Stress and Strain

DanialJ.Neebel,JosephR.Blandino,andDavidJ.Lawrence,
CollegeofIntegratedScienceandTechnology
JamesMadisonUniversity

Instructors Portion
Summary
Thislabillustratestheuseofastraingage.Thegageisbondednearthe
clampedendofacantileverbeam.Weightsareappliedtothefreeendof
thebeam.Thestraingagemeasurestheaxialelongationofthebeam.The
studentsplotaforcevs.straincurveusingLabVIEW.Theythenanalyze
thedataandplotastressvs.straincurve.Fromthiscurve,thestudents
determinethemodulusofelasticityofthebeam.Thestudentsmust
determinethematerialusedtofabricatethebeam.

Uses
Thisexerciseappliestomechanicalengineering,physics,orageneral
instrumentationcourse.

Equipment List
ComputerrunningWindows,Macintosh,Linux,Sun,orHPUX
(visithttp://www.ni.com/labview/lv_sysreq.htmfor
requirementsspecifictoyouroperatingsystem)

SCXIBundlefromNationalInstruments(partnumber77744837)
LabVIEWFullDevelopmentSystem
PCI6024EDataAcquisitionBoard
SCXI1000chassis
SCXI1349cable
SCXI1180feedthroughpanel(notusedinthisexperiment)

SCXIModulefromNationalInstruments
 SCXI11214ChannelIsolationAmplifier
(partnumber77657221)

SCXITerminalBlockfromNationalInstruments
SCXI1321ForusewiththeSCXI1121
(partnumber77768721)

StrainGage

Cantileverbeam

Metalplate

Clamp

Masshangerandvarietyofmasses

Balanceforaccuratelymeasuringthemasses

Websites
Omegawww.omega.com
NationalInstrumentswww.ni.com

Setup
Computerbasedmeasurementsystemsareusedinawidevarietyof
applications.Inlaboratories,infieldservicesandonmanufacturingplant
floors,thesesystemsactasgeneralpurposemeasurementtoolswellsuited
formeasuringvoltagesignals.However,manyrealworldsensorsand
transducersrequiresignalconditioningbeforeacomputerbased
measurementsystemcaneffectivelyandaccuratelyacquirethesignal.The
frontendsignalconditioningsystemcanincludefunctionssuchassignal
amplification,attenuation,filtering,electricalisolation,simultaneous
sampling,andmultiplexing.Inaddition,manytransducersrequire
excitationcurrentsorvoltages,bridgecompletion,linearization,orhigh
amplificationforproperandaccurateoperation.Therefore,most
computerbasedmeasurementsystemsincludesomeformofsignal
conditioninginadditiontoplugindataacquisition(DAQ)devices.For
moreinformationonsignalconditioningforcomputerbaseddata
acquisitionsystemsyoucanfindNationalInstrumentsApplication
Note48onlineatwww.ni.com.

TheLabVIEWVIistheStrainVI.Studentsinputthebeamdimensions
andtheappliedload.Thestudentsmustbecarefultouseconsistentunits.
ThebridgecircuitisbalancedusingtheoffsetpotentiometerontheVI

StressandStrain 2
 frontpanel.Usingtheoffsetpotentiometerispreferabletohavingthe
studentsadjusttheoffsetontheSCXI1321terminalblock.

Figure1.BasicSetupforaBeamUnderaStressLoad

Followthestepslistedtopreparetheworkstationsforthisexperiment.The
instructionsassumeyouareusingtheequipmentlistshownpreviously.

Note:MostofthemanualsthatarereferredtoshipwithNational
Instrumentshardwareandsoftware.Ifyoucantfindyourhardcopyofthe
manuals,youcangetthemonlineathttp://www.ni.com/manuals.If
youencounterproblemsduringsetup,contacttechnicalsupportat
http://www.ni.com/support.

Before the Day of the Lab

1. Configurethecantileverbeamandweightmeasurementdevice.

a. Thebeamismadeof6061aluminum,butothermaterialscanbe
used.Thebeamdimensionsare12.51.00.125inches.

b. Theweightisapplied0.25in.fromthefreeend.

c. Attachthestraingage10.188in.fromthefreeend.

d. Thebeamisclamped11.0in.fromthefreeend.

StressandStrain 3
 e. Thebeamisclampedtotheedgeofatable.

f. Ametalplateisusedbetweenthebeamandtheclamp.

