Strain Gauge (Gage) Data Acquisition

When used with a notebook, the EMANT300 USB 24 bit (DAQ) Data Acquisition module becomes a low cost portable, battery-operated instrument which can be configured as a six channel Strain Indicator and Recorder .

When an object is stretched due to an external force and the length of the object increases from L to L+ΔL, the ratio ΔL/L is called strain.

ε = ΔL/L

As the ratio of deformation is often very small, it is often represented in a units of 10-6 or μstrain

strain gageA strain gauge (gage) can be used to measure the strain of this object. The most common type of strain gauge (gage) consists of a flexible backing which supports a metallic foil pattern etched onto the backing. As the object is deformed, the foil pattern is deformed, causing its electrical resistance to change. This resistance change, usually measured using a Wheatstone bridge circuit, can be used to calculate the exact amount of deformation by means of the quantity known as the gauge (gage) factor.

The gauge(gage) factor of a strain gauge (gage) relates strain to change in electrical resistance. The gauge (gage) factor GF is defined by the formula

Gage equation

where RG is the resistance of the undeformed gauge, ΔR is the change in resistance caused by strain, and ε is strain.

In our example, we will use one strain gauge (gage) with GF=2, RG = 120 ohms and connected in a quarter bridge configuration. The bridge is excited at VEXC=2.5V. As the current required at the bridge is much higher than what is available from REFOUT, a simple buffer amplifier is required. If you prefer not to build your own circuit, you can use our Bridge Sensor Application Adaptor.

strain gage circuit

The voltage output of the wheatstone bridge VO (seen at the differential input AIN1, AIN0) is given by

strain gage equation strain gauge equation

If the bridge is balanced VO =0 since all the resistances are equal. When a strain is applied, RG becomes R + ΔR and substituting R to all the other resistances, the equation becomes

strain gage equation

If we assume 2 ΔR << 4R

strain gage equation

Finally substituting VEXC=2.5V, GF=2, we obtain

ε = ΔVO / 1.25

The LabVIEW VI that reads the voltage across the bridge, converts the voltage to μstrain is called EMANT300 Example Strain Gauge.VI Click here to watch the Strain Measurement Video

Strain Gage LabVIEW Front Panel

Strain Gauge LabVIEW

Strain Gage LabVIEW Block Diagram

Strain Gauge LabVIEW Diagram