Lecture - 5 Semt

Strain Gauges
Exercises
by
Dr. Sotiris Omirou
AMEM 211
Exercise 7
A strain gauge has a resistance of 250 Ω and a gauge factor
G of 2.2. It is bonded to an object to detect movement.
Determine the change in resistance of the strain gauge if it

experiences a tensile strain of 450 µε due to the change in size of
the object.
Also, if the relationship between change in resistance and

displacement is 0.05 Ω.mm-1, determine the change in size of the
object.
1
Exercise 7
1. Data: 2. Asked:
R = 250 Ω a. Change in resistance ∆R
G = 2.2 b. Change in size ∆l
ε = 450 µε
∆R / ∆l = 0.05 Ω / mm
Exercise 7
3. Solution:
a. b.
To find the displacement ∆l, we know
G. ε = ∆R / R from the question that
-6 -1
∆R =250 X 2.2 X 450 X 10 ∆R / ∆l = 0.05 Ω . mm
-1
∆l = ∆R / 0.05 = 0.2475 Ω / 0.05 Ω mm
= 0.2475 Ω
∆l = 4.95 mm
Therefore, the change in The change in size of the object is 4.95 mm

resistance of the strain
gauge, ∆R is 0.2475 Ω
2
Exercise 8
A strain gauge bridge has a strain gauge of resistance R = 200 Ω

and a gauge factor G of 1.9.
R2, R3 and R4 are fixed resistors also rated at 200 Ω.
The strain gauge is bonded to an

object to detect movement. It
experiences a tensile strain of 400
microstrain due to the displacement
of the object.
Determine the change in resistance

∆R of the strain gauge. Also, if the
input voltage Vi is 4 volts then
determine the change in output
voltage ∆V0
Exercise 8
1. Data: 2. Asked:
R = 200 Ω a. Change in resistance ∆R
R2 = R3 = R4 = 200 Ω b. Change in output voltage ∆V0
G = 1.9
ε = 400 µε
Vi = 4 volts
3
Exercise 8
3. Solution:
a. b.
Change in output voltage
At balance
R1 = R2 = R3 = R4 = 200 Ω  ∆R 
G. ε = ∆R / R 
∆V =V  1  = 4 0.152  = 0.00152V
0 i  R + R   200 + 200 
 1 2
-6
1.9 X 400 X 10 = ∆R / 200
-6 The change in output voltage ∆V0 = 1.52 mV
∆R1 = 200 X 1.9 X 400 X 10
= 0.152 Ω.
Therefore, the change in

resistance of the strain
gauge, ∆R1 is 0.152 Ω
Displacement Sensors
Variable Area Capacitors
4
This method of measuring displacement uses the

electrical property of capacitance.
capacitance.
Capacitance is the property of a system that enables it

to store electrical charge. A capacitor is an electrical
component having capacitance. Capacitors are formed
by conductors separated by a dielectric
Conductors of a capacitor,
capacitor, in the form of parallel plates,
with a dielectric material between them. A dielectric
material is a substance such as glass or kerosene that
can sustain an electric field.
5
The capacitance is measured in farads (F) and is given

by the expression:
Aε 0 ε r
C=
where:
d
. A is the area of overlap between two capacitor plates (m2)
. ε 0 is the permittivity of free space (8.854 x 10-12 F.m-1)
. ε r is the relative permittivity of the dielectric between the capacitor
plates (no units)
. d is the distance between the plates (m)
Variable Area Capacitors – Mode of operation
Capacitive displacement transducers produce a change in

capacitance proportional to a change in displacement.
The capacitance C can be changed by varying:

- the area of overlap A
- the relative permittivity of the dielectric ε r
- the distance d between the plates.
We shall consider the type where the area of overlap between the
two conductive plates is altered, known as the variable area type.
6
Aε 0 ε r
C=
d
( A − wx)ε 0ε r
C=
d
CONCLUSION
The change in capacitance is proportional to the change

in area of overlap of the plates.
Therefore, by using an appropriate capacitor design,
mounting arrangement and measurement system, we
can use capacitance change to measure displacement.
7
Variable Area Capacitors – The cylindrical form
It consists of a static
cylinder into which a sliding
cylinder is inserted to form
the capacitive plates. The
inside of the static cylinder
is coated with dielectric
material. The sliding
cylinder attaches to the
object whose displacement
is to be measured. As the
sliding cylinder moves in or
out of the fixed cylinder,
the area between the
plates changes, so the
capacitive output changes
in proportion to the
displacement.
Variable Area Capacitors – Applications
•Capacitive displacement transducers are generally

