What are Strain Gauges & How to Make Connections

Strain gauges are one of the most common sensors used in a variety of testing applications across many industries. This video offers important steps in how to properly set up strain gauges to ensure you get meaningful measurements.
00:00 Introduction
00:30 What is Strain
01:20 Making connections to your Strain Gauges
01:38 If gauge is 10 feet or less (Half Bridge Completion Cable, Wheatstone Bridge)
02:08 3-Wire Method
02:35 If gauge is 50-100 feet (Full Bridge Completion Module)
02:59 Where to get Bridge completion cables
03:20 How to create a sensitivity number
A strain gauge is a sensor that converts mechanical strain into an electrical signal that can be measured. It works by measuring the change in electrical resistance of a thin metallic wire or foil that's attached to the surface of a material being tested. Strain gauges convert the applied force, pressure, torque, etc., into an electrical signal which can be measured.
This video covers the many shapes and sizes of strain gauges, plus how they can be used individually or together with other gauges to make a variety of measurements. A strain gauge has a sensing element that converts the change in length to a small change in resistance. When you properly connect the gauge into a bridge circuit, you can then directly convert a stress or a strain applied to an object into a voltage that can be converted into precision measurements.
Video topics also include: how to make proper strain gauge connections, half bridge completion cables, Wheatstone bridge, the 3-wire method and bridge completion modules. Understanding all of these critical elements are key to ensuring accurate strain gauge measurements.
The video also covers how to create a strain gauge sensitivity number. A sensitivity number will allow you to make sense of the data captured by your data acquisition system. The DTS Help Center has excellent resources to support your testing needs, including how to install a strain gauge to calculate sensitivities and other values from your strain data.
#DTS #StrainGauge #Sensors #DAQ #TestAndMeasurement

[@MichaelDoherty-zc8uv]

The science of using strain gauges is a lot more complex than most people would believe and obviously you have just touched the surface. I'd advise people to be careful using the half bridge circuit that you have shown as it doesn't compensate for the effects of temperature. To do that you should use a dummy gauge placed near the active gauge so both experience almost the same temperature; the dummy gauge should be on the same material that the active gauge is on and isolated from any strain (other than temperature effects). Sorry I don't intend to contradict what you said but rather add to it. If temperature effects are not important or if you are measuring dynamic strain then use the circuit shown; Micromeasurements has a vast amount of training data which a new user should read.