Bend Sensor® Series, Strain Gauges

Strain gauges are specialized sensors designed to measure the strain or deformation forces experienced by materials. They play a crucial role in engineering, structural analysis, and material testing. The most commonly used strain gauge consists of a flexible backing material, typically made of an insulating material like polyimide, with a metallic foil pattern applied to it. To use a strain gauge, it is attached to the surface of the object or material being tested using a suitable adhesive. When an external force or load is applied to the object, it causes deformation or strain in the material. This deformation also affects the flexible backing and metallic foil pattern of the strain gauge. As the object deforms, the flexible backing and the attached metallic foil also undergo deformation. This deformation changes the electrical resistance of the metallic foil. The change in resistance is directly proportional to the magnitude of the strain or deformation experienced by the material being tested. To accurately measure this change in resistance, strain gauges are often connected in a Wheatstone bridge circuit. A Wheatstone bridge is an electrical circuit that balances the resistance values of multiple strain gauges to produce a measurable output voltage. The change in resistance of the strain gauge due to deformation causes an imbalance in the Wheatstone bridge, leading to a detectable change in the output voltage. By measuring the change in electrical resistance or output voltage, the strain gauge provides valuable information about the strain forces acting on the material. This data is then used to analyze the mechanical properties, stress distribution, or structural integrity of the tested object or material. Strain gauges find widespread application in various fields such as aerospace, civil engineering, automotive industry, and material science. They enable engineers and researchers to accurately measure and understand the behavior of materials under different loading conditions, contributing to the development of safer and more efficient structures, components, and systems.