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Electrotechnology Iii: Farah Khalid Strain Transducers

1. Strain transducers use strain gauges to measure the strain (change in shape) of an object due to an applied force. Strain gauges are flexible strips of conductive material that are attached to the object. 2. Strain gauges work by measuring the change in resistance as the strain gauge is stretched or compressed by the strain in the object. This is based on the principle that the resistance of a conductor changes with its dimensions. 3. Piezoelectric force transducers use crystals that generate an electric charge proportional to the amount of pressure applied to the crystal. They directly convert force into an electrical signal.

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Krishna Kovid
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35 views

Electrotechnology Iii: Farah Khalid Strain Transducers

1. Strain transducers use strain gauges to measure the strain (change in shape) of an object due to an applied force. Strain gauges are flexible strips of conductive material that are attached to the object. 2. Strain gauges work by measuring the change in resistance as the strain gauge is stretched or compressed by the strain in the object. This is based on the principle that the resistance of a conductor changes with its dimensions. 3. Piezoelectric force transducers use crystals that generate an electric charge proportional to the amount of pressure applied to the crystal. They directly convert force into an electrical signal.

Uploaded by

Krishna Kovid
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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ELECTROTECHNOLOGY III

Farah Khalid
STRAIN TRANSDUCERS
FORCE and STRAIN
Force is that which results in acceleration (when forces don't cancel).

Strain is the change in shape of an object usually due to some force.


(Force is usually called stress in this context.)

Consider an object in two situations: with and without a force applied.


Let a force be applied along a dimension.
Let L1 be the length of the object along the dimension when no force is applied.
Let L2 be the length when the force is applied.
Then the object's strain is defined to be (L2 – L1) / L1
The symbol є is usually used to denote strain.
In most situations, strains of interest will be very small, | є | < 0:0001.
STRAIN GUAGES
Flexible card with strip of some conductor arranged in special pattern.
Card is mounted (glued) onto the object being measured.
Conductor is usually a metal or semiconductor.
Pattern is chosen so that strain (to be measured) occurs along direction of current flow.
Current is passed through conductor.
Principle of Operation For Both Types
Conductor maintains an almost constant volume with strain.
That is, conductor is not compressible.
Recall that the resistance of a conductor is R = ρL/A
where L is its length,
A is its area, and
ρ is its resistivity.
Suppose force causes length of the conductor to decrease.
Since volume does not change much, area must increase.
Thus, resistance decreases.
Complementary Pairs
In some cases the strain in two places on the object will be of equal magnitude but
opposite sign. For example, a cantilever beam
The upper part of beam is stretched (positive strain)
and the lower part of beam is compressed (negative strain).
The two strain gauges therefore form complementary pairs.

Derivation of Gauge Factor for Ideal Metal


Ideal metal's properties:
1.Non-compressible. (Does not change volume.)
2.Resistivity is constant.

Consider an Ideal Metal Block Regardless of strain:


volume is S and resistivity is ρ.
.
When unstrained Call length L1, area A1, and resistance R1.
By standard resistivity formula: R1 = ρ L1/ A1
Since volume is fixed: A1 = S/ L1.
Resistance can be found in terms of length and area: R1 = ρ L12 / S
The Block Suffering Strain ε Call new length L2, area A1, and resistance R2
By definition of strain, L2 = L1(1 + ε ).
Resistance in terms of R1 and ∈ :
R2 = ρ L2/ A2
= ρ L22 / S
= ρ (L1(1 + ε ))2 / S
= ρ L12 (1 + ε )2 / S
=R1(1 + ε )2
=R1(1 + 2 ε + ε 2)
=R1(1 + 2 ε )
When is small simplified form close to the exact form.
Effect of Temperature
Physically, a strain gauge is not much different from an RTD and so, alas, strain gauge
affected by temperature therefore temperature compensation needed.
Force
Definition: that which causes a mass to accelerate, F= m x a.
Units: Newton, 1N = kg x (m/s2 )
Types of Transducers
Small displacement.
Force bends, compresses, or stretches a part of the transducer.
Change in shape usually measured using strain gauges.
Large displacement.
Force moves a part of the transducer.
Movement measured using displacement sensors.
Piezoelectric crystals.
Based on a material that emits charge when compressed.
Small-Displacement Force Transducers
Also called load cells.
Typical construction:
Consists of a rigid framework,for example a cantilever beam.
The force is applied at a predetermined point.
Strain gauges are placed at locations chosen so that their output is linearly related to
force.
The choice of location for the strain gauges and the derivation of the resulting load-cell
model function is beyond the scope of this course.
Load cells usually packaged with strain gauges connected in bridge configuration.
Two other common load-cell configurations are illustrated below:
Load Cell Model Function
Desirable Characteristic
Accurate.
Undesirable Characteristic
Expensive.
Large-Displacement Force Transducers
Typical construction and
principle of operation:

Consists of a flexible structure.


The force is applied at a predetermined point.
Force causes structure to flex, this is measured by a displacement transducer.
Structure chosen so that displacement is linearly related to force.
The design of this part is within the scope of the course.
One candidate for the flexible structure is, of course, a spring.
Undesirable Characteristics
Requires a large displacement. Not practical for all systems. (E.g., a bathroom
scale.)
Higher calibration and repeatability error than small-displacement transducers.
Desirable Characteristic
Inexpensive.
Ideal springs

One end of spring mounted to a fixed point.


Force applied to other end.
Ideal springs obey Hooke's Law: F = - k x
where x is the displacement,
F is the force, and
k is the force constant for the spring.
In this class, all springs will be ideal. (When used as directed.)
Piezoelectric Crystals
Construction and Operation

Consists of a crystal of a material with piezoelectric properties.


Material can be quartz, or special ceramics.
Contacts are placed along two faces of crystal.
Pressure is applied to the crystal.
Charge appears on the surface of the crystal, proportional to the force.
Model Function
Ht1(x) = kx, where k is a constant with dimensions charge per pressure.
That is, the output of the transducer is charge.

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