Not aware of what Strain measurement is? Strain or stress measures amount of tension or compression along with the material (normal strain) or the amount of strain (shear strain) associated with slippage of the inner layer of the material.
To help you understand better, the Strain measurement is a key element of materials testing. The physical properties of materials are generally represented by stress-strain curves.
Knowledge of stress-strain curves enables engineers to compare different materials and predict the behaviour (such as stiffness and resistance to failure) of parts or structures made from a specific material during processing operations (such as pressing and forging) and service period. Strain measurement also plays a vital role in low cycle fatigue testing, which determines the durability of materials that undergo alternating strains during use, such as engine parts. A device designed to measure tension is called an extensometer.
Where Is Strain Measurement Used?
Before we dive straight into areas where stress measurement is used, let us understand what are strain gauges.
The strain gauge was invented in 1938 by Edward E. Simmons and Arthur C. Ruge. It is one of the important sensors used for Strain measurement of any structure (dams, buildings, nuclear power plants, tunnels, etc.) in geotechnical engineering. The resistance of the strain gauge changes with the applied force and converts parameters such as force, pressure, tension, and weight. The change in resistance can be measured later.
There are a few fields where a strain gauge is used for Strain measurement.
Aerospace Engineering
Strain gauges are attached to load-bearing structural components to measure the stress in the load path from deflection or deformation of the aircraft wing. The strain gauge is connected to the Wheatstone bridge circuit and its application areas include onboard signal conditioning units, excitation power supplies, and required telemetry for field measurement readings.
Cable Bridges
Bridge instrumentation is used to verify design parameters, evaluate the performance of new technologies used in bridge construction, verify and control the construction process, and subsequent performance monitoring. A fully equipped bridge can alert the responsible authority to impending failures to initiate preventive measures. Choosing the right sensor type, technology, measuring range, and location on the bridge is very important to optimize costs and take full advantage of the instrument's benefits.
It is necessary to periodically monitor any deformation of the bridge, as it can cause fatal accidents. Strain measurement technology is used for real-time monitoring of large bridges for accurate detection.
Railway monitoring
Strain gauges have since time immemorial been a part of the safety of the rails. They have been sued for Strain measurement and also to measure the strain on the rials. They are responsible for measuring the axial tension or compression without having any impact on the rails. If an emergency strikes,, the strain gauges are equipped to send out a warning to the workers so that appropriate maintenance measures can be done early enough to minimize its impact on the whole rail network.
Power And Torque Measurements In Equipment That Rotate
This Strain measurement technology is equipped to measure the torque applied by a motor, engine, or turbine to fans, wheels, generators, or propellers. These are mainly found in ships, power plants, automobiles, refineries, and industries.
Final Words
Therefore, as you can see that this type of Strain measurement is widely used in the field of geotechnical monitoring to keep a vigilant eye on damn, inner linings of tunnels, structures, cable-stayed bridges, buildings, etc. to deter any kind of mishap or accident if there are any deformities. These help in taking timely action, which can avoid loss of life.