STRAIN GAUGE PRESSURE TRANSDUCER

 Strain gauge is a type of resistive transduction.

 Pressure measurement is obtained from
displacement of elastic element.
 Pressure is measured through force that is exerted
on the diaphragm where the force will be detected
by the strain gauge and resistance change will be
produced.
 Wheatstone Bridge circuit is used to detect the
change in pressure and an amplifier is used to
amplify the small output signals.
BASIC PRINCIPLE
 The strain gauge is a fine wire which changes its
resistance when mechanically strained, due to physical
effects.
 A strain gauge may be attached to the diaphragm so that
when the diaphragm flexes due to the process pressure
applied on it , the strain gauge stretches for compresses.
 This deformation of the strain gauge causes the
variation in its length and cross sectional area due to
which its resistance also changes as shown in fig.1
 The resistance changes of a strain gauge is
usually converted into voltage by connecting one
,two, or four similar gauges , as of wheatstone
bridge and applying excitation to the bridge .
 The bridge output voltage is then a measure of
the pressure sensed by the strain gauges
Strain gauge transducer
Strain gauge bridge circuit
With diaphragm element
CONSTRUCTION AND WORKING

 Figure 2 shows a bridge circuit with four strain

gauges , Rsg 1,Rsg 2,Rsg 3 & Rsg 4.
 Two strain gauges ,Rsg 1 & Rsg 4 , are mounted so
that increasing pressure increases their resistance.
 Strain gauges Rsg 2 & Rsg 3 , are mounted so that
increasing pressure decreases their resistance.
 A change in temperature affects all the four strain gauges
in the same way , resulting in no change in the pressure
indication .
 At balance , when there is no pressure , no current flows
through the galvanometer G and hence there will be no
deflection in the galvanometer .
 As soon as the pressure is applied the strain gauge
stretches or compresses accordingly and the bridge
circuit is unbalanced due to the change in resistance of
the strain gauges.
 Thus, a current flows in the galvanometer ,
which is measured by the deflection of the
galvanometer .
 These changes affect the output of the bridge
circuit , which indicates a change in measured
pressure.
 Now, this change in output voltage may be
calibrated for the pressure change .
ADVANTAGES
 Small and easy to install.
 Have good accuracy.

 Good stability.

 Simple to maintain .

 Contain no moving parts .

 Good shock and vibration characteristics.

 Fast speed of response.

 High output signal strength.

DISADVANTAGES
 Moderate to high cost.
 Electrical readout necessary.

 Require constant voltage supply.

 Temperature compensation required due to
problems presented by temperature variations.