Strain Gauge Configuration ..

Strain Gauge Configuration Types - Developer Zone - National Ins... http://zone.ni.
com/devzone/cda/tut/p/id/4172
Improve your ni.com experience. Login or Create a user profile.
Document Type: Tutorial

NI Supported: Yes
Publish Date: Oct 6, 2006
Strain Gauge Configuration Types

Overview
This document discusses how to arrange, connect, and scale signals from bridge-based sensors, especially strain
gauges.
Table of Contents
1. Wheatstone Bridges and Strain Gauges

2. Acronyms, Formulas, and Variable Definitions
3. Software Scaling and Equations
4. Quarter-Bridge Type I
5. Quarter-Bridge Type II
6. Half-Bridge I
7. Half-Bridge II
8. Full-Bridge I
9. Full-Bridge II
10. Full-Bridge III
Wheatstone Bridges and Strain Gauges

All strain-gauge configurations are based on the concept of a Wheatstone bridge. A Wheatstone bridge is a network of four
resistive legs. One or more of these legs can be active sensing elements. Figure 1-1 shows a Wheatstone bridge circuit
diagram.
Figure 1-1. Basic Wheatstone Bridge Circuit Diagram
The Wheatstone bridge is the electrical equivalent of two parallel voltage divider circuits. R1 and R2 compose one voltage
divider circuit, and R4 and R3 compose the second voltage divider circuit. The output of a Wheatstone bridge is measured
between the middle nodes of the two voltage dividers.
A physical phenomena, such as a change in strain applied to a specimen or a temperature shift, changes the resistance
of the sensing elements in the Wheatstone bridge. The Wheatstone bridge configuration is used to help measure the
small variations in resistance that the sensing elements produce corresponding to a physical change in the specimen.
Strain-gauge configurations are arranged as Wheatstone bridges. The gauge is the collection of all of the active
elements of the Wheatstone bridge. There are three types of strain-gauge configurations: quarter-bridge, half-bridge,
and full-bridge. The number of active element legs in the Wheatstone bridge determines the kind of bridge configuration.
Refer to Table 1-1 to see how many active elements are in each configuration.
1 of 9 10/12/2009 6:57 AM
Strain Gauge Configuration Types - Developer Zone - National Ins... http://zone.ni.com/devzone/cda/tut/p/id/4172
Each of these three configurations is subdivided into multiple configuration types. The orientation of the active elements
and the kind of strain measured determines the configuration type. National Instruments (NI) supports seven various
configuration types in software. However, with custom software scaling all Wheatstone bridge configuration types can be
used with any NI hardware product that supports your gauge configuration type.
The supported strain gauge configuration types measure axial strain, bending strain, or both. While some similar
configuration types can be used to measure torsional strain, NI’s software scaling does not support these configuration
types. It is possible to use NI products to measure torsional strain, but to properly scale these configuration types you
must create a custom scale in Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX) or perform scaling in your software
application.
This document discusses all of the mechanical, electrical, and scaling considerations of each strain-gauge configuration
type supported by NI.
Acronyms, Formulas, and Variable Definitions
In the figures and equations in this document, the acronyms, formulas, and variables are defined as:
e is the measured strain (+e is tensile strain and -e is compressive strain).
eS is the simulated strain.
GF is the Gauge Factor, which should be specified by the gauge manufacturer.
Rg is the nominal gauge resistance, which should be specified by the gauge manufacturer.
RL is the lead resistance. If lead lengths are long, RL can significantly impact measurement accuracy.
Rs is the shunt calibration resistor value.
U is the ratio of expected signal voltage to excitation voltage with the shunt calibration circuit engaged. Parameter U
appears in the equations for simulated strain and is defined by the following equation:
n is the Poisson’s ratio, defined as the negative ratio of transverse strain to axial strain (longitudinal) strain.
VCH is the measured signal’s voltage.
VEX is the excitation voltage.
Vr is the voltage ratio that is used in the voltage to strain conversion equations and is defined by the following equation:
