LAB INVESTIGATIONS 4

LVDT

Student Name
Student ID

: Shakil Ahmed
: SCM - 022732

Date of submission : 5/10/2015

Lecturer
Programme
Engineering

: Ms Preethy
: B.Eng (Hons) Mechanical

ABSTRACT
This experiment was done to study the Input-Output attributes of LVDT and was success. In
the experiment, students obtained the reading of display and the differential voltage between
the two secondary coils. Perusing was taken on micrometer after each 0.1 mm untill 20 mm..
After the experiment was done, the results obtained from it , the graph between displacement
(mm) indicated by micrometer and display reading (mm) and the graph of display reading
(mm) versus differential voltage (mV) were plotted to observe their relationship between
these quantities.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this experiment is study the Input-Output characteristics of LVDT. Besides,
the experiment is done to determine the linear range of operation of LVDT and also the
sensitivity of LVDT.
THEORY/INTRODUCTION
Linear Variable Differential Transformers, LVDTs, are the most commonly used passive type
displacement transducers. They operate under the principle of a mutual inductance change
due to movement of a magnetic core. This movement produces an electrical output
proportional to the displacement of the core.
The transformer has three solenoidal coils placed end-to-end around a tube. The center coil is
the primary, and the two outer coils are the secondaries. A cylindrical ferromagnetic core,
attached to the object whose position is to be measured, slides along the axis of the tube.
An alternating current is driven through the primary, causing a voltage to be induced in each
secondary proportional to its mutual inductance with the primary. The frequency is usually in
the range 1 to 10 kHz.

As the core moves, these mutual inductances change, causing the voltages induced in the
secondaries to change. The coils are connected in reverse series, so that the output voltage is
the difference (hence "differential") between the two secondary voltages. When the core is in
its central position, equidistant between the two secondaries, equal but opposite voltages are
induced in these two coils, so the output voltage is zero.
When the core is displaced in one direction, the voltage in one coil increases as the other
decreases, causing the output voltage to increase from zero to a maximum. This voltage is in
phase with the primary voltage. When the core moves in the other direction, the output
voltage also increases from zero to a maximum, but its phase is opposite to that of the
primary. The magnitude of the output voltage is proportional to the distance moved by the

core (up to its limit of travel), which is why the device is described as "linear". The phase of
the voltage indicates the direction of the displacement.
Because the sliding core does not touch the inside of the tube, it can move without friction,
making the LVDT a highly reliable device. The absence of any sliding or rotating contacts
allows the LVDT to be completely sealed against the environment.

APPARATUS
i
ii
iii

Scientech 2304 trainer with power supply cord

Connecting rod
Multimeter

PROCEDURES
Experiment 1
1

The trainer was turned on.

The micrometer was made to read 10 mm i.e. thimble was rotated till 0 of the circular
scale coincides with 10 of main scale.

Display will indicate 00.0. This was the position when core was at centre i.e equal flux
linking to both the secondary.

If display was not 00.0 then the display reading was adjusted to 00.0 with the help of
hexagonal nut arrangement given with the LVDT.

The USB Cable was connected between trainer and PC.

The software was opened and the start button was clicked on.

The port where the USB cable was connected was selected and the start button was
clicked on. If USB port connects beyond com10, it will not be showing in drop down
list. Go on Device manager, change its property, and assign USB port between com2 to
com9.

The thimble was rotated clockwise so that micrometer read 9.9 mm. It moved core 0.1
mm inside the LVDT and simultaneously the reading on display was observed. It
indicated the displacement from 10 mm position in positive direction. The reading was
positive. It was indicated that secondary I was at higher voltage than secondary II. User

can see resulting Waveforms on real time software window or Oscilloscope.

9

The above step was repeated by rotating thimble again clockwise by 0.1mm. Reading
will be taken after each 0.1 mm rotation until micrometer read 0 mm. This was positive
end. At this point secondary I have highest voltage and secondary II has lowest voltage
(not Zero).

10 The thimble was rotated anticlockwise so that micrometer read 10 mm. The display was
00.0. (Centre or null position).
11 The thimble was rotated anti clockwise so that micrometer read 10.1 mm. It moved core
0.1 mm outside the LVDT and simultaneously reading on display was observed. It
indicated displacement from 10 mm position in negative direction. The reading was
negative. It was indicated that secondary II is at higher voltage than secondary I.
12 The above step was repeated by rotating thimble again anticlockwise by 0.l mm.
Reading was taken after each 0.1 mm rotation until micrometer read 20 mm. This was
negative end. At this point secondary II has highest voltage and secondary I have lowest
voltage (not Zero). Sensitivity of real time software was 0.5mm (i.e on real time
software window, readings will change after every 0.5mm displacement).
13 The above results was compared with the observation table 1.

Experiment 2
1

The procedures of Experiment 1 were repeated.