2. InstallLabVIEW(seetheLabVIEWReleaseNotesforyour
versionofLabVIEW).

3. InstallyourPCI6024Eboard(seethe6023E/6024E/6025EUser
Manual).

4. ConfiguretheSCXI1121(seetheSCXI1121UserManual).

a. Enableshuntcalibrationforchannel0.

b. TheSCXI1121hasjumpersettingsthatneedtobemade
forthisexperiment.

i. Setthegaintoanappropriatevalueforyoursensor.
Thinkofthegainasascalingfactorthatmakesthesensor
voltagefitwellwithinthemeasurementsystemrange.First,
determinethemaximumvoltageoutputofthesensorforthe
temperaturerangeitwillexperience.Thendeterminethe
maximumvoltagethesystemcanmeasure.Thegainisfound
bydividingthesystemvoltagebythesensorvoltage.For
example,ifyoursensoroutputsamaximumof0.01voltsand
themeasurementsystemhasarangeof010volts,you
wouldsetthegainto1000.

ii. Setthejumpersforahalfbridgecompletion
networkforchannel0.

iii. Leavetherestofthejumpersintheirfactory
settings.

c. InstalltheSCXI1121intoslot0oftheSCXI1000chassis.

d. Connectthestraingagetochannel0oftheSCXI1321
terminalblock.

e. ConnecttheSCXI1321terminalblocktotheSCXI1121
module.

5. CablethePCI6024EtotheSCXI1121modulewiththeSCXI
1349(seetheSCXI1349ShieldedInstallationGuide).

6. ConfigurethePCI6024EboardandtheSCXI1121module(see
theNI DAQReleaseNotesforyourversionofNIDAQ).

StressandStrain 4
 WhenconfiguringtheSCXI1121makesurethesoftwaresettings
matchthejumpersettingsonthephysicalmodule.

7. CreatethefollowingdirectoryinyourLabVIEWfolder:
\\LabVIEW\Experiments\StressandStrain.

8. CopyStressandStrain.llbintotheStressandStrainfolder
youjustcreated.

9. Conductarunthroughofthelabprocedurethestudentswill
perform.

On the Day of the Lab

1. PowerupthecomputerandSCXIchassis.

2. Makesurethestudentshaveenoughmassesattheirworkstations.

References
JohnA.Allocca,Transducers:TheoryandApplications,
RestonPub.Co.

Wheeler,AnthonyJ.andGanji,AhmadR.(1996),Introduction
toEngineeringExperimentation,PrenticeHallInc.Englewood
Cliffs,NJ.

Students Portion
Introduction
Straingagesareimportanttoanydeviceunderstressorstrain.Strain
gagesprovidesolutionstomanyrealworldsystemsandtesting.Inthis
lab,youwillapplyvariousloadstothecantileverbeamandmeasurethe
strainusingaprewrittenLabVIEWprogram.

Objective
Tousestraingagesformeasurementofstrain.

Todeterminethemodulusofelasticityofacantileverbeam.

TouseHookesLawtodeterminethemodulusofelasticityofan
unknownmaterial.

StressandStrain 5
Theory
Design of Strain Gages
Straingagesareusedassensingelementsindisplacementorload
measurementsystems.Theycanbeusedtomeasureextremelysmall
deformations.Straingagesaremadeoffinewirewithacertaincross
sectionalarea(A),initiallength(L),andresistivity().Theresistanceof
thewirechangeswhenthewireisdisplacedduetostress.Thestressisan
appliedloadactingoverthecrosssectionalareaofthewire.Thefollowing
equationdefinestheresistance(R)ofthestraingagewire:
L
R
A

Itiscommontouseagagefactor(G)todescribethechangesinresistance
(R)ofthestraingageduetochangesinlength(L)ofthewire.Thegage
factorisalsousedtocomparevariousstraingagematerials:
R / R L
gagefactor=G= where = isdefinedasstrain
L / L L

So,strainisthechangeinlengthovertheoriginallength.Theunitsare
typicallymm/mmorin/in.Sometimesthetermstrain(microstrain)is
used,meaning106in/in.

Stress and Modulus of Elasticity (Youngs Modulus)

Bymountingstraingagestothesurface(topand/orbottom)ofacantilever
beam,youcanmeasuretheaxialdeformationofthebeam(the
deformationalongthelengthofthebeam)whenatransverseloadis
appliedtotheendofthebeam.Theamountofdeformationcanberelated
tothestrainusingthepreviousgagefactorequation.Figure2showsa
straingagebondedtothetopsurfaceofthecantileverbeam.

Figure2.CantileverBeamwithaStrainGageMountedontheTop

Whenaload(P)isappliedattheendofthebeam,thetensilestress()
alongthexaxisatthetopsurfaceisgivenas:

StressandStrain 6
 Mc

I

where:

M=bendingmoment(unitsofNm).Mistheproductofthe
effectivebeamlengthandtheforce(P)appliedattheendofthebeam.

c=distancefromneutralaxisofbeam(m),Typicallyc=t/2,
wheretisthebeamthickness.

