Strain Gauge 800 range logger example.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Materials Required.............................................................................................................................. 2 Programming a strain gauge to measure PPM.................................................................................... 2 Changing the scaling of a strain gauge from PPM to strain ............................................................. 7 Calculating the Strain value of a shunt resistor .............................................................................. 11 Scaling a strain gauge to a practical measurement. .......................................................................... 11 The effect a low precision resistor makes on the measurement........................................................ 19

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1. Materials Required
PC with DeLogger loaded. 800 range dataTaker data logger 120 strain gauge 3x120 precision resistor 59880 shunt resistor 120 5% carbon resistor Set of 50cent coins Multimeter

2. Programming a strain gauge to measure PPM.

2.1. Objective
When presented with a strain gauge of unknown wiring and unknown resistance we need to be able to determine how to wire the strain gauge and how to determine the wiring configuration. We then need to program the logger.

2.2. Prerequisites
PC connected to a data logger. DeLogger running and a connection established to the logger

2.3. Steps
Determine the number of wires We need to simply count the number of connection wires for the sensor

In this case because it has only three wires it can ONLY be a quarter or half bridge. A full bridge MUST have 4 Wires Measure the resistance between each pair of wires Red-White=120.4 Red-Black=120.4 Black-White= 0.3

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Here is a full Bridge. The Vo is a function of the V and the various resistances

Full Bridge will use a strain gauge for each resistor. We can see that it must use at least 4 wires. If the resistors of the strain gauge is nominally 120 The resistance across the bridge would be: 1 1 1 = + R 120 + 120 120 + 120 1 = .0041667 + .0041667 = ..008333 R R = 120 The Resistance across one leg would be: 1 1 1 = + R 120 120 + 120 + 120 1 = .008333 + .002777 = .01111 R R = 90

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A Half bridge will require external resistors when used in a full bridge channel (i.e. R1 and R2 will be required) alternatively it will not require external resistors when used in a dataTaker half bridge channel. (The resistors are effectively internal to the logger). The half Bridge will generally have 3 wires If the strain gauge is nominally 120. You will measure approximately 120 between the center leg and the outer leg and approximately 240 between the outer legs The supplied strain gauge is obviously not this configuration A Quarter bridge will require 3 external resistors (R1, R2 & R3) when connected to a dataTaker channel. The quarter bridge will generally have 3 wires. If the strain gauge is nominally 120. You should measure approximately 120 between two of the legs and a short circuit between another two of the legs The strain gauge supplied is obviously this type

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There are a number of wiring options available. The 800 range loggers support voltage and current excitation, 6 wire and 4 wire bridges. When used with this type of quarter bridge strain gauge resistors R1, R2 & R3 must be supplied externally. In this case we are going to use a 4 wire current excitation configuration (see figure 123 dt800 manual) . There are a 10 different wiring and configuration possibilities. (figures 116~125) Wire the strain gauge using the 3 supplied precision 120 resistors.

We have a 500 range logger connected to our PC and DeLogger is currently running. In the Prog1.dl8 window. Click R1-Signal and select Bridge

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Click the wiring Button

In this case the default wiring is appropriate.

Enter the Nominal resistance of the gauge as a Factor Doble click R1-Factor and enter 120 <CR>

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Send the program to the logger

Select the Text1.dlt window. Ensure the Connection is set to the appropriate logger Note how if the metal is bent slightly the ppm measurement changes.

3. Changing the scaling of a strain gauge from PPM to strain

3.1. Objective
Some time the output require from a strain gauge needs to be converted to strain instead of PPM of the resistance value

3.2. Prerequisites
Programming a strain gauge to measure PPM.

3.3. Steps
The equation to calculate strain reather than PPM

L 4 = GN L Where = Micro strain (change in length over length) G = Gauge Factor (if unknown use 2)

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N= Number of active gauge elements (in this case 1) If the gauge factor is unknown it is generally assumed to be 2. Documentation supplied with the strain gauge will include a statement of the gauge factor also usually the temperature compensation the needs to be applied. The factor given in this case is 2.1000.5% (at 24 C). The Gauge factor in this case is therefore 4 = GN 4 = = 1.9048 2.1 1 The Scaling Tab Click 1-Type Select Polynomial

Set Coefficient 0 to 0 Set Coefficient 1 to 1.9048 Set Text Units to uStrain

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Select Tab A Click R1-Scaling Select Y1-uStrain

Send the program to the logger

In the text window we can now see the strain figure being returned. We observe the current reading is 323 strain. If the test piece is in an unloaded state we may want to adjust this figure to zero. To do this we adjust the scaling factor accordingly.

