Mechanical

Measurements and
Control

Presented By Anand
Patange
 Introduction to
Measurement
Measurement: Measurement is the
comparison between measurand and
standard.
 Module 1
I. Significance Of Mechanical
Measurement[1]
. As Science And Technology move
ahead, new phenomenon and
relationship are discovered

. Required to validate hypothesis and

understanding

. Measurement holds: detection

-acquisition-control and analysis of data.
 Continue.
Function of engineering
i. Design of equipment and process
ii. Proper operation control and
maintenance of process.
 II.Classification of measurement instrument [1]

Absolute instruments:
gives
magnitude of quantity
under
physical constant

Secondary instruments:
they are
calibrated by comparison
with Absolute instruments
III.Generalized Measurement System[1]
 Continue.
Bourdon Tube acts as Primary sensing
/Variable conversion element.
Tube connected through linkage to gearing
arrangement
Gearing arrangement amplify small
displacement and make pointer rotate.

Pressure
Block diagram of Bourdon pressure gauge
IV. Types of Input[1]

Desired
Input
Interferi
ng Input
Modifyin
g Input

Fig. Generalized input-output

configuration of measurement
 Continue.

Fig. Measurement of differential pressure with

manometer Fig. Angle of tilt as an interfering inp

When Calibration Need

Change in ambient temperature
change length of calibrated scale.
Change in ambient temperature
change density of mercury.

Fig. Acceleration as an interfering input

 Continue.
Wheatstone quarter bridge with dummy strain gauge configuration
You will see that it is very similar to the basic Wheatstone Bridge
circuit, however one of the resistors has been swapped for a strain
gauge. You know that how each strain gauge has a known
resistance when zero strain is applied to it, if this resistance is the
same as the value of the other three resistors then when zero
stress is applied, Vout will also be zero. As the object that the gauge
is attached
to has a force applied to it, the gauge undergoes a strain and as a
result its resistance changes.

Interfering input
Temperature.
50 Hz field nearby
power lines.
g. Wheatstone quarter bridge circuit.
 Continue.
Wheatstone Half Bridge with Dummy Strain Gauge configuration
Sometimes the quarter-bridge circuit encounters problems when
there are changeable temperatures. Unfortunately the resistance of
the strain gauge can vary as the temperature changes causing the
readings to become unreliable. To overcome this problem, a half
bridge setup shown in fig. is often preferred. The half-bridge
configuration is where two out of 4 resistors are replaced with strain-
gauges. So temperature ranges will change resistance by the same
proportion for both, effectively canceling each other.
 Continue.
Wheatstone Full-Bridge Strain Gauge configuration
Where possible, it is often preferable to replace all four of the
resistors in the circuit with strain gauges known as a Full Bridge
circuit. This circuit consists of two complimentary pairs when
each pair is like the causes in the half-bridge circuit. The benefit
that this give is that of a great sensitivity to slight changes in
the strain placed on the specimen., The main benefit of this
circuit over the other two options is that it is linear whereas both
the quarter and half bridge configurations are not. This means
that the output voltage on the full-bridge is directly proportional
to the applied force and no approximation is necessary.
 1.2 Static Characteristics
Static Calibration: All static performance
characteristics are obtained in one form or
another by a process called static
calibration

a) All types of input are constant.

b)Developed input-output relationship, so that transfer
function of instrument is constant not differential
equations.
c) Calibration affords opportunity to check instrument
against known standard.
 Linearity : Linearity is the maximum deviation
of any calibrated point from strain line.
Output is
Directly
proportional
to input
Accuracy : Closeness to the true
value

Precision : It is measure of
reproducibility of measurement

Reproducibility : Closeness of output

reading with same input when change
in method of measurement
 Threshold : When input in creases gradually
from zero there will be some minimum value
below which no output change is detected

Ex. Gear
Backlas
h
 Hysteresis : It is non coincident
between input and output curve

Ex. Strain Gauge

 Drift : Environment Effect to the
instruments
1. Zero Drift
2. Span/Sensitivity Drift
3. Zonal Drift
 References
1. A.K. Sawhnay, Puneet Sawhnay,
Mechanical Measurement and
Instrumentation & Control Dhanpat
Rai & co.(p) ltd. Educational and
technical publishers.
2. R.K. Jain, Engineering Metrology
Khanna Publishers.