MODULE 3 STRAIN MEASUREMENT

EXPERIMENT MODULE
AE2200 Instrumentation, Measurement and Experiment

Light Weight Structure Laboratory

Faculty of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
INSTITUT TEKNOLOGI BANDUNG
1. Background
This experiment is a part of AE2200 Instrumentation, Measurement and Experiment course
which contains an introduction to the strain measurement and common instrumentation used in the
experimental test. Students are expected to be able to do and design the strain measurement system,
analyze the data obtained, and communicate the measurement result by making a good technical
report.

2. Aims
This experiment is aimed to measure the strain on the tensile test specimen using strain
gage. Measurement results are processed to obtain the mechanical properties, then compared to
the literature data.

3. Theoretical Basis
Based on several courses related to structural analysis, knowing strain value in the loaded
structure is important. Strain value can be used directly to indicate the strain on the structure or to
calculate the stress based on Hooke’s law. In general metal materials, the stress-strain relation can
be expressed by tensile diagram curve showing the presence of linear elastic and plastic regions.

(a) (b)
Figure 1 (a) Strain Gage; (b) Strain Gage Application on Aircraft Structure (Wing Skin)

There are various methods to measure strain. The most widely used method is to use a
strain gage sensor (Figure 1). Strain gage is attached directly to the point which want to know the
strain or stress magnitude. Attached strain gage will experience a similar strain as on surface of
the structure. Strain in the wire strands/thin metal layers of strain gage will result the change length
of the wire sensor. It will cause the changes in electrical resistance of the metal, so that the strain
can be measured. In the experiment, electrical resistance is not measured directly using ohm-meter
because of the small change in the electrical resistance. The resistance is measured through the
Wheatstone Bridge with a certain electric circuit scheme as shown in Figure 2. This electrical
circuit is supplied with a voltage of E. At the output V, the change of voltage will show the change
of resistance as a result of the strain on the strain gage.

Figure 2 Electrical Circuit of Wheatstone Bridge

Figure 2 shows that the electric circuit of Wheatstone Bridge consists of four resistors,
namely R1, R2, R3, R4. The resistances of R1 and R2 are coupled series between the points A and C.
The resistances of R3 and R4 are also coupled series between points A and C. Then they are
assembled again in parallel. Between points A and C are given a direct-current voltage field of V,
while the output of the bridge is expressed as a voltage difference (E) between points B and D.
Voltage changes will occur between points B and D when strain gage (resistors)
experiences the changes of resistance. Voltage change can be derived using Kirchoff’s law as
shown in the following equation.

(1)

where V is the field of the Wheatstone bridge voltage, Ri is the increase of resistance to the ith
strain gage due to strain, and Ri is the nominal resistance of the ith strain gage.

Figure 3 Three Types of Wheatstone Bridge

(a) quarter bridge, (b) half bridge, (c) full bridge

Basically, the Wheatstone bridge circuit consists of three types. They are quarter bridge,
half bridge, and full bridge as shown in Figure 3. Quarter bridge is the simplest types of circuit,
 in which a strain gage replaces one of the four resistors on the Wheatstone bridge. Half bridge is
the type of circuit where two strain gages replace two of the four resistors, and full bridge is the
type of circuit where four strain gages replace four resistors on the Wheatstone bridge. These three
types of the Wheatstone bridge can be used in accordance with the measurement conditions and
requirements.
The sensitivity of each type of the Wheatstone bridge circuit is defined as the ratio of the
change in the output voltage compared to the change of resistance in the strain gage during the
strain. For the same strain measurement, half bridges type will have twice sensitivity compared to
the quarter bridges and full bridge will have four times sensitivity compared to the quarter bridges.
The magnitude of the strain that can be calculated from the analysis using the Wheatstone
bridge can be formulated as,

(2)

where n is the number of active strain gage, E is the output voltage difference, V is the input
voltage, and S is a strain gage factor or often called as a gage factor which magnitude depends on
the characteristics of each strain gage. In this experiment, the strain gage is attached to the surface
of the specimen to be drawn.

Figure 4 Rod that given axial load

The axial stress (A) and the axial strain (A) experienced by the rod in Figure 4 can be
calculated by the following equation
𝐹 Δ𝐿 (3)
𝜎𝐴 = 𝐴 and 𝜀𝐴 = 𝐿

where A is the cross-section area, L is length and F is the given axial load.
As long as the material is within its elastic region, Hooke's Law is applicable, and the
relationship can be expressed as

(4)
where E is the modulus of elasticity or Young's modulus. E gives a picture about the size of
material stiffness.
4. Experimental Tools

Figure 5 Experimental Setup and Instrumentations

Figure 5 shows the instrumentations for this experiment. The test equipment that will be
used is a Tensile Test Machine (Llyod Nexygen LRX Plus) with a 5 kN capacity. In this
experiment, strain in the axial direction will be detected by a single strain gage connected to the
quarter bridge circuit. The bridge output is conditioned using signal conditioner (Kyowa type
CDV 700A).
The amount of load and displacement given to the specimen is also read by the data
acquisition device attached to the computer. The data acquisition process is done with Nexygen
software.

5. Procedure
This experiment will use specimen made of Al 2024-T3 as a test object. Experiments will
do on two type of test method. First, the test will work on tensile test specimen using strain gage
and the second test will done on the specimen without strain gage.
First specimen using strain gage will be given load only in the elastic area of the material,
while the second specimen (without strain gage) will be given load until the specimen break.
Procedure for the first specimen using strain gage is given as follow.
1. Measure the impedance of the strain gage using multimeter to ensure that strain gage is still
in the good condition. The impedance quantity for the type of strain gage used in this
 experiment is 120±0.3Ω, conform to the one specified in the strain gage design specification
shown in Figure 6. Make sure that the strain gage cable is not yet connected to the bridge box.

Figure 6 Strain design specification

2. Measure the dimensions of the specimen, which consists of the specimen thickness (t), gage
width (W), and gage length (G).

Figure 7 Tensile Test Specimen Dimension

3. Arrange strain gage cable into bridge box, quarter bridge type, as shown in Figure 8.

Figure 8 Bridge box with quarter bridge type

4. Turn on the tensile test machine, then install the specimen which has equipped with a strain
gage (Figure 9).
5. Input the load magnitude and the extension rate which will be given to the tensile test
specimen into the available software (Nexygen) in the computer. The inserted load magnitude
is 2 kN, while the extension rate is 0.5 mm/min. Then, input the data of the specimen
dimension according to the measurement results that have been done on point 2.
 Figure 9 Tensile test specimen setup

6. Perform the Wheatstone bridge circuit balancing so that ΔU = 0 by pressing the autobalance
button on the front panel of the signal conditioner. If it's necesary, do the fine tuning by
rotating the screw R shift with a small screwdriver.

Figure 10 Signal Conditioner setup

7. Perform the test by recording the bridge output data for each 100 N load increase.
8. Change the strain data which is in voltage unit based on the signal conditioner into με for
further data processing. (data reads × 0.1= ɛ)
For a tensile test specimen without strain gage, the following procedure should be
performed.
1. Measure the dimensions of the specimen which consists of specimen thickness (t), gage width
(W), and gage length (G).
2. Turn on the tensile test machine, then attach the specimen to the tensile test machine.
3. Input test data into Nexygen software which has available on the computer. The inserted load
magnitude is 4 kN, while the extension rate is 4 mm/min. Then, input the data of the specimen
dimension according to the measurement results that have been done on point 1.
4. Perform the testing until the specimen is broken, then save the data that recorded on the data
acquisition.
6. Experimental Uncertainty Analysis
In general, main components that affect to the uncertainty in the tensile test are:
1. Uncertainty in area measurement, 𝑢𝐴,
2. Uncertainty in force measurement, 𝑢𝐹.
6.1 Uncertainty in Area Measurement
Uncertainty in area measurement is influenced by three factors. These factors are:
• Uncertainty in micrometer, 𝑢𝑚𝑖ic = ±0.0015 𝑚𝑚
• Uncertainty in operator, 𝑢𝑜𝑝𝑚 = ±0.005 𝑚𝑚

• Uncertainty of the length and the width of the specimen,

Therefore, uncertainty in area measurement can be written as follow:

(5)

6.2 Uncertainty in Force Measurement

Uncertainty in force measurement is influenced by three factors. These factors are:
• Uncertainty in tensile machine, = ±0.5 %
• Uncertainty in measuring instrument, = ±0.1 %
• Uncertainty in operator, = ± 0.25 = ±0.144%
√3

Therefore, uncertainty in force measurement can be written as follow:

(6)

Based on uncertainty in area and force measurement, general uncertainty in the experiment
of tensile test can be known by:

(7)

Therefore, modulus of elasticity that obtained from tensile test is:

(8)

7. Result and Discussion

1. Draw stress (σ) – strain (ε) curve from data recorded by data acquisition.
2. Determine the Modulus of Elasticity (E), Yield Stress (σy), Maximum Tensile Stress (σu) from
the stress-strain curve.
3. Compare the mechanical properties from the experiments that using strain gage (a), without
strain gage (b) and the literature (c). Present the data (a), (b) and (c) into one stress-strain
 curve.
4. Do the analysis if there is a difference between the results show in no.3, and why there is a
difference.
8. Questions
1. A tensile test specimen is pulled until reaching its breaking point. From two pictures given
below, which one represent the correct fracture and give an explanation for the option you
choose!

(a) (b)

2. Derive the stress change equation (3) from Wheatstone bridge-circuit.

3. Explain the work principle of strain gage.
4. Explain the advantages of strain gage installation in half-bridge circuit compared to quarter-
bridge circuit.

9. References
[1] ASTM E8/E8 M-09, Standard Test Method for Tensile Testing for Metallic Materials.
[2] ILAC COMMITTEE 2 (1994), Committee Papers Supplement Appendix 2.5 Annex H. Hong
Kong
 Appendix – Experiment Worksheet

Measurement Data Specimen Data:

Load Voltage Strain Stress Specimen 1 Specimen 2

(N) (V) (Voltage x 10-1) ε (GPa) Thickness, t (mm)
100 Width, W (mm)
200 Gage Length, G (mm)
300 Area, A (mm)
400
500
600 Assistant Signature:
700
800
900
1000
1100
1200
1300
1400
1500
1600
1700
1800
1900
2000