practical applications of strain gauges student sample

8/10/2019 Practical Applications of Strain Gauges Student Sample

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This link is about how measuring stress has changed over the years tothe present day.

These strain gauges are use to measure the amount of stress anairplane can handle until it fails. Before strain gauges were invented,

people would put sand or themselves on the wing until it broke. "Asyou push up on a wing, our analysis says it ought to deflect a certainamount, so we measure [with strain gauges] the amount it actuallydeflects," says Mark Jenks.

Wings need to be strong in order to fly correctly. Testing the amountof strain a material can take allows engineers to find the strongestmaterial for their planes.

This application would best fit into the Civil Engineering Branch

The Sopwith Aviation Company id one of the top airplanemanufacturing companies in Britain.


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I didnt know that before there were strain gauges, people usedsand to measure the stress level of an airplanes wing.

The strain gauge was invented in only 18 years. To me thats a veryshort time.

THEN NOW


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In order to keep bridges in good condition, people have put sensorson bridges to monitor the weak points of a bridge.

Many different types of sensors are put on various places on abridge to get different readings from the bridge. The sensors

measure the stress on the bridge so if it becomes abnormalsomeone can fix the problem. Different sensors measure differentthings. Photonic sensors measure the strain on bridge cables,thermistors measure the temperature, and vibrating wire straingauges measure vibrations on the bridge.

These sensors tell us if a bridge gets weak at some points so that theycan be fixed before the bridge can break.

This is most useful to civilengineers.

This information would be most useful for bridge maintenancecompanies


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I found that using sensors on bridges to keep up maintenance was avery smart idea.

The Tsing Ma Bridgein Hong Kong has 350 sensors to measure it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsing_Ma_Bridgehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsing_Ma_Bridgehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsing_Ma_Bridgehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsing_Ma_Bridge


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Strain gauges are used to keep rails in good condition.

These strain gauges are put on the rails in a vertical, longitudinal,and lateral positions to measure different forces. The gauges go onthe top, bottom, and sides of the rail. Just like the smart bridges,

these sensors are used to maintain good conditions to the rails. Thetrain goes over the rails and trigger the sensors. The data ismeasured and appropriate action is taken to fix the rails if needed.

The gauges are important because it keeps the rail in goodcondition.

This would be used for civil engineering. This information would be useful to railroad maintenance workers.


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I didnt know it took so many sensors to measure only one side of arail.

Not only do the sensor help people keep the rail in good condition,it helps keep the rails from breaking by eliminates the effects of any

lateral bending that could reduce or exaggerate a strain readingtaken on only one side of the rail.


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Wind tunnels are used on cars to measure streamline, measuring airspeed, and many other things.

The strain gauges are connected to the pipe. They give separatechannels of information to provide a range of measurements to

include drag, lift and down-force for each wheel. It makes measuring easier for engineers.

Wind tunnels can be used for mechanical engineering.

Car testers would use this to see problems on a car.

Wind tunnels could be used for many things, and you can get


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Wind tunnels could be used for many things.

You can get different types of information from a wind tunneldepending on how you use it.


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Students in the University of California are trying to identify whattype of car is driving on the road using only a strain gauge.

The strain gauges are installed in a bridge deck to measure howmuch strain is put on the sensor. A car will drive over the gauge and

apply strain. The more strain that is put on the sensor, the bigger thevehicle.

The purpose of the sensor is to find a pattern of what types of areasuse what cars to classify them, to monitor traffic in different areas,and protect the privacy of transportation users.

Engineers who work with cars like mechanical engineers would fitthis experiment best.

This information could be useful to many people such as roadcompanies and companies that provide toll booths.


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I think the overall concept of this experiment is amazing. I like out it(the experiment) is used for many different things and not just oneconcept.

I also think its interesting that every vehicle makes a different type of

strain signal.


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A strain gauge is attached to a dyno in order to measure torque onan engine.

A dyno is connected to a flywheel or crankshaft and a strain gaugeis attached to the frame of the dyno to measure the torque. When

the engine starts, the strain gauge measures the spinning wheel andconverts it to torque.

The strain gauge makes it much easier to measure torque.

This is most useful to mechanical engineering branch.

Automotive companies could use this information to find out more

about their cars.


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2 interesting things about dynos are 1. being able to use severaldevices to achieve one certain measurement and 2. finding outthat strain gauges for many different things.


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1. Smart Bridges

2. Auto Classifications

3. Then & Now: Under Stress

4. Wind Tunnels

5. Rail forces

6. Dynos

The smart bridges article was my favorite way of using a straingauge because it showed how a strain gauge can be used in a

very important way and it stated that very clearly.

practical applications of strain gauges student sample

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