Software Scaling and Equations
Once you have acquired the voltage signal VCH , you can scale this voltage to the appropriate strain units in software.
This is done automatically for you in traditional NI-DAQ using the strain virtual channel and in NI-DAQmx using a strain
task or strain channel. You can also scale the voltages manually in your application using the voltage to strain
conversion equations provided in this document for each configuration type.
Finally, there are voltage to strain conversion functions included in LabVIEW, traditional NI-DAQ, and NI-DAQmx. In
LabVIEW, the conversion function, Convert Strain Gauge Reading.vi, is in the Data Acquisition»Signal Conditioning
subpalette. The prototypes for the NI-DAQ functions, Strain_Convert and Strain_Buf_Convert, are in the header file
convert.h for C/C++, and convert.bas for Visual Basic. In LabVIEW 7.x or earlier, refer to the Traditional NI-DAQ User
Manual and the LabVIEW Measurements Manual for more information. In LabVIEW 8.0 or later, refer to the Traditional
NI-DAQ User Manual and the Strain Gauges topic in the LabVIEW Help.
The names given the strain-gauge types in the following sections directly correspond to bridge selections in MAX and the
LabVIEW Convert Strain Gauge Reading VI.
Quarter-Bridge Type I
This section provides information for the quarter-bridge strain-gauge configuration type I. The quarter-bridge type I
measures either axial or bending strain.
2 of 9 10/12/2009 6:57 AM
Figure 1-2. Quarter-Bridge Type I Measuring Axial and Bending Strain
A quarter-bridge type I has the following characteristics:
• A single active strain-gauge element is mounted in the principle direction of axial or bending strain.
• A passive quarter-bridge completion resistor (dummy resistor) is required in addition to half-bridge completion.
• Temperature variation in specimen decreases the accuracy of the measurements.
• Sensitivity at 1000 me is ~ 0.5 mVout/ VEX input.
Figure 1-3. Quarter-Bridge Type I Circuit Diagram
The following symbols apply to the circuit diagram and equations:
• R1 and R2 are half-bridge completion resistors.
• R3 is the quarter-bridge completion resistor (dummy resistor).
• R4 is the active strain-gauge element measuring tensile strain (+e).
To convert voltage readings to strain units use the following equation:
To simulate the effect on strain of applying a shunt resistor across R3, use the following equation:
Quarter-Bridge Type II
This section provides information for the quarter-bridge strain-gauge configuration type II. The quarter-bridge type II
measures either axial or bending strain.
Figure 1-4. Quarter-Bridge Type II Measuring Axial and Bending Strain
A quarter-bridge type II has the following characteristics:
• One active strain-gauge element and one passive, temperature-sensing quarter-bridge element (dummy gauge). The
active element is mounted in the direction of axial or bending strain. The dummy gauge is mounted in close thermal
contact with the strain specimen but not bonded to the specimen, and is usually mounted transverse (perpendicular) to
the principle axis of strain.
3 of 9 10/12/2009 6:57 AM
• This configuration is often confused with the half-bridge type I configuration, with the difference being that in the
half-bridge type I configuration the R3 element is active and bonded to the strain specimen to measure the effect of
Poisson’s ratio.
• Completion resistors provide half bridge completion.
• Compensates for temperature.
Figure 1-5. Quarter-Bridge Type II Circuit Diagram
• R1 and R2 are a half-bridge completion resistors.
• R3 is the quarter-bridge temperature-sensing element (dummy gauge).
Half-Bridge I
This section provides information for the half-bridge strain-gauge configuration type I. The half-bridge type I measures
either axial or bending strain.
Figure 1-6. Half-bridge Type I Measuring Axial and Bending Strain
A half-bridge type I has the following characteristics:
• Two active strain-gauge elements. One is mounted in the direction of axial strain, the other acts as a Poisson gauge
and is mounted transverse (perpendicular) to the principal axis of strain.
• Sensitive to both axial and bending strain.
• Compensates for temperature
• Compensates for the aggregate effect on the principle strain measurement due to the Poisson’s ratio of the specimen
material.
4 of 9 10/12/2009 6:57 AM
Figure 1-7. Half-Bridge Type I Circuit Diagram
