of
temperatures you might encounter in a furnace room, 392° F, the steel core has expanded about 0.25
percent and the zinc on top of it has expanded about 0.6 percent.

HDG Steel in Extreme Cold

Temperatures of -40° F (-40° C) don’t have an effect on the time to first maintenance for HDG steel, or at
least we haven’t seen this effect yet. HDG steel has been in use in structures at the poles at these
temperatures for over 20 years without any maintenance problems. Really extreme cold, in the -100° range,
would make steel brittle with long-time use.
The thermal expansion of galvanized steel, like any other material, is influenced by changes in temperature. The
coefficient of linear expansion is a measure of how much a material expands or contracts for each degree Celsius or
Fahrenheit change in temperature.
To calculate the thermal expansion of galvanized steel, you can use the formula:

It's important to note that this formula gives an approximation, and other factors, such as the specific composition of the
galvanized coating and the steel substrate, can influence the precise thermal expansion behavior.
In practical terms, galvanized steel is often used in environments with varying temperatures, including outdoor
applications. Its thermal expansion characteristics are generally taken into account in the design and installation of
structures or components to prevent issues related to thermal expansion and contraction.
https://thermallybrokensteelusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Material_Data_Sheet-Thermally-Broken-Steel-
USA.pdf

https://universalgalvanizing.com/2020/11/12/how-long-does-galvanized-steel-last-in-extreme-temperatures/
#:~:text=Iron%20has%20a%20thermal%20expansion,increase%20in%20the%20surrounding%20temperature.

https://thermallybrokensteelusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Material_Data_Sheet-Thermally-Broken-Steel-
USA.pdf

https://www.scielo.br/j/jbsmse/a/NcWxhsMGgmr3LphpsRZgVkf/
Understanding Tape Measures
A tape measure, also called measuring tape, is a type of flexible ruler. Tape measures are made from a variety of
materials, including fiber glass, plastic and cloth. They are among the most common measuring tools used today.
Measuring Tape Roll: It might also refer to a roll of measuring tape, commonly used for taking measurements in
construction, carpentry, or other applications.
Generally speaking, the term “tape measure” refers to a roll-up, self-retracting style tape measure that’s designed for
carpentry. The actual tape potion of the measure, called the ‘ribbon,’ is usually constructed from a stiff metallic material
that can stiffen when needed but can also roll up for simple use and storage. However, the term covers all types of tape
measures – even tailor’s tape.
Tape measures come in both Imperial Units (inches and feet) and metric (centimeters and meters), featuring unit
breakdowns for further accuracy. Specialized versions can include markings that cover truss lengths for roofing and
stud intervals for housing.
The guides below for how to read a tape measure and how to measure on a tape measure assume Imperial (American)
units for the explanations.

How to Read a Tape Measure

Find/read the markings. On a standard tape measure, the biggest marking is the inch mark (which generally has the
biggest number, if it has them).
As the increments decrease, so does the length of the mark. For example, ½" has a bigger mark than ¼" which has a
bigger mark than ⅛", and so on.
Read 1 inch. The space from the largest mark to another is 1 inch.

Read one-half inch. Same principle as reading one inch, only this time the space between the second-biggest mark and
the biggest is read. You can think of a half-inch mark as half way between a full inch.
5. The remaining markings follow a similar pattern. ¼" is half of ½". ⅛" is half of ¼". Most tape measure markings go
as small as 1⁄16;". This tape divides one more time, down to 1⁄32".
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How to Measure Using a Tape Measure

Measure a length. Put the end of the measure at one end of the item or space you want to measure. When the length
stops, take a reading on the tape measure.
Find the length. In order to determine the length, you must add the lengths between inches together. For example, the
image below has a measurement that goes beyond the space between two inch marks (that is, one full inch). In order to
find the length, add the length of the inch (1) with the space between the second inch mark and the third. In this case,
you’d add 1 inch + 1/4 inch to get 1¼ inch, or “one and a quarter inches.

For a length less than 1 inch, simply read off the tape measure the length. If the increments of an inch are not labeled,
determine the marking’s increment and add together the respective fractions.
As an example, the image below shows a length that goes from the inch mark to an unlabeled marking. We know it’s
more than 3/4 of an inch and less than one full inch. The marking is half way between 3/4 (6/8) and 7/8. Therefore, the
marking is half of 1/8, or 1/16. Taking this knowledge, you simply add the known fractions to find the length. Convert
3/4 to 12/16 for common denominators and add 12/16 + 1/16 to get 13/16 – that’s your length.

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Tape Measure Test

Put your newfound skills to the test! What is the measurement over the range marked by the red lines? Use every
technique at your disposal to come up with the answer as quickly as you can.

Answer: 1 ⅛"
Let's start simple. The distance from the 2" to 3" marker is, of course, 1". From the inch mark to the ⅛" mark is ⅛". 1"
+ ⅛" = 1 ⅛".

Answer: 11⁄16"
A little more difficult. Break it down into simpler parts. Think of this as what's halfway between 5⁄8" and 3⁄4"? Find the
lowest common denominator: 5⁄8" and 6⁄8". To find the middle of these two numbers, multiply the denominator by 2.
10⁄16" and 12⁄16". Halfway between these two numbers? 11⁄16".
Answer: 15⁄32"
This measurement is very precise. You know the smallest marks denote 1⁄32". Find the closest number and put it in
terms of 32nds. ½" = 16⁄32". 1⁄32" less than that = 15⁄32".

OPEN REEL TAPES:

Contractors, engineers, and construction workers commonly use these types of measuring tapes. These are normally
composed of fiberglass and include a hand crank for retraction. With measurements in both meters and feet, they can
range in length from 25 to 500 ft.

https://www.johnsonlevel.com/News/TapeMeasure
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