strain gauge Archives | Page 2 of 2

Strain Gauge Installations for Field Testing

September 13, 2019/in Aerospace | Defense, Automotive, Blog Post, Civil | Infrastructure, Construction | Mining, Off-Highway, Power Generation, Pulp & Paper /by Ryan Welker

Image1: Shaft torque strain gauge installation example for field testing

Our engineers and technicians have epoxied, soldered and spot welded strain gauges for applications ranging from high temperature exhaust systems to miniature load cell measurements. Every application requires a unique understanding of the strain measurement requirements including installation environment.

If the strain gauge installation is to survive in the field you must plan for the conditions it will undergo. Three important variables that you should account for are temperature range, liquid exposure, and potential impact forces. These variables determine the type of strain gauge, epoxy, solder, wiring, coating, and impact/wear protection to use in the application. The table below shows which variables affect your installation choices.

	Gauge	Epoxy	Solder	Wiring	Coating	Covering
Temperature
Liquid Exposure
Impact Forces

Table1: Strain gauge installation variables

For more information about ITM’s strain gauging services contact Ryan Welker at email: ryan.welker@itestsystem.com or phone: 1.844.837.8797 x702

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ITM @ VIATC 2019: Vibration Institute Annual Training Conference

July 11, 2019/in Announcement /by Mark Yeager

Come see us at the VIATC 2019 Exhibit Hall in Booth 33!

Ryan Matthews and Mark Yeager (CAT III Vibration Analysts) will be there to answer questions about our iTestSystem engineering measurement platform, our on-site testing services, LabVIEW consulting, and strain gauging services.

When: July 24 & 25th

Where: The VIATC 2019 conference and exhibit hall will take place at the Lexington Center, connected by a joint lobby to the Hyatt Regency Lexington.

Lexington Center

430 West Vine Street

Lexington, KY 40507

VIATC 2019 Website

VIATC 2019 Exhibit Hall Pass (Free)

Strain Gauge Shunt Equivalent Calculations in iTestSystem

April 22, 2019/in Blog Post, iTestSystem Tips /by Mark Yeager

When making strain measurements it is important to perform a shunt calibration both before and after the actual measurements are acquired. Shunt calibrations ensure accurate strain measurements by adjusting the sensitivity or gain of the data acquisition equipment to compensate for leadwire resistance and other scaling errors.

iTestSystem takes advantage of the shunt calibration circuits included in the National Instruments (NI) cDAQ strain modules. The NI-9235, NI-9236, and NI-9237 strain modules contain an internal shunt resistor that when switched on “shunts” across one leg of the strain circuit’s wheatstone bridge. When active, the shunt resistor offsets the strain measurement by a constant strain which is calculated using the equivalent shunt calculation. The equivalent strain/shunt value is dependent on the strain gauge configuration, gauge resistance, shunt resistance, gauge factor, and material properties.

In the latest version of iTestSystem, we added a built-in strain gauge shunt equivalent calculator that can be accessed from the strain configuration page. This calculator has allowed us to speed up the calibration process and eliminate hand calculation errors.

For a free trial of iTestSystem and the equivalent shunt calculation tool, contact chase.petzinger@itestsystem.com.

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ITM Live Demo Series: iTestSystem with NI FieldDAQ

September 17, 2018/in Blog Post, iTestSystem Application Video, iTestSystem Tips, Video /by Mark Yeager

As a part the ITM Live Demo series, we’re excited to release this video featuring iTestSystem and National Instruments FieldDAQ™ hardware to assist with your data collection projects.

At ITM, we’re always on the lookout for tools that will help us take tough measurements. When we heard that NI was introducing a new device that features IP65/67-rated ingress protection, we were very excited. In many industrial or off-way environments, there is potential for fluids to splash or leak onto exposed hardware. Could the NI FieldDAQ™ be a solution for these types of environments?

Watch now as I demonstrate how to use an NI FieldDAQ™ Strain Device with iTestSystem for data logging and answer the question; Will it work while submerged in water?

If you’re interested in learning more about iTestSystem or FieldDAQ™, feel free to contact one of our test specialists by e-mail at info@itestsystem.com or phone at (844) 837-8797.

ITM Strain Gauging Services

February 21, 2017/in Aerospace | Defense, Announcement, Civil | Infrastructure, Energy, Power Generation, Pulp & Paper /by Mark Yeager

Quantifying stress, strain and force within a structure using real world strain gauge measurements is commonly used to verify FEA models and estimate a component’s fatigue life. Our engineers and technicians have planned and implemented challenging strain gauge installations for our customers around the globe. Information from these strain gauge installations has allowed our customers to validate their designs and improve their product’s reliability.

For more information about these applications and our strain gauging services, contact Ryan Welker via email ryan.welker@itestsystem.com or phone: (844) 837-8797 x702

Smart structures: If walls could talk

October 11, 2016/in Announcement, Blog Post /by Tim Carlier

Sensors in Marquette University’s Engineer Hall provide students with an interactive learning center.

By Robert Farrell

https://csengineermag.com/article/smart-structures-if-walls-could-talk/

I would like to give a special thanks to all those who contributed to the success of this project.

NIWeek 2016 – Marquette University’s “Smart Building”

August 11, 2016/in Announcement, Blog Post /by Tim Carlier

Special thanks to the Penny Write, Tommy Glicker, Chris Davis, Rob Reichmeider, and the rest of the NI Team for allowing us to take part in your DAQ pavilion at NIWeek 2016. See you next spring!

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Marquette University’s “Smart Building” Provides Real-World Data

August 9, 2016/in Announcement /by Tim Carlier

MILFORD, OH– Integrated Test & Measurement (ITM) announces a “Smart Building” program in partnership with Marquette University. This unique initiative allows next generation structural engineers to perform large-scale experiments and obtain real-time results using data collected on the very building in which they are learning. ITM was selected to provide the technology and services for the program.

Powerful Software – Powerful Results

The system is powered by ITM’s configurable iTestSystem software platform. The software allows users to organize, acquire and view important engineering data using National Instruments (NI) hardware. Using iTestSystem, a building monitoring system was created to collect data from a weather station together with more than 120 strain gauge sensors installed along beams, braces and columns inside the Engineering Hall at Marquette University.

The system not only measures wind speed on the five story structure; it can actually “feel” the wind load during gusts and record its impact on the facility. Data is broadcast in real time to anyone plugged into the servers through their mobile device. Observing the data allows students to understand how a building’s systems “share lateral load” during wind events. In addition, instruments along support beams in the Engineering Materials and Structural Testing lab allow students to analyze moving loads as the crane moves around the bay. At the same time floor sensors measure the impact of people moving through the building. This information will impact future building design and potential building code modifications.

For more information, visit https://www.itestsystem.com

ITM Uses 3D Printing to Improve Wireless Torque Measurement Designs

October 14, 2014/in Announcement, Blog Post, Video /by Tim Carlier

One of the ways ITM sets itself apart is that our engineers don’t flinch when it comes to finding creative ways to make tough measurements.

For example, as you can see in this video, we have begun using our in-house 3D printer to customize plastic collars — embedded with sensors and transmitters — which allow us to wirelessly measure torque on rotating machinery.

In this example, we’re recording a signal as the drill bit enters the wood, but the same solution allows us to model and print a larger fixture to measure the stresses on an industrial drive shaft or other piece of rotating equipment.

Where once we might have turned to an area machine shop to mill a similar type collar, we can now model an even more precise tool and print it out overnight — saving valuable time and at a fraction of the cost.

3D Printing is just one more example of how ITM uses cutting-edge tools and new technology to solve problems.

— ITM President Tim Carlier

Wireless Strain Based Silo Monitoring

September 30, 2014/in Blog Post, Energy, Power Generation, Pulp & Paper, Video /by Tim Carlier

Keeping up with more than a million pounds of plastic pellets a year would seem a near impossible task.

But at ITM, we’ve developed a wireless strain based monitoring solution to help manufacturers — particularly those in the injection mold business — easily alter existing storage silos to keep a more accurate eye on the levels of dry goods contained in them.

Industry partners report the difficulty of keeping exact measurements of the amount of ever-changing raw materials they have stored in on-site silos. With our solution, however, we’ve removed the guesswork with a system that won’t require manufacturers to go through costly structural modifications.

As we demonstrate in this video, we are able to build a measurement system that will report silo levels by using strain gauge sensors, a wireless signal transmitter and a remote signal receiver. Notice in the lab test, as the valve is opened and the water begins to drain, the signals on the user interface respond accordingly as the values decrease. Though a seemingly simple test, I’m convinced the results hold important real-world implications.

Similarly, we think manufacturers will value being able to monitor multiple silos from a single customized interface and ultimately maintain efficiencies and keep their production lines humming.