Latest

January 13, 2016
Strain Gage Sensors for More Electric Aircraft (MEA) and Fly-by-Wire (FBW): From the Drawing Board to Reality
“Sit back, relax, and enjoy a smooth and safe flight.” From the drawing board to reality, commercial and military aircraft manufacturers are replacing older hydraulic and pneumatic...
January 11, 2016
Measured Strain/Calculated Stress
The use of strain gages to measure the strain and calculate the induced stress has been long recognized as a way to predict the long term performance of a product under stress.   The...
January 6, 2016
Exercise Improves Performance
Athletes over the world know the value of “working up a sweat” to enhance performance. In the world of precision strain measurement, “sweating the details” also enhances...
January 4, 2016
The Testing of Composite Coupons
The testing of composite coupons is typically accomplished using large (better averaging), high resistance (to avoid grid self-heating) strain gages.  Soldering to attach the leadwires to the...
December 30, 2015
Fatigue Life can be like the hit song by Madeline Kahn, "I’m Tired"
Use the smallest instrument wire, strongest solder, and smallest solder mass practicable to improve the chances for strain gages surviving many tens of thousands of fatigue cycles. Orient the...
December 28, 2015
Strain Gage Testing on a Desert Island
Strain gage testing need not be left in the hands of “outside consultants;” it is easily accomplished with some training and a properly equipped lab (or work space). Micro-Measurements...
December 24, 2015
Foil Strain Gages: The Versatile Sensors
Foil strain gages are the primary sensors in many varieties of transducers; their versatility is unmatched in the sensor world. It is possible to measure weight, force, torque, acceleration,...
December 21, 2015
Surface Preparation for PVC and Rubber Specimens
As some members of the user community know well, strain gages are applied to a wide range of material surfaces.  During the training of strain gage installation, examples and projects are...
December 17, 2015
Blow holes held together with slag
An aerospace engineer once said that automobile steel was akin to blow holes held together with slag. While it is true that low carbon SAE 1018 or 1020 steel has relatively low yield strength and...
December 15, 2015
Strain Gages Can’t Measure Stress . . . or Can They?
Practically every mechanical engineer knows that when properly installed, strain gages provide information that helps determine surface strains. Many are also familiar with the calculating power of...