Force Measurement

CHAPTER # 3
Force
Force may be defined as a cause that produces resistance or obstruction to any moving body, or
change the motion of a body, or tend to produce these effects.
Scale and balance
Equal arms beam balance scale
Scale and balance
Unequal arms beam balance scale
Scale and balance
Pendulum scale
Scale and balance
Cantilever beams load cell
Scale and balance
Elastic force meter
Spring Scale
Elastic force meter
Hydraulic Force meter
Hydraulic Force meter
It has good response against load variation
It is self contained and require no outside power
Good sensitivity
Pneumatic force meter
Pneumatic force meter
It is suitable for use in explosive area
Free from temperature related errors

Poor response
Depends on supply air pressure
Strain gauge load cell
Strain gauge load cell
It is small and compact
Fast response
Measure compressive as well as tensile forces
Linear Variable Differential Transformer
load cell
Torque Measurement
Torsion bar dynamometer
Where G is the shear modulus

2TL

 G (ro4  ri 4 )
Torque Measurement

T  F  R W  L
Torque Measurement
Torque Measurement
Dd
Reff  effective _ radius _ of _ the _ wheel 
2
T  (W  S )  Reff
2 NT
P , kw
60000
Torque Measurement
Torque Measurement
Strain Measurement
Type of strain gauge
1. Mechanical strain gauge
2. Optical strain gauge
3. Electrical strain gauge
Gauge Factor
F = (ΔR/R) ÷ (Δl/l)

Higher gauge factor represent higher sensitivity

Theory of resistance strain gauge
R = ρl/A

A =cross section area of wire

ρ = resistivity of wire material
l = length of wire
Types of resistance strain gauge
Bonded Strain gauge
Grid of fine wire is cemented or bonded to a thin Bakalite sheet or thin paper sheet and covered
with a protective sheet
Semiconductor type

P type: Resistance changes with strain (positive or

negative)
High stain gauge factor
Rosette strain gauge
Unbonded strain gauge
Used for displacement measurement

Wheatstone circuit
Metallic strain gauge
1. Constantan (copper nickel alloy )
2. Karma (nickel chrome alloy)
3. Nichrome (nickel chrome alloy)
4. Isoelastic (nickel iron alloy)
5. 479PT (platinum – tungsten alloy)
Strain gauge circuits
Ballast circuit
Wheatstone circuit

Null mode
Deflection mode
Temperature Compensation
Temperature Compensation
Thermal expansion coefficient of the strain gauge is marched with thermal expansion
coefficient of measuring object