I=momentofinertiaforacrosssectionofthebeam(unitsarem4).
bt 3
ThemomentofinertiaisI= .
12

P=load(N).

L=effectivebeamlength=distancebetweenthepointwherethe
loadisappliedandthecenterofthestraingage(m).

b=beamwidth(m).

t=beamthickness(m).

Youcanfindthestressfromtheappliedforceandbeamgeometry,as
givenbyequation1,andmeasurethestrainwithastraingage.
Conveniently,arelationshipexistsbetweenthetwo.Themodulusof
elasticity(E)isanindexofthestiffnessofthematerial.Whenaload(that
is,force)isappliedtometalsuchasanaluminumalloyorsteel,thestrain
ofthematerialchangeslinearlyasafunctionofthestressoveracertain,
usuallysmall,range.Withinthisrange,thebeamexhibitselastic
deformation(thatis,elasticorreversiblestrain).Whenthedeformationis
notpermanent,itiscalledelasticdeformation.Thatis,whenaforceis
applied,thebeamwillbenddownwardandelongate.Whentheforceis
removed,thebeamwillreturntoitsoriginalshape.Themodulusof
elasticity(E)istheratioofstresstoelasticstrainandhasunitsofN/m2:

E= (2)

Forthislab,strainwillbemeasuredbyastraingagebondedtothetop
surfaceofabeam.Byapplyingaknownload,thestressiscalculatedusing
Equation1.Afterapplyingseveraldifferentloadsandmeasuringthestrain
directlyusingastraingage,youcanplotthestressstraingraph.Theslope
ofthisgraphisthemodulusofelasticityaspredictedbyEquation2.

StressandStrain 7
 Note:Thelocationandpositionofthestraingageiscritical.Youmust
knowifthepositionofthegagewillresultinaxial,shear,torsional,or
bendingstrains,oranycombination.

Bridge Circuits
Usually,straingagesareconnectedinaWheatstonebridgecircuitas
showninFigure3.Thechangeinresistanceofthestraingageduetoan
appliedforcecanbemeasuredastheoutputvoltageoftheWheatstone
bridgecircuit.Thebridgecircuitshownhasasinglestraingageandthree
fixedresistorsandiscalledaquarterbridgecircuit.

Figure3.WheatstoneBridgewithStrainGage,R3

R3isthestraingageresistance.Therefore,

R3 R4
V0= Vs
R2 R3 R1 R4

WhenV0=0,thebridgeissaidtobebalanced.Theonlywaytobalance
thebridgeistoset:

R3 R4
=0
R2 R3 R1 R4

or

R1R3=R2R4

R4istypicallyavariableresistorusedtobalancethebridge.Inthis
experiment,theoffsetpotentiometeronthefrontpaneloftheLabVIEW
VIisusedtobalancethebridge.Assumingthebridgeisinitiallybalanced,
thenwhenthestraingageisstrained, R3 R3 R .Theoutputofthe
bridgecircuitbecomes:

StressandStrain 8
 R1 R
V
V0= R2 R3 R R1 R4 s
BecauseRisusuallysmallcomparedtoR3,itcanbeneglectedfromthe
denominatoroftheequation.Then,V0becomes:

R1 R
V
V0= R2 R3 R1 R4 s
NotethatV0isalinearfunctionofR.Nowyoucanrelatestrainwiththe
outputvoltagebasedonthefollowingderivation.

Becausethegagefactor(G)isequalto(R/R))/(L/L),andstrain(is
equaltoL/L=(R/R)/G,theconversionfromstraintooutputvoltageis:

R2 R3 R2 R4 V0

R1 R3G Vs

Youmustknowthegagefactor(G)togetmeaningfulresults.

Pre-Lab Preparation
Readthroughthetheorysectionfromthisexperimenttounderstand
howstraingagesareusedtomeasuredeformations.

Findareferenceandreadaboutthemodulusofelasticity.

Findatablewiththemodulusofelasticityforcommonmetals.
Youwillneedthistabletocompletethelab.

Bringarulerandaformattedvirusfreedisktothelab.

Workstation Details
Yourworkstationshouldhavethefollowingitems:

AcomputerwithNationalInstrumentsLabVIEWsoftware

NationalInstrumentsDAQboard(insidecomputer).

NationalInstrumentsSCXIchassis.

CantileverbeamwithmountedstraingageconnectedtoSCXI
inputchannel0.

Massesforhangingonthecantileverbeam.

StressandStrain 9
 Balanceforweighingmasses.

