On the application of strain

gauges for a structural

member subjected to
complex type of loading
SATISH C. SHARMA, Department of Mechanical & Industrial
Engineering, University of Roorkee, Roorkee 247 667, India

Received 11th September 1996

Revised 20th November 1997

Quite often test parts or structural components are simultaneously subjected to different
types of loading. If a user is particularly interested in carrying out measurement correspond-
ing to a specific loading only, then the proper use of strain gauge connections on a
Wheatstone bridge circuit needs careful consideration. This article is intended to clearly
demonstrate to the undergraduate mechanical engineering students how to carry out strain
measurements sensitive to a particular type of loading while eliminating the contribution
corresponding to unwanted loadings.

NOMENCLATURE

eo output voltage
F Gauge Factor
EB bridge supply voltage
e strain
R I , R2 , R3 , R4 initial bridge arm resistances
M I , &2' M 3, M 4 amount of resistances' changes in bridge arms

a, axial load; b, bending load; t, torsion load

INTRODUCTION

The bonded type of strain gauges are widely used as a sensors in a number of transducers.
Strain gauges are generally part of undergraduate and postgraduate curricula in Mechanical
Engineering. Quite a considerable coverage is given to this topic in the textbooks dealing
with the subject matter [1-5]. The majority of textbooks present detailed discussion regard-
ing strain gauge circuits, i.e. the Wheatstone bridge circuit vis-a-vis bridge configurations
sensitive to a specific type of loading While teaching such a topic to mechanical engineering
students, the author has realized that the students do feel difficulty in understanding the

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242 Satish C. Sharma

above aspect. The present article, however, attempts to give a more thorough understanding
and easy application of strain gauges vis-a-vis the Wheatstone bridge circuit when the
structural member is subjected to a complex type of loading. In the opinion of the author, the
present article can be expected to enhance the understanding of undergraduate students
concerning the above aspect.

THEORY
The primary circuit used in instrumentation and specifically with strain gauges is the resist-
ance bridge known as the Wheatstone bridge circuit. The basic Wheatstone bridge circuit, as
shown in Fig. I, comprises the resistances R I' Rz, R3 and R4. When the bridge is balanced,
the output voltage between two tapping points Band D is zero. Let the bridge be balanced
initially and all the four arms of the Wheatstone bridge circuit be strain gauges. Let their
resistance change by an amounts M I , M z, M 3 and M 4 respectively due to the applied
loading on the test object. The resulting output voltage due to an imbalance of the bridge can
be derived from first principles [1-5] and is given as:

e = EBR]RZ [M1_Mz_M3+M4 ] (I)

o (R1 +Rz)z R1 Rz R3 R4

Recalling the definition of gauge factors, i.e.

i = 1,... ,4.

Thus, the equation [I] reduces to

(2)

+
B~--O o---~D

Fig. I. Basic Wheatstone bridge circuit.

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 Application of strain gauges 243

In general, when several strain gauges are used, they are taken from the same batch, so that
they may be considered to be identical, i.e. one can assume

After making the above substitutions equation (2) reduces to

(3)

Equation (3) is a basic equation which is completely general in nature and governs the
behaviour of the Wheatstone bridge circuit in strain measurement for one, two and four
active gauges.

ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE
Fig. 2(a), shows a test specimen subjected simultaneous to axial and bending loads having
two strain gauges fixed as shown. We wish to use the bridge configurations that are specifi-
cally sensitive to axial or bending loads respectively.

Bridge configurationsensitive to axial loads only

The bridge configurations as shown in Fig. 2(b) is used. The two active gauges are put on
opposite arms, the top gauge is placed on bridge arm R 1 and the bottom gauge on arm R4 .
Thus, the net effect is additive in nature, and therefore, equation (3) for this case reduces to

(4)

Let us assume that bending load is also experienced by these gauges. Since the bending
strains would be equal and opposite in sign, i.e., Elb =-E4b and as axial strains are equal
El a = E4a = Ea (say) thus,

(5)

Therefore, the equation (4) reduces to

e E F
=_B_ E
o 2 a (6)

Equation (6) clearly indicates that the output is independent of the bending strains.

Bridge configurationsensitive to bending loads

For this, the bridge configuration as shown in Fig. 2(c) is used. Since the gauges are used on
adjacent bridge arms R 1 and Rz. Equation (3) for this case will have the following form

(7)

Recalling that Elb = -EZb for bending load and El a = EZa for axial load.

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244 Satish C. Sharma

x GAUGE POSITIONS

Section at x-x

(a)

(b) (c)

Fig. 2. (a) Two identical brain gauges cemented onto a machine element. Bridge
configuration sensitive (b) to axial loads only and (e) to bending loads only.

After making substitutions in equation (7), the output obtained is independent of the axial
loads. Thus,

(8)

Bridge configurations sensitive to torsional loads only

In this case four gauges are put at an angle of 45° to the axis of the shaft as shown in
Fig. 3(a). The full bridge configuration as shown in Fig. 3(b) is sensitive to torsional loads
only, and the output is given by equation (3).
Assuming that axial loads are applied then

et =±elt ± eta; e2 = ±e2t ± e2a

(9)
e3 = ±e3t ± e3a; e4 = ±e4t ± f4a
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 Application of strain gauges 245

(a)

(bl

Fig. 3. (a) Four strain gauges fixed onto a shaft. (b) Bridge configuration sensitive to
torsional loads only.

where ± sign indicates that the strain could be tensile or compressive in nature and for this
case

also

E1I = -E21 = -E3t = E4t = E t (say)

Thus, after making these substitutions in equation (3) it reduces to

(10)

Thus, the system is insensitive to axial loads. Now if bending loads are also applied then

Et=E1I+ Elb; E2=E2t+ E2b; E3=E3t+ E3b; E4=E4t+E4b (II)

noting that

Etb = E3b = E (say); E2b = E4b = -E (say)

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246 Satish C. Sharma

and also

Thus, after making the above substitutions, equation (10) reduces to

(12)

Thus, the system is insensitive to bending loads.

BRIDGE SENSITIVITY

If the bridge excitation voltage E B is fixed and independent of gauge current, then the
sensitivity of bridge depends upon the number of active gauges employed and the gauge
factor. With two active arm in the bridge, a bridge sensitivity which is twice that of a single
active gauge can be achieved (equations (6) and (8)), whereas with four active gauges, a
bridge sensitivity four times that of a single gauge can be achieved as indicated by equation
(12).

CONCLUDING REMARKS

This article presents in a methodical and logical way the use of strain gauges to get bridge
circuit configurations specifically sensitive to a particular type of loading while insensitive to
other type of loadings present simultaneously. The procedure described within the paper, is
both simple and quite easy to understand from the point of view of undergraduate students. It
is expected that the students would derive benefit from this article and could handle such
type of problem in an actual application with a great deal of confidence.

REFERENCE

[I] Doeblin, E. 0., Measurement Systems Application and Design, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1990.
[2] Dally, J. W., and Riley, W. F., Experimental Stress Analysis, McGraw-Hill. New York, 1985.
[3] DeSilva, C. W., Control Sensors and Actuators, Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1989.
[4] Tritely. H. L., Transducers in Mechanical and Electronic Design. Marcel Dekker, New York. 1986.
[5] Beckwith, Buck and Marangoni, Mechanical Measurements, Narosa Publishing House. New Delhi,
1987.

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