Experiment # 14

14.1 Objective:
To determine the shear strain of a rod using strain gauge trainer.

14.2 Apparatus:
Strain gauge trainer

Fig.14.1 strain gauge trainer

 14.3 Theory:
The Strain Trainer’s Torsion System
The Torsion System is a solid circular section torsion rod held between two supports. One or
both end can be attached with fixings which can rotate or twist independently of each other by
small amounts. Alternatively, one end is clamped and the other end is connected to a fixing that
rotates by a small amount.
A secure clamp holds the specimen torsion bar at one end. A free-moving bearing holds the other
end of the bar. The bearing is also a second support that removes any bending moment in the bar.
This bar is similar to the torsion bar suspension used in cars.
A moment arm fits into the bearing so that the students can add weights to twist the bar. Two sets
of special torsion gauges measure the torsional (twisting) shear strain on the surface of the bar at
45 degrees to the bar length. One set of gauge is underneath the bar and the other is on top of the
bar.
As stated, strain gauges work best when they are in line with the strain that they are to measure.
The Torsion System of the Strain Gauge Trainer has a bar that twists, so its strain/stress is
actually
Shear and Torque Strain Gauges

Fig. 14.2 Shear and Torque Gauge Rosette

at 45 degrees to the length of the bar. Special rosettes of two gauges at 45 degrees measure this
strain. Figure 8.2 shows an enlarged view of the rosettes used on the Torsion System.
The Strain Display
Figure 8.3 shows the main parts of the Strain Display.
The Strain Display is a box with display, controls and input sockets. The input sockets accept the
signals from the colour-coded strain gauges on the three different systems of the Strain Gauge
Trainer. The multiline display shows the output voltage measured across the strain bridge.
You set the Strain Display to match your chosen strain gauge connections and their gauge factor.
Supplied with the equipment are special plugs with built-in high precision dummy resistors, for
use when you only measure one or two active arms (gauges).
Bridge Connections to the Digital Strain Display
The Strain Display has four sockets for you to connect to the strain gauges. Figure 4 gives the
basic circuit.

Fig. 8.3 Basic Circuit of the

Strain Measurement

Basic Strain Trainer

SPECIMENS

Item Details

Bending System Bar Material: Steel

Young’s Modulus: 187.5 GPa
Nominal Dimensions: 18mm x 5.7mm

Torsion System Bar Material: Steel

 Nominal Diameter: 11.1mm
Torque Arm Length: 100mm
Shear Modulus: 70.3 Gpa

Tension System Specimens

Standard Steel Specimen Young’s Modulus: 187.5 GPa

(supplied)
Poisons ratio: 0.3
Nominal Cross Section: 1.5mm x 12mm

Strain Bridge Equation

To calculate the strain from the dc voltage across the bridge, the Strain Display uses a standard
equation:
V o /Gain of Amplifire
ε=
GF ×V i × N

where
ε = Strain
Vo = Voltage measured across the bridge (V)
GF = Gauge Factor
Vi = Fixed Input Voltage applied to the bridge (V)
N = number of active arms (gauge connected)
Torsional Stress and Strain
Polar Moment of Inertia
This is similar to the second moment of area for a rectangular bar, but works with circular and
solid cross-section bars.
π 4
J= d
32
The general equation for the torque in a bar (bar) is:
TL T Gθ
θ= ⇒ =
JG J L
Torque
The twisting force (torque) at the end of the bar is the moment of force on the torque arm:
 Fig. 14.4 Torque (Twisting Force)

T = F x Torque Arm Length (m)

Shear Stress
The theoretical shear stress for the solid circular bar is
τ T
=
R J
Shear Strain
The theoretical shear strain for the solid circular bar is
T ×d
τ=
2J

Modulus of Rigidity or Shear Modulus (G)

The Shear Modulus or Modulus of Rigidity is a measure of the rigidity of the material when in
‘shear’ – when it is twisting. It is a ratio of the shear stress and the shear strain of the material:
shear Stress F / A
G= =
Shear Strain ∆ x /h

Note: This is similar to Young’s Modulus, but Young’s Modulus is for normal stress and strain-
not shear stress and strain.

Normal strain
Strain gauges measure the normal strain on the surface of the object under test, so to compare it
with theory; you must convert theoretical shear strain into normal strain. To do this, you must
understand how shear strain relates to normal strain.
 Fig. 14.5 Shear Strain

When a force changes the length of an object, the normal strain (ε) is:
ε = Change in length / Original length
So, a normal strain is a change in length, but a shear strain is caused by a stress in two
dimensions (a change in shape).
To relate the normal and shear strains, Figure 8.5 shows a force that changes the shape of a
rectangle. The force causes strain in two dimensions to change the diagonal length of the
rectangle (all other dimensions remain the same). The shear strain is the amount that the diagonal
has changed. For small angles, the approximation is that α = γ.
From Phythagoras theory, the original (unstrained) diagonal length h2 = 12 + 12
So the unstrained diagonal length ¿ √ 2
¿ √ 1 + ( 1+ γ )
2 2
the strained diagonal length
Or the strained diagonal length ¿ √ 1+1+ 2 γ + γ 2
For the small strains in this type of application, γ is small (much less than 1), so γ2 can be ignored
and the equation becomes:
The strained diagonal length ¿ √ 2+2 γ
1
The strained diagonal length ¿ √ 2 √ 1+ γ= √ 2 ( 1+γ )
2

1
the strained diagonal length ¿ √ 2 (1+ γ ) = √ 2 ¿
2

The strained diagonal length (

1
¿ √ 2 1+ γ
2 )
so, as normal strain = change in length / original length, then the normal strain in the diagonal is:

ε=
( 1
√2 1+ γ − √2
2 ) =
γ
√2 2
 14.4 Procedure:
1. Connect 220 VAC to strain gauge display unit and switch ON power of the strain display unit.
2. Connect the strain connection cable (with torsion tag) to output socket of torsion system.
3. Connect the torsion system strain gauges to strain display as a full bridge.
4. Add a small weight hanger to the end of torque arm (the end of the torque arm has a smaller
diameter part to accept the weight hanger hook). Observe the initial voltage at this point.
5. Now add weight to the hanger and observe final voltage.
6. Observe all the entities mentioned in the table and calculate strain.
7. Compare theoretical and experimental strain values.
Note: Max limit is 10N.
Formulas:
Output
Gain of Amplifire=
Input
Voltage at Voltmeter signal
Gain of Amplifire=
Voltage at bridge signal
4 × ( V o /Gain of amplifire )
ε exp=
GF ×V i × N

14.5 Observations & Calculations:

Gauge Factor: Active Arms:

Gain of Amplifier: Shear Modules:
Torque Arm:

Sr. Vinitial Vfinal d (mm) F (N) T J τ γ εth = γ /2 εexp

No. (V) (mm4) (N/mm2)
(V) (N-mm)
14.6 Results & Conclusions: