Bench-mounted bending system to test tension, torsion and bending to illustrate how resistance strain gauges work and methods of measuring strains in diff erent structures. Can be used to demonstrate Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio.
Key Features
• Compact, self-contained, desk-mounting trainer that shows students the use of resistance strain gauges
• Clear layout with printed graphics to help students understand how strain gauges work
• Includes electronic strain display to show all readings, and automatically calculates strain
• Fully open bridge connection with dummy resistors to allow quarter, half and full-bridge connection to show students how strain bridge connections work
• Uses strain gauges on three diff erent and popular structures for realistic experiments
• Includes two sets of masses to give each structure a range of stresses
• Extra (optional) specimens are available for more tests in stress and strain of diff erent materials
Description
The compact Strain Gauge Trainer fi ts on a bench or desktop. It contains everything needed to show students how resistance strain gauges work on three diff erent structures. It is ideal for groups of two or more students to do experiments and for classroom demonstrations.
Students use the small set of masses to load the bending and torsion systems, and the large set of masses to load the tension system. They use theory and known dimensions to calculate the stresses and strains and compare them with the strains measured by the strain gauges. Students can also connect and compare the performance of quarter, half and full-bridge strain gauge connections for each structure.
The bending system uses gauges to measure direct tensile and compression strain. The torsion system shows the use of shear/torque strain gauges. The tension system shows the use of two gauges at right angles in a ‘Tee’ rosette.
For more tests with the tension system, TecQuipment can supply optional tension test specimens made of diff erent metals. Students then use their experience from other experiments to calculate and test strains in the diff erent metals and fi nd their values of Young’s modulus. The tension system also fi nds and proves Poisson’s ratio for tensile and compressive strains in metals.
The strain display includes a set of high-accuracy dummy strain gauge resistors (plugs) and controls. These allow the student to connect the strain gauges on the structures as quarter, half or full-bridge networks. The strain display works with and gives correct readings for all bridge connections and diff erent gauge factors. An extra setting on the strain display works with the tension system to prove Poisson’s ratio. The strain display has a socket for connection to TecQuipment’s optional Versatile Data Acquisition System (VDAS®).
The trainer shows students diff erent types of strain gauges. A clear, hard-wearing coating protects each gauge from accidental damage and the environment. Enlarged mimic diagrams on the back plate of the trainer show students what each gauge looks like, how it connects and how it fi ts on each structure. This helps to show students how it works.
For quick and reliable experiment results, TecQuipment’s optional VDAS® gives accurate real-time data capture, monitoring and display, calculation and charting of all the important readings on a computer (computer not included).
The user guide (supplied) shows how to use the equipment and includes theory and experiments.
Learning Outcomes
• Introduction to the equipment and the diff erent bridge connections (quarter, half and full-bridge)
• Strains and stresses in a bending system
• Strains and stresses in a torsion system
• Strains and stresses in a tension system, Poisson’s ratio and Young’s modulus
• Tensile strains and stresses in diff erent materials (needs optional tensile specimens) and comparison of Poisson’s ratio and Young’s modulus
• Comparison of diff erent strain measurement systems and how they could measure force
Recommended Ancillaries
• Bench-mounted version of the Versatile Data Acquisition System (VDAS-B)
• Optional Tension Specimens (SM1009a) – Aluminium, brass and copper