• R3 is the active strain-gauge element measuring compression from Poisson effect (–ne).
Half-Bridge II
This section provides information for the half-bridge strain-gauge configuration type II. The half-bridge type II only
measures bending strain.
Figure 1-8. Half-Bridge Type II Rejecting Axial and Measuring Bending Strain
A half-bridge type II configuration has the following characteristics:
• Two active strain-gauge elements. One is mounted in the direction of bending strain on one side of the strain specimen
(top), the other is mounted in the direction of bending strain on the opposite side (bottom).
• Sensitive to bending strain.
• Rejects axial strain.
• Sensitivity at 1000 me is ~ 1 mVout/ VEX input.
Figure 1-9. Half-Bridge Type II Circuit Diagram
• R3 is the active strain-gauge element measuring compressive strain (–e).
5 of 9 10/12/2009 6:57 AM
Full-Bridge I
This section provides information for the full-bridge strain-gauge configuration type I. The full-bridge type I only measures
bending strain.
Figure 1-10. Full-Bridge Type I Rejecting Axial and Measuring Bending Strain
A full-bridge type I configuration has the following characteristics:
• Four active strain-gauge elements. Two are mounted in the direction of bending strain on one side of the strain
specimen (top), the other two are mounted in the direction of bending strain on the opposite side (bottom).
• Highly sensitive to bending strain.
• Compensates for lead resistance.
• Sensitivity at 1000 me is ~ 2.0 mVout / VEX input.
Figure 1-11. Full-Bridge Type I Circuit Diagram
• R1 is an active strain-gauge element measuring compressive strain (–e).
• R2 is an active strain-gauge element measuring tensile strain (+e).
6 of 9 10/12/2009 6:57 AM
Full-Bridge II
This section provides information for the full-bridge type II strain-gauge configuration. The full-bridge type II only measures
bending strain.
Figure 1-12. Full-Bridge Type II Rejecting Axial and Measuring Bending Strain
A full-bridge type II configuration has the following characteristics:
• Four active strain-gauge elements. Two are mounted in the direction of bending strain with one on one side of the
strain specimen (top), the other on the opposite side (bottom). The other two act together as a Poisson gauge and are
mounted transverse (perpendicular) to the principal axis of strain with one on one side of the strain specimen (top), the
other on the opposite side (bottom).
material.
Figure 1-13. Full-Bridge Type II Circuit Diagram
• R1 is an active strain-gauge element measuring compressive Poisson effect (–ne).
• R2 is an active strain-gauge element measuring tensile Poisson effect (+ne).
Full-Bridge III
This section provides information for the full-bridge strain-gauge configuration type III. The full-bridge type III only measures
axial strain.
7 of 9 10/12/2009 6:57 AM
Figure 1-14. Full-Bridge Type III Measuring Axial and Rejecting Bending Strain
A full-bridge type III configuration has the following characteristics:
• Four active strain-gauge elements. Two are mounted in the direction of axial strain with one on one side of the strain
specimen (top), the other on the opposite side (bottom). The other two act together as a Poisson gauge and are mounted
transverse (perpendicular) to the principal axis of strain with one on one side of the strain specimen (top), the other on
the opposite side (bottom).
• Rejects bending strain.
material.
Figure 1-15. Full-Bridge Type III Circuit Diagram
• R4 is an active strain-gauge element measuring the tensile strain (+e).
Reader Comments | Submit a comment »
Legal
This tutorial (this "tutorial") was developed by National Instruments ("NI"). Although technical support of this tutorial may
be made available by National Instruments, the content in this tutorial may not be completely tested and verified, and NI
does not guarantee its quality in any way or that NI will continue to support this content with each new revision of related
products and drivers. THIS TUTORIAL IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND AND SUBJECT
TO CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS AS MORE SPECIFICALLY SET FORTH IN NI.COM'S TERMS OF USE (http://ni.com
8 of 9 10/12/2009 6:57 AM
/legal/termsofuse/unitedstates/us/).
My Profile | RSS | Privacy | Legal | Contact NI © 2009 National Instruments Corporation. All rights reserved. | E-Mail this Page
9 of 9 10/12/2009 6:57 AM

