Strain Measurement

In the field strains can capture static as well as dynamic signals. So called load cells are built by implementing sensors with strain gauges for weighing. These signals change mostly slow and demand very high precision. For the analyzation of material stresses, oscillations or the like, strain gauges are applied on the to be examined component. Therefore a mostly fast acquisition of the signal is essential. The absolute precision can be neglected most of the time.

Strain gauges are measurement devices for the acquisition of expanding and compressing deformations. They change their electric resistance within the smallest deformation and are used as strain sensors. They have to be applied to a component that deforms already under minimal stress with a special adhesive. This deformation (strain) causes an instant change of the resistance of the strain gauge. It is the essential component of many sensor types: load cells, scales of all sizes (household scales up to crane scales), pressure transducers or even torque sensors. Deformation measurements (experimental strain analysis, voltage analysis) can be performed on various materials by strain gauge measurement. Bridge circuits are often used when measuring with strain gauges. This includes mainly quarter-, half- and full-bridges. Strain gauges come in various material versions, like foil-, wire- and semi-conductor strain gauges as well as multiple strain gauges in various assembly forms like strain gauges with lateral extension, full-bridge strain gauges and rosette strain gauges.