EMCH 361 Mechanical Engineering Lab I

Lab V Strain Measurement

Objectives
Learning how to mount a foil strain gage
Understand and measure the strains in a simple mechanism
Determine properties of the materials being studied
Introuction
Strain gages are used to measure the strain () on the surface of an object. The operate as
!ariable resistors" with changes in resistance following#
$%&
where#
'( ) change in resistance
*+ ) *age factor for the strain gage
) strain applied
( ) nominal strain gage resistance
, -heatstone bridge circuit is tpicall used to con!ert this change in resistance into a
!oltage output. The ultimate goal of measuring strain is to determine the stress on the
object. +or isotropic materials in the linear)elastic region" .oo/e0s Law is used to relate
the stress and the strain such as
$1&
where the e2uation for tensile strain in the 3 direction is gi!en. Similar e2uations relate
stress and strain in the 4 and 5 directions can be obtained accordingl.
Under unia6ial stress in the 3)direction" e2uation (1) reduces to
$7&
82uation (7) is linear for the stress and the modulus of elasticit (E). The strain in 4)
direction is #
xx
xx
yy
E


=

= $9&
%
R GF R =
E
zz yy xx
xx
) (

+
=
E
xx
xx

=
Therefore" with two strain gages aligned in 3 and 4 directions" both the 4oung:s
;odulus E and <oisson:s ratio of the material can be determined.
=n this Lab" a simpl)supported beam with a strain gage as shown in +ig % is used.

+igure %. , simpl)supported beam with a strain gauge mounted on
the bac/ surface and a load in the middle
Using the relation between the load and (bending) stress and then e2n (7)" the 4oung:s
modulus 8 can then be determined for a gi!en /nown load.
+igure 1. Strain gage indicator bo6 (-heatstone >ridge embedded)
E!ui"ment
-eight set" a cantile!er beam with a strain gage installed" strain indicator bo6 (+ig.1) or a
lap top computer e2uipped with hardware and software for ac2uiring strain gage data.
#roceure
;easure the dimensions of the beam and the location of the gage
Understand the gage properties" e.g. the gage factor" and the strain indicator bo6
1
>eam 86periment? record the strain !alue for each load. ,t least @ loads (7 in
loading and 7 in unloading) are used.
Using the relation between the load and (bending) stress and then e2n (7)" to
calculate the modulus of elasticit E (4oung:s modulus) of the beam material.
Summar$
Strain gages can be used to measure the strain at a point and then con!erted to
stress in a structure
*ages are limited to 1D strains on the surface of a bod
,ssumptions made in stress analsis must be carefull chosen and !erified
%e"ort %e!uirements
Abstract
Introduction A B!erall (what are ou doing in this labC)
Theory A
Simpl)supported beam e2uations relating stress and strain
Strain gage and the -heatstone bridge used
Lab Procedures (see abo!e)
Results A
<lot stress !s. strain and use regression analsis to calculate the 4oung:s
modulus (which is the slope)
=n addition" use DEF confidence le!el to calculate E (from se!eral
e6perimentall determined E !alues using e2n (7))" i.e. 8G333 H 666
Discussion
+ind 8 from elsewhere (e.g. =nternet" te6tboo/) for aluminum and compare
with our measured results. =s ours reasonableC
,n potential errors C from where C
,n other discussion
Conclusion
Reference e!"! #here did the bea$ e%uation& 'heatstone brid"e circuit& and the
reference E and co$e fro$ ( )
A**endix + your ra# test data
7