Strain Gauge Configuration ..

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Strain Gauge Configuration ..

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Strain Gauge Configuration Types - Developer Zone - National Ins... http://zone.ni.

Improve your ni.com experience. Login or Create a user profile.

Document Type: Tutorial

Strain Gauge Configuration Types

1. Wheatstone Bridges and Strain Gauges

Wheatstone Bridges and Strain Gauges

Figure 1-1. Basic Wheatstone Bridge Circuit Diagram

Acronyms, Formulas, and Variable Definitions

e is the measured strain (+e is tensile strain and -e is compressive strain).

eS is the simulated strain.

GF is the Gauge Factor, which should be specified by the gauge manufacturer.

Rs is the shunt calibration resistor value.

VCH is the measured signal’s voltage.

VEX is the excitation voltage.

Software Scaling and Equations

Figure 1-2. Quarter-Bridge Type I Measuring Axial and Bending Strain

A quarter-bridge type I has the following characteristics:

• Temperature variation in specimen decreases the accuracy of the measurements.

• Sensitivity at 1000 me is ~ 0.5 mVout/ VEX input.

Figure 1-3. Quarter-Bridge Type I Circuit Diagram

The following symbols apply to the circuit diagram and equations:

• R1 and R2 are half-bridge completion resistors.

• R3 is the quarter-bridge completion resistor (dummy resistor).

• R4 is the active strain-gauge element measuring tensile strain (+e).

To convert voltage readings to strain units use the following equation:

Figure 1-4. Quarter-Bridge Type II Measuring Axial and Bending Strain

A quarter-bridge type II has the following characteristics:

• Completion resistors provide half bridge completion.

• Compensates for temperature.

• Sensitivity at 1000 me is ~ 0.5 mVout/ VEX input.

Figure 1-5. Quarter-Bridge Type II Circuit Diagram

The following symbols apply to the circuit diagram and equations:

• R1 and R2 are a half-bridge completion resistors.

• R3 is the quarter-bridge temperature-sensing element (dummy gauge).

• R4 is the active strain-gauge element measuring tensile strain (+e).

To convert voltage readings to strain units use the following equation:

Figure 1-6. Half-bridge Type I Measuring Axial and Bending Strain

A half-bridge type I has the following characteristics:

• Completion resistors provide half bridge completion.

• Sensitive to both axial and bending strain.

• Compensates for temperature

• Sensitivity at 1000 me is ~ 0.65 mVout/ VEX input.

Figure 1-7. Half-Bridge Type I Circuit Diagram

The following symbols apply to the circuit diagram and equations:

• R1 and R2 are half-bridge completion resistors.

• R4 is the active strain-gauge element measuring tensile strain (+e).

To convert voltage readings to strain units use the following equation:

A half-bridge type II configuration has the following characteristics:

• Completion resistors provide half bridge completion.

• Sensitive to bending strain.

• Rejects axial strain.

• Compensates for temperature.

• Sensitivity at 1000 me is ~ 1 mVout/ VEX input.

Figure 1-9. Half-Bridge Type II Circuit Diagram

The following symbols apply to the circuit diagram and equations:

• R1 and R2 are half-bridge completion resistors.

• R3 is the active strain-gauge element measuring compressive strain (–e).

• R4 is the active strain-gauge element measuring tensile strain (+e).

To convert voltage readings to strain units use the following equation:

A full-bridge type I configuration has the following characteristics:

• Highly sensitive to bending strain.

• Rejects axial strain.

• Compensates for temperature.