TYPES AND WORKING PRINCIPLES

All thin film stress sensors are sensitive to lateral strain effects. Therefore, in order to be able to use them in non-planar wave environments, one has to recourse to an independent and concurrent measurement of strain to correct for its effects on the output of the stress gauge. This company has pioneered and commercialized two types of Stress/Strain gauges. They are the 50-Ohm Manganin/Constantan in-plane stress/strain gauge and the PVF 2 10/Cn2-.20-EK superimposed stress/strain gauge.
We also produce a combination Ytterbium/Constantan gauge. Its use however is not recommended unless strain levels are less than 0.6%. The operating principle of the above combination gauge rests upon the fact that Constantan strain gauges respond to strain only. In stress/strain field environments. Thus, from a "pre-knowledge" of strain effects upon the stress sensor and a concurrent strain measurement from a constantan strain gauge, one can readily infer the level of stress acting upon stress/strain package using simple modeling. The main assumptions used here for our stress/strain gauges are threefold: 1) That stress and strain effects on a given sensor are linearly additive. 2) That strain effects perceived by part or all of one element is identically perceived by the other. 3) That strain along grid lines of the sensor only affect the output of the sensor. Equations are available for the fundamental relationships for Manganin/Constantan gauges as well as for PVF 2 10/Constantan gauges.
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Mn/Cn2-50-EK , IN-PLANE STRESS / STRAIN GAUGE

Our model Mn/Cn2-50-EK stress/strain gauge is a dual-sensor in-plane arrangement consisting in one each Manganin and Constantan elements that are cemented between two layers of 0.001 Inch thick Kapton. Range of application is 0-100 Kbars (0-10 GPA). Calibration curves are available for the strain factor values of Manganin and Constantan gauges versus strain. Only a few sizes of combinations Manganin/Constantan gauges are offered. Specify lead length upon ordering. Consult our price lists.

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PVF 2 10/Cn2-50-EK SUPERIMPOSED STRESS / STRAIN GAUGE

Our model PVF 2 10/Cn2-50-EK gauge is a superimposed piezoelectric / extensoresistive arrangement combining one biaxially-stretched PVF 2 stress gauge to a bi-directional Constantan strain gauge.
Calibration curves are available for the strain factor values and for data reduction. A few sizes of sensing elements are offered on a custom basis only. Please specify lead length upon ordering.

Click here to down load calibration curves for these gauges.