Instrumentation & Measurement

Ruqia Ikram

1 Institute of Space Technology (IST) Fall, 2021

 Module 4
Motion and Dimensional
Measurement

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Motion and Displacement Measurements
 Resistive Potentiometer
 Linear variable differential transformer (LVDT)
 Variable capacitance transducer
 Variable inductance transducer
 Strain gauges
 Mechanical Fly ball angular velocity sensor
 Revolution Counter and Timer
 Vibrometer
 Accelerometer

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Applications

Elevators Cell phones

Universal testing machine

Automation Industries Vibration analysis

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Resistive Potentiometer
 Commonly used displacement measuring device.

Types of potentiometer
 Wire-wound
 Carbon film
 Plastic film

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Resistive Potentiometer

Operational Problems
1. Dirt under slider.
2. High speed motion of slider can cause contact to slip.
3. Friction between slider and track.

 Life expectancy of potentiometer is quoted as number of reversals.

 wire-wound, carbon-film and plastic-film types are 1 million, 5 million
and 30 million respectively.
 Inaccuracy
 Range: 2mm to 1m

Applications
  Rotary feedback and position indicating circuits
 Voltage divider in the electronic circuit
 Radio for volume control

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Linear Variable Differential Transformer
 The object whose translational displacement is to be measured is
physically attached to the central iron core of the transformer.

 By applying excitation voltage, the e.m.f ‘s induced in the secondary

windings are given by:

 The parameters and depend on the position of the iron core.

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Linear Variable Differential Transformer
For central position of core =

Core is displaced upwards i.e. towards winding A

Core is displaced downwards (i.e. towards winding B)

 Magnitude of the output voltage V0 is the same in both cases but phase
differs between the two cases by 180°.

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Linear Variable Differential Transformer
 Inaccuracy ±0.5%.
 Span of measurement ±100µm to ±100mm.
 Accuracy disturb due to harmonics in excitation voltage and stray
capacitance but it is less than 1%.

Applications
 To measure hydraulic cylinder displacement
 Conditioning of hydraulic valves

Press machine
Tracking of yaw pitch
movement of aircraft
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Variable Capacitance Transducer
 It is also used in displacement measurement.
 Capacitor and capacitance?

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Variable Capacitance Transducer
Different common forms of VCT

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Variable Capacitance Transducer
 Inaccuracy ± 0.01%
 Range to
 No wear and friction

Applications
 Liquid level measurement
 Brake disc deformation
 Turbine blades deformation

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Variable Inductance Transducer
 It has center-tapped single winding.
 Two halves of winding connected to form two arms of bridge circuit that is
excited with alternating voltage.
 When core is at center, output from bridge is zero.
 Displacement of core at either side cause net output voltage.
 It can measure as small range as 0-2mm or as large 0-5m

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Variable Inductance Transducer

Applications
 Hydraulic and pneumatic cylinder positioning
 Bridge expansion and contraction
 Automation industries (packaging and material handling equipments)

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Strain Gauges
 Strain gauges are also used to measure displacement within devices.
 It consists of length of metal resistance wire formed into zigzag pattern and
mounted onto flexible backing sheet.
 As strain is applied to gauge, shape of cross section of resistance wire
distort, changing cross-sectional area.

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Strain Gauges
Input output relationship of strain gauge known as gauge factor

 Strain gauges can be used to measure large displacement. It can measure

up to 50 mm.
 They are mainly 120,350,1000 ohms resistance.
 Wire and foil type strain gauges are commonly used.
 Wire type are now mostly replaced by metal foil
(nickel, copper alloy) or semi conductor type.

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Strain Gauges
Applications
Geotechnical monitoring, torque of rotating equipments, rails
structural analysis 

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Mechanical Fly Ball Angular Velocity Sensor

 Also known as centrifugal tachometer is velocity measuring instrument.

 It consists of pair of spherical balls pivoted on rotating shaft. These balls

move outwards under the influence of centrifugal forces as rotational
velocity of shat increases and lift a pointer against resistance of spring.

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Institute of Space Technology (IST) Fall, 2021
Mechanical Fly Ball Angular Velocity Sensor

 Inaccuracy ±1%
 Can measure up to 40,000 rpm

Applications
 Speed governing systems for engines and turbines
 Centrifuges

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Revolution Counter and Timer

 It is type of mechanical tachometer that is used to measure velocity .

 It gives average rotational speed and not suitable for instantaneous
speed measurement.
 Timer is used to calculate time interval.

Applications
 Low speed engines(2000-3000)rpm
 Winding machine
 Printing machine

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Vibrometer

 It is used to measure amplitude of vibration in terms of velocity.

 Multiple range of sensitivity in one instrument.
 Frequency range depends upon different factors for e.g. damping, its
natural frequency etc.
Applications
 Vibration testing and analysis in automotive industry, research and
development.
 Analysis of sound absorption materials.
 Study vibrations of musical instruments.

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Accelerometer
 It is used to measure of amplitude of vibration in terms of acceleration.
 When a spring-mass-damper system is subjected to acceleration, the
mass is displaced, and this displacement of mass is proportional to
acceleration.
Types
 Piezoelectric accelerometer
 Capacitive accelerometer
Click to add text

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Accelerometer

Classification on the basis of axis

 Uniaxial
 Biaxial
 Triaxial

Normally ranges from ± 1g to ± 500 g

Applications
 Pitch orientation in aircraft and missile
 Tablets and cell phones
 Vibration analysis
 Structural monitoring

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Reference
Chapter 19 & 20, Measurement and Instrumentation Principles by Alan S.
Morris,3rd ed.

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