Lab Procedure
1. Setupthesoftware:

a. LaunchLabVIEW.

b. OpentheStressandStrain.llb.Thefileisunder
\\LabVIEW\Experiments\StressandStrainonyour
computer.

c. OnthefrontpanelofStrainVI,underOutputFile,enterthe
filenamea:\strain.dat.

d. Putaformatted,virusfreediskintothedrive.

e. OnthefrontpaneloftheStrainVI,set:

Scanrate=512.
Gagefactor=Thegagefactorprovidedwiththe
manufacturersdataforthegagesused.Askyourinstructorif
youdonotknowthepropergagefactor.
Gageresistance=theresistanceprovidedwiththe
manufacturersspecifications.Thisisnotcriticalforthis
experiment,butyoushouldknowthisinformation.
Appliedweight=0.
Bridgecircuittype=Quarter.

f. Measurethewidth,thickness,andeffectivebeamlength(distance
fromthepointwherethemassisappliedtothecenterofthestrain
gage).EnterthevaluesonyourdatasheetandontheStrainVI
frontpanel.

2. Balancethebridge:

a. RuntheStrainVIandwatchthestrainoutputdisplaybeneaththe
graph.

g. Usetheoffsetpotentiometer(usethedialasthecoarsecontroland
thearrowsnexttothedigitalindicatorasthefinecontrol)toset
thestrainoutputdisplaytozero.Makesurethevalueiswithin
0.000002.

h. PresstheKeepDatabutton.

StressandStrain 10
 3. Takemeasurementswithdifferentloadsorweights:

a. Chooseamassandweightheentiremassandhangeronthe
balancetogetanaccuratemeasurement.

i. Hookthemassandtheholderontheendofthecantileverbeam
andinputtheappliedweightintotheprogram.Besurethatthe
unitsyouuseareconsistent!Besurethemassisnotswinging.

j. Whenyouaresurethemassisnotmovingandthestrain
measurementisstable,presstheKeepDatabutton.

k. Repeatstepsathroughcforatleastfivemoreweights.Makesure
yougetvaluesacrosstherangeof0to400g.DONOTEXCEED
450gTOTAL!

l. Takeonelastdatapointwithnoweightonthebeam.Thestrain
readingagainshouldbewithin0.000002.PresstheKeepData
button.Ifyoufollowedthelabinstructionscarefully,youdidnot
exceedtheelasticlimitofthebeam,soanychangeinthezeroload
strainofthebeamcanbeattributedtodriftinthebridgecircuit.
Anydifferenceinthetwonoloadreadingsshouldbenotedin
yourlabreport.

m. Whenfinishedgatheringdata,presstheSaveandQuitbuttonon
thefrontpanel.

n. Cleanupyourareaandplacetheweightsbackintotherack.

o. ExitLabVIEW.

p. Retrieveyourfloppydiskwiththestrain.datfileforlaterdata
analysis.

Lab Report
Youshouldsubmitaninformallabreport.Yourlabreportshouldinclude
thefollowinginformation:

TypealldataintoExcelandformatitintotables.

CalculatethestressforeachloadappliedandenteritintotheExcel
tableyoucreate.

Graphthestressvs.strainandperformalinearregressiononthe
data.

StressandStrain 11
 Determinethemodulusofelasticityfromyourgraphandlinear
regression.

Fromthevalueofthemodulusofelasticity,determinethebeam
material.

Makesureyoulabelunitsforeachvariable.Iftheunitsarenot
consistent,youwillnotgettherightmodulusofelasticity.Showall
yourcalculations,includingconversionofunits.WorkinSIunits
(thatis,kg,m,sec,N).

Stapleyourdatasheettothebackofyourreport.

StressandStrain 12
Data Sheet
1. Recordthebeamdimensions:

Effectivelength:______________

Width:______________________

Thickness:___________________

4. Givetwoapplicationsofstraingages.

5. Whydoyouneedtosettheoffsetpotentiometeruntiloutputstrainis
zerowhenthereisnoweightonthebeam?Whatfunctiondoesit
provide?

6. ____________Demonstrationofstrainmeasurement.
(instructorsinitials)

7. Performasamplecalculationofthemodulusofelasticityusingoneset
ofyourstrainandloadmeasurementvalues.Showunitsthroughout
thecalculation.

StressandStrain 13
 8. Chooseatleastsixdifferentmassestospanarangeofloadsfrom0to
400grams.

Load(g) Strain

9. Plotstressvs.strain.

10. Fromtheplotofstressvs.strain,determinethemodulusofelasticity.

11. Basedonthemodulusofelasticityandphysicalappearanceofthe
beam,whatmaterialisthebeam?

StressandStrain 14