LAB REPORT:

STUDENT DETAILS:
NAME : RYAN WARIS
CLASS : ME-12 (A)
CMS ID : 342799
SUBJECT : INSTRUMENTATION
 Contents
LAB REPORT: ................................................................................................... 0
STUDENT DETAILS:........................................................................................ 0
1. INTRODUCTION: ................................................................................... 2
2. OBJECTIVE: ............................................................................................ 2
3. LEARNING OUTCOMES: ..................................................................... 2
4. APPARATUS: ........................................................................................... 2
5. STRAIN GUAGE TRANSDUCER: ........................................................ 3
5.1. Main characteristics .................................................................................... 3
6. PROCEDURE: .......................................................................................... 3
7. READINGS AND CALCULATIONS: ................................................... 4
8. GRAPH: ..................................................................................................... 4
9. TASK: 4
10. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: .............................................................. 5
11. CONCLUSION: ........................................................................................ 6

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 1. INTRODUCTION:

Subject: Instrumentation
Lab report: 5

2. OBJECTIVE:

➢ To determine the sensitivity of the strain gauge transducer and investigate

how it varies with different levels of strain.
➢ To investigate the linearity of the strain gauge transducer and determine
whether it produces a linear output for a range of applied strains.
➢ To explore different data acquisition techniques for measuring and
recording the output of the strain gauge transducer.

3. LEARNING OUTCOMES:

➢ Students will be able to describe the basic principles of strain

measurement using a strain gauge transducer.
➢ Students will be able to explain how to apply and configure a strain gauge
transducer to measure strain in different materials and applications.
➢ Students will be able to evaluate the accuracy and precision of
measurements made with a strain gauge transducer and identify sources of
error.

4. APPARATUS:

➢ IT-5927 Transducer and Instrumentation Trainer

➢ Connecting Leads

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 5. STRAIN GUAGE TRANSDUCER:

A Strain gauge is a sensor whose resistance varies with applied force; It converts
force, pressure, tension, weight, etc., into a change in electrical resistance which
can then be measured. When external forces are applied to a stationary object,
stress and strain are the result. Stress is defined as the object's internal resisting
forces, and strain is defined as the displacement and deformation that occur.

5.1. MAIN CHARACTERISTICS

The main characteristics of the device are as follows

6. PROCEDURE:

➢ Connect the circuit as shown in Fig 3 and set Amplifier #1 GAIN to 100
and GAIN FINE to 5.50.
➢ Switch ON the power supply and with no load on the strain gauge
platform, adjust the offset control of Amplifier #1 so that the output
voltage is zero.
➢ Place 100g weight on platform for a full-scale output of 10V.
➢ Place different weights(1g-100g) on the load platform and note the output
voltage. Record the value in table overleaf.

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 ➢ Repeat the process, adding further weights one at a time, noting the
Output voltage at each step and recording the values in table.

7. READINGS AND CALCULATIONS:

Following is a list of readings obtained

Weight (g) 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75
Voltage (V) 0.33 0.67 1.01 1.34 1.68 2.01 2.35 2.69 3.03 3.37 3.7 4.05 4.38 4.71 5.06

8. GRAPH:

WEIGHT X VOLTAGE
6
5
VOLTAGE (V)

4
3
2
1
0
0 20 40 60 80
WEIGHT (G)

9. TASK:

Question: What is the principle behind strain measurement using a strain gauge
transducer? How does it work?
Answer: A strain gauge is a type of sensor that converts mechanical input to
electrical signal. Strictly speaking, the strain gauge measures the strain or
deformation on an object and converts this into electrical signal that is calibrated
and converted into human readable form.

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 As seen in above diagram, a strain gauge consists of a thin metallic strip or a wire
arranged in a grid or mesh, that expands or compresses as the object deforms. This
causes a change in the internal resistance of the wire which is the basic principal
of working of a strain gauge. The amount of change in resistance is directly
proportional to the amount of deformation.
The strain gauge is connected to a Wheatstone bridge. When a force is applied to
the object, the change in resistance of the strain gauge causes a change in the
voltage output of the Wheatstone bridge circuit. This change in voltage can be
measured and used to calculate the amount of strain on the object.

10. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

The experiment required us to experiment with and study the working of a strain
gauge. The above-mentioned electrical circuit was made and some weight was
placed on the strain gauge sensor. This caused a stretch in the strain gauge wire
that changed the resistance of the wire, which in term changed the voltage value.
The experimental readings obtained in the actual experiment were non uniform
and gave varied changes in voltage for uniform successions in load applied. This
may be due to any of the following reasons
➢ The equipment was quite old and gave faulty readings
➢ The equipment might not be calibrated according to the lab environment
➢ The electrical circuit made could have permitted some external electrical
noise.
➢ The electrical components might have gone through some damage
➢ The strain gauge might be planted at an angle, causing false effects of
weight.
The readings obtained in the actual experiment would have varied due to some
error but the readings used in graph plotting were obtained from the equipment
manual of the trainer because the trainer error in readings was too high for it to
generate a graph that made sense. The graph obtained from these ideal readings
was a straight-line graph such that the voltage has direct relation with the weight
applied. This shows that the sensor shows a uniform behavior under ideal

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 conditions and we can predict the voltage generated for an arbitrary weight value
with high accuracy.

11. CONCLUSION:

After performing the experiment, we were able to understand the working of a

strain gauge. It is a transducer that converts mechanical strain or deformation into
voltage by changing its wire resistances. Strain gauges are commonly used in
industry or heavy equipment turbines, ships, refineries etc. to measure torque. We
gathered data from a strain gauge, and we determined the sensitivity of the strain
gauge transducer and found out that its output varies as we increase the load
applied. This relation is linear over the prescribed limit, after which the linearity
fades away. Hence strain gauges are a reliable physical quantity measuring
instrument when used within their prescribed range