The graph for the display reading with the proportional change with the displacement (as
done in the previous Experiment) was plotted. The point from which it disobeys the linear
relation was found.

The displacement reading of micrometer for the above point was noted and 10 mm was
subtracted from it. The difference is the linear range of LVDT.

The trainer was linear over full scale that was 10 mm. So linear range was 10 mm.

Experiment 3
1

The trainer was turned on.

The micrometer was made to read 10 mm.

The reading of micrometer was noted.

The differential voltage between Test Point TP6 and TP7 was measured with multimeter
in mV range.

The micrometer was made to read 9 mm.

Step 4 was repeated.

Then sensitivity of LVDT was calculated.

RESULTS
Table 1 Data for Experiment 1

Displacement (mm) indicated by

micrometer
0 mm
1 mm
2 mm
3 mm
4 mm
5 mm
6 mm
7 mm
8 mm
9 mm
10 mm
11 mm
12 mm
13 mm
14 mm
15 mm
16 mm
17 mm
18 mm
19 mm
20 mm

Display Reading (mm)

Differential voltage

10.6
9.6
8.5
7.7
6.9
5.7
4.7
3.8
2.6
1.8
-0.7
-0.4
-1.3
-2.3
-3.4
-4.3
-5.2
-6.2
-7.2
-8.3
-9.2

(mV)
102
93
83
74
64
54
44
34
24
14
4
5
15
25
35
45
55
65
74
84
94

Displacement (mm) indicated by micrometer and Display reading (mm)

15
10

f(x) = - 0.99x + 10.64

Display reading (mm)

8 10 12 14 16 18 20

-5
-10
-15

Displacement (mm) indicated by micrometer

Graph 1 : Graph between displacement (mm) indicated by micrometer and Display reading (mm)

Graph of Display reading (mm) versus Differential voltage (mV)

120
100
80
60

Differential voltage (mV)

40
20
-15

-10

-5

0
0

10

15

Display reading (mm)

Graph 2 : Graph of Display reading (mm) versus Differential voltage (mV)

(10293) mV
S=
Calculate Sensitivity,
(10.6 mm9.6 mm)
= 9 mV / mm
Linear range of operation = ( Max value of display reading (Min value of display reading))
=( 10.6 (-9.2)) mm
= 19.8mm.
Theoretical value obtained from the graph of Display reading (mm) versus Differential voltage
(mV) in the calculation below

Theoretical valueCalculated value

% error = |
| x 100

( 9.9049 )

x 100
( 9.904 )

= 9.13%
Accuracy = 100% - 9.13%
= 90.87%
DISCUSSION
From the graph plotted using results in table 1, with the increase of displacement (mm)
indicated by micrometer ,the display reading (mm) decreases. In the theory explained, with the
change of displacement indicated by micrometer the core moves slowly from left to right. The
display reading is the position of the core from the center. When the displacement is changed
(increased), the core moves towards the center from left to right with the display reading
decreasing from positive value to zero. As the display reading drops, the core is moving away
from center from left to right with the display reading decreasing from zero to negative values.

The linear range of operation is calculated by using maximum display reading subtract the
minimum display reading of the experiment. The maximum display reading of LVDT measured
is 10.6mm while the minimum display reading measured is -9.2mm. Thus, the linear range of
operation is 19.8mm.

Sensitivity is defined as the ratio of the change in output to a change in the value of the
displacement. From the graph of display reading (mm) versus differential voltage (mV), the
gradient is the sensitivity of LVDT which the theoretical value is 9.904 mV/mm while the
calculated value getting by using the formula is 9 mV/mm.

The accuracy of this experiment getting by using the formula is 90.87%. To improve
the accuracy of the experiment, we can repeat the experiment and get the average data. Make the
connections firm and tight. Take the values correctly from micrometer and avoid Parallax error
Besides, make sure the micrometer is start from the correct experimental value to avoid wrong
data taken.

CONCLUSION
From the experiment, it is said that the objective of this experiment which is to study the
Input-Output characteristics of LVDT was achieved successfully. Hence the measurement of
a small displacement using LVDT is 1 mm .the linear range of operation of LVDT and also
the sensitivity of LVDT are successfully determined.

REFERENCES

http://faculty.uml.edu/pavitabile/22.302/web_download/LVDT_&_Accelerometer_Lab4_010505.
pdf

http://www.ni.com/white-paper/3638/en/

http://ggnindia.dronacharya.info/ecedept/downloads/labmanuals/aug09_dec09/v_sem/lm

_ece_em_manual.pdf

http://faculty.kfupm.edu.sa/ee/ajmal/052/EET027/EET027_Exper9_052.pdf
AC/25,
"LVDT
Displacement
Transducer."
Solartron
http://www.solartronmetrology.com/, 2005.
LABORIS, LVDTs experiment. http://www.laboris.isep.ipp.pt/lvdt/, 2006

Scribd.com (sample reports)

Wikipedia (definations)

Metrology