INSTRUMENTATION & MEASUREMENT
TUTORIAL NO: 4
(SENSORS AND STRAIN GAUGE)
1. A linear wire wound potentiometer has a total resistance of 8 k, and the overheating effects limit the
maximum power dissipation to 50 mW. Determine the maximum value of excitation voltage. Also
determine the output voltage if the input displacement is 1.25 mm and the maximum displacement for
the potentiometer device is 4.5 mm. Assume maximum permissible excitation voltage is applied.
2. A capacitive transducer is constructed of two quartz diaphragms of 600 mm2 and separated by a distance
of 4 mm. With no pressure on the diaphragm, the device has a capacitance of 250 10-12F. When a
pressure of 800 kPa is applied to one of the diaphragms, there occurs an average deflection of 0.5 mm.
Calculate the change in the capacitance of the system.
3. The output of a transducer with a total resistance of 120 has been measured with a potentiometer
ballast circuit. The supply voltage is 100 V and maximum sensitivity is attained at the mid position of
the transducer. Make calculations for the sensitivity at 25 % and 75 % position, and comment on results.
4. The output from a pressure pick up has been measured by a simple ballast circuit which is so designed
that the ballast resistance is 5 times the total resistance of the potentiometer. Calculate the voltage output
at 50 % load on the potentiometer if the unit has been energized by a 100 V supply.
5. A resistance bridge circuit has the resistances: R1 = 120.5 , R2 = 119.5 and R3 = 118.5 . Calculate
the resistance R4 if the bridge is to have resistance balance. What open circuit voltage would be indicated
on a meter if R4 has a value of 121.5 ? The bridge is energized with a 12 V dc source and the meter has
infinite impedance.
6. A metallic electric resistance strain gauge of 120 resistance with gauge factor of 2 is cemented onto an
aluminium test surface. If the yield stress 20 MPa and Young's modulus of elasticity is 70 GPa,
determine the change in resistance of the gauge that would be caused by loading the material to yield
point.
7. A strain gauge has gauge factor of 4. If the strain gauge is attached to a metal bar that stretches from
0.25 m to 0.255 m when stained, what is the percentage change in resistance? If the unstrained value of
gauge is 120 , what is the resistance value of gauge after application of strain?
8. A strain gauge potentiometric circuit uses a strain gauge of 120 and a gauge factor of 2. When
working under maximum sensitivity conditions, the current flow through the system is limited to 20 mA.
Calculate the supply voltage and the change in output voltage when a strain of 500 -strain is impressed
upon the gauge.
9. A strain gauge bridge comprise of two fixed resistors each of have 120 , one active gauge, and an
unstrained temperature compensation gauge. The two gauge connected in adjacent arms of the bridge
has a unstrained resistance of 120 and a gauge factor of 2.2. Find the bridge output voltage for a
supply voltage output of 3 V, when the active gauge is subjected to 600 -strain.
10. A single electrical resistance strain gauge of resistance 120 and having a gauge factor of 2 is bonded
to steel having an elastic limit stress of 400 kPa and modulus of elasticity of 200 GPa. Calculate the
change in resistance:
(a) due to a change in stress equal to 1/10 of the elastic range of steel and due to a change of temperature
of 200C, if the material is advance alloy for which resistance temperature coefficient is 20 10-6/0C.
INSTRUMENTATION & MEASUREMENT 7 TUTORIAL NO. 4/Khem Gyanwali
(b) Calculate the strain due to differential expansion of the gauge metal and steel, if coefficient of linear
expansion of steel is 12 10-6/0C and that of advance alloy is 16 10-6/0C.
ANSWERS
1. 20 V, 5.55 V
2. 35.71 10-12F
3. 0.7407 V/m, 0.2666 V/m
4. 8.33 V
5. 117.52 , 100 mV
6. 0.0686
7. 8 %, 129.6
8. 4.8 V, 1.2 mV
9. 0.99 mV
10. 0.048 , 0.019
INSTRUMENTATION & MEASUREMENT 8 TUTORIAL NO. 4/Khem Gyanwali