only suitable for measuring small displacements.
• Specificationsof this type of displacement sensor
are available for use in high humidity or high
temperature zones.
• They are very sensitive, have infinite resolution, but
they can be expensive and need significant signal
conditioning. For these reasons they tend to be
used for specialist applications.
• Examples of these are surface profile sensing, wear
measurement, or crack growth
8
Exercise 9
Consider a capacitor consisting of two parallel conductive

plates in parallel. Each conductive plate has a width w of
0.1 m and length of 0.5 m. The distance d between the two
plates is 0.1 m.
The relative permeability of the dielectric εr is 1. Given that
the permittivity of free space ε0 is 8.854 x 10-12 F.m-1
determine the capacitance of this device. If the overlap of
the plates is reduced by moving one plate horizontally a
distance x of 50 mm, determine the new value of
capacitance.
Solution
1. Data: 2. Asked:
w = 0.1 m a. The capacitance of the device
l = 0.5 m b. The new value of capacitance.
D = 0.1 m
εr = 1
ε0 = 8.854 x 10-12 Fm-1
9
Solution (a)
The area of each plate A is
A = w.l = 0.1 m x 0.5 m = 0.05 m2
To find the capacitance
Aε 0 ε r 0.05 x8.854 x10 −12 x1

C= = = 4.427 x10 −12 F
d 0.1
C = 4.427 pF

Solution (b)
If the length of the overlap is reduced by moving one plate
horizontally a distance x = 50 mm.
Area of overlap = (A-wx) = 0.05 - (0.1 x 0.05) = 0.045 m
Aε 0ε r 0.045 x8.854 x10−12 x1

C= = = 3.984 x10−12 F
d 0.1
C = 3.984 pF
10
Exercise 10
the variable area capacitor of cylindrical form

Consider
shown in the figure. The maximum amount of relative
movement between the inner and outer cylinders is 9 mm.
If the internal diameter of the outer cylinder is 20.5 mm and
the external diameter of the inner cylinder is 19.05 mm,
calculate the change in capacitance that occurs when the
sliding cylinder moves over the complete range.
The relative permittivity of the dielectric εr is 1 and the
permittivity of free space ε0 is 8.854 x 10-12 F.m-1
Variable area cylindrical capacitor
11
Solution
1. Data: 2. Asked:
D in = 20.5 mm a. The change in capacitance of
d ex = 19.05 mm the device
εr = 1
ε0 = 8.854 x 10-12 Fm-1
Solution
The average diameter is
(20.5 + 19.05) / 2 = 19.775 x 10-3 m
The change in area is = π D L
= 3.142 x 19.775 x 10-3 x 9 x 10-3
= 0.559 x 10-3 m2
The distance between cylinders is = (20.5 – 19.05) / 2 = 0.725 mm
The change in capacitance is
Aε 0ε r 0.559 x10−3 x8.854 x10−12 x1

C= = = 6.826 x10 −12 F
d 0.725 x10−3
C = 6.826 pF
12

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Strain Gauges

Determine the change in resistance of the strain gauge if it

Also, if the relationship between change in resistance and

Therefore, the change in The change in size of the object is 4.95 mm

A strain gauge bridge has a strain gauge of resistance R = 200 Ω

The strain gauge is bonded to an

Determine the change in resistance

Therefore, the change in

Variable Area Capacitors

This method of measuring displacement uses the

Capacitance is the property of a system that enables it

Variable Area Capacitors

The capacitance is measured in farads (F) and is given

Variable Area Capacitors – Mode of operation

Capacitive displacement transducers produce a change in

The capacitance C can be changed by varying:

Variable Area Capacitors – Mode of operation

The change in capacitance is proportional to the change

Variable Area Capacitors – Applications

•Capacitive displacement transducers are generally

Consider a capacitor consisting of two parallel conductive

Variable Area Capacitors

A = w.l = 0.1 m x 0.5 m = 0.05 m2

To find the capacitance

Aε 0 ε r 0.05 x8.854 x10 −12 x1

Variable Area Capacitors

Area of overlap = (A-wx) = 0.05 - (0.1 x 0.05) = 0.045 m

Aε 0ε r 0.045 x8.854 x10−12 x1

the variable area capacitor of cylindrical form

Variable Area Capacitors

Variable area cylindrical capacitor

(20.5 + 19.05) / 2 = 19.775 x 10-3 m

The change in area is = π D L

= 3.142 x 19.775 x 10-3 x 9 x 10-3

The distance between cylinders is = (20.5 – 19.05) / 2 = 0.725 mm

The change in capacitance is

Aε 0ε r 0.559 x10−3 x8.854 x10−12 x1

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