DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL

EDUCATION
ANDHRAPRADESH
Name : A.Vinay kumar
Branch : AEIE
Designation : H.O.D
Institute : QQGPT. Hyd
Subject : Process Instrumentation – II
Year/Sem : IV
Code No : AEI-405
Major Topic : Pressure measurement
Duration : 50 Mins.
Sub Topic : Strain gauge pressure transducer
Teaching Aids : Animations, diagrams

AEI405.9
AEI405.8 1
 Objectives

Upon the completion of this topic you will

be able to know about

Strain gauge transducer

• Description
• Principle
• Operation

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 Recap

In last class we have learnt about the

• Potentiometric pressure transducer

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Principle of pressure measurement

measurement is based on :

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Strain gauge

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 What it means

• When an external force is applied to a stationary object

Stress and Strain will result

• Stress is defined as the object’s internal resisting force

• Strain is defined as the displacement and deformation

that occurs due to the stress

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 Expression

• Stress = Force/unit area

E = F/A

• Strain = change in length/ original length

E = Δl / l

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Strain gauge

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Strain gauge

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 Strain Gauge Transducer

• Strain gauge transducer is the most common type

pressure transducer

• It converts mechanical motion into electrical output

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Strain Gauge Pressure Transducer
Strain
gauges Diaphragm

Flange

Fig.1

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Wheat Stone Bridge Circuit

Fig.2

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 Operation
• Conversion of pressure into electrical is achieved by
physical deformation of SG (strain gauge)

• They are bonded on a diaphragm

• They are wired into a Wheatstone bridge configuration

• Pressure is applied to the pressure transducer

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 Operation…

• It produces a deflection in the diaphragm

• It produces strain to the gauges
• The strain will produce change in electrical resistance

• It is proportional to the applied pressure

• The diagram shows a strain gauge type pressure

transducer

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 Operation…

• Gauges 1 and 3 are bonded near the periphery

• They responds to radial strain

• Gauges 2 and 4 are bonded near the centre

• They responds to tensile strain

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 Equation

2
σ=4 p 2
3 R
t
2
ε 3
= P
R
4 Et 2

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 Equation

Where,
σ = radial stress in N/m2
P= pressure difference in pa
R= diaphragm radius in m
t= thickness in mm
Є = strain
E= young’s modulus in N/m2

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 Types

• There are two types of strain gauge pressure

transducers

1.Bonded type

3.Unbonded type

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Bonded strain gauge transducer

Fig.3

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 Bonded strain gauge transducer

• It is a strain gauge pressure transducer

• Double cantilever beam symmetrically coupled to
diaphragm mechanically
• Strain gauges are bonded near the roots of cantilever
beam
• They are used to measure the compressive and tensile
strains

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Unbounded strain gauge Transducer
Spring

Strain
gauge
wire

Fig.4
Diaphragm gauge
P

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Operation of Unbonded strain gauge

• Four bare strain gauge wires are stretched to known

initial tension

• They are mounted by linking on pressure sensing

diaphragm

• They form active arms of Wheatstone bridge

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 Operation of Unbonded strain gauge

• when pressure is applied the diaphragm is deforms

• It displaces the armature through the mechanical
linkage
• It causes the two gauges to elongate
• Reduces the tension in the remaining two
• The electrical output of the bridge is proportional to the
applied pressure

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 Advantages

• Excellent linearity
• Ruggedness
• Good linearity
• wide range

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 Disadvantages

• Temperature dependent
• Non linearity
• Mounting problem
• Sensitive to vibrations

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 Summary

We have discussed about

Strain gauge type pressure transducer

• Operation
• Advantages
• Limitations

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 Quiz
1. The output of strain gauge type pressure
transducer is to give to

a) Wheatstone bridge
b) Wien bridge
c) Schering bridge
d) none

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 Frequently asked questions

1. Explain the operation of strain gauge pressure

transducer

3. List the advantages and disadvantages of strain

gauge type pressure transducer

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