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Select the Scaling Tab on Prog1.dl8 Set Coefficient 0 to -323

Send the Program to the logger Program> Send to Connection

Switch to the Text window and note the approximately zero micro strain reading

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4. Calculating the Strain value of a shunt resistor

4.1. Objective
When we are using strain gauges and we are required to calculate strain it can be a confusing process. The ability to provide an offset of a known strain value can make things simpler

4.2. Prerequisites
Changing the scaling of a strain gauge from PPM to strain

4.3. Steps
Using the 59880 shunt supplied put it in parallel to the gauge. If the gauge factor is assumed to be 2 this resistor represents 1000 Strain. (Refer to the calculation on the slides. Note: when the shunt resistor is place in parallel across the strain gauge (i.e. between the + and terminals of channel one) we obtain approximately 1000 Strain. The difference being between the gauge factor of 2.0 assumed for the calculation of the resistance factor of and the actual gauge factor of 2.1 is the reason for reading 952 instead of the 1000 expected. If we multiply the 1000*2 and divide by 2.1 we obtain 952.

5. Scaling a strain gauge to a practical measurement.

5.1. Objective
We can use a strain gauge to scale many physical phenomena. If we place the gauge as a cantilever and progressively place 50-cent pieces on the gauge we can rescale the gauge to measure in units of 50cents.

5.2. Prerequisites 5.3. Steps

Remove the scaling from the logger so the logger reports in PPM and increase the number of samples.

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Arrange the strip with the load cell as a cantilever and in such a way coins can be added to the end.

On Tab A in Prog1.dl8 Set the Scaling to None

Select the Parameters Tab Set P46 to 200

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Send the Program to the logger Program>Send to Connection

Switch to the Text.dlt window. Record the Current readings to one PPM. In this case 105ppm Make a table of the PPM vs Coins Switch to the Text.dlt window PPM 105 110 115 119 124 129 134 138 143 147 Coins 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

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Open Excel and input the data. Highlight the data.

Click the Graph Wizard Button

Select XY Scatter Click Next

Click Next

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Click Next

Click Finish

Select the data Points. Right Click and select Add Trend Line

Select Linear (in this case it is the most appropriate. Click the Options Tab

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Check Display Equation on chart

Record the equation In this case y = 0.2131x - 22.431

Please Note: Sometimes excel does not display these numbers to an appropriate number of digits. To change the number of digits displayed. Right Click on the equation and select Format Data Labels

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Select the Number Tab Select Category Number Set the Decimal Places to an appropriate number. Click OK Note the equation is displayed to a higher precision i.e. y = 0.213059x - 22.430632 In Prog1.dl8 Set Coefficient 0 to 22.430632 Set Coefficient 1 to 0.213059 Set the units to Coins<CR>

Select the A Tab and Set the scaling to Coins

Send the Program to the logger.

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Select Form1.dlt

Ensure the Form window is in Edit Mode

Click Channel 1 Cell Select the appropriate channel Dt500 Com1.JOB1.A.BGI In this case Click OK

Click the Value 1 Cell Click the 0 decimal places setting

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Click the Edit Mode Button

The Form will now display the correct number of coins placed on the cantilever.

6. The effect a low precision resistor makes on the measurement.

6.1. Objective
We will replace the precision resistor with a 5% carbon resistor to observe the effect this has upon the measurement.

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6.2. Prerequisites 6.3. Steps

Remove one of the precision resistors and replace it with a 5% carbon 120 resistor.

Remove the scaling from the Prog1.dl8 Click Scaling and select None

Send the program to the logger

Select the Chart window. Click the Select Channels Button

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Select Channel 1 Dt800 Com1.JOB1.A.1BGI for the Y axis Click OK

Click the Edit Mode Button Click The Re-Scale Button

Use the Left or Right Mouse keys to modify the graph appropriately. Hold the 120 resistor and note how the reading varies wildly based upon the current temperature. These resistors are simply not usable as a bridge completion resistors

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