Measuring the behavior of materials in practice
Calculations and simulations provide valuable insights. However, they do not always show how a component behaves in practice. Therefore, Experimental Stress Analysis (ESA) is used.
With ESA, you measure the actual strain in a material under real operating conditions. The strain gauge converts mechanical deformation into an electrical signal. The corresponding stress can then be determined. This provides a better understanding of a structure's performance and allows you to validate design calculations.
Important features are:
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High sensitivity and accuracy
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Self-Temperature Compensation (STC)
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Various geometries
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Wide temperature range
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Copper-plated terminals and wired patterns
High-accuracy strain measurements
ESA strain gauges measure extremely small deformations up to 0.1 μm/m. As a result, even minimal changes in the behavior of a structure can be detected.
In addition, the strain gauges are applied directly to the part. This provides a realistic picture of the load during use. To limit the influence of temperature, many strain gauges are equipped with Self-Temperature Compensation (STC). This compensation is tailored to the material being measured.
ESA strain gauges are used in sectors where accurate strain and stress measurements are essential.
- Aerospace: Analysis of strain under safety-critical conditions. Additionally, the measurements support design optimization and compliance with strict standards.
- Structural Health Monitoring (SHM): Monitoring of bridges, pipelines, and other critical infrastructure. This allows safety, performance, and lifespan to be better monitored.
- Material and fatigue tests: Evaluation of materials under repeated loading. This reveals how durable a material or structure is.
- Concrete and civil structures: Validation of strain in concrete structures and large-scale construction projects during testing and validation processes.
- PCB and PCBA tests: Monitoring of strain in electronic assemblies. This helps improve the reliability and lifespan of printed circuit boards.
Reliable measurement results
Accurate results begin with a good measurement setup. Therefore, various configurations can be applied, such as:
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Quarter bridge
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Half bridge
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Full bridge
In addition, strain gauges are available in various geometries. This allows strain to be measured in specific directions.
Zemic ESA strain gauges function in a wide temperature range, from cryogenic conditions to temperatures above 200 °C. However, correct installation, bonding, and validation of the measurement setup remain essential for reliable results.
Zemic provides extensive technical information for every production batch. This includes, among other things:
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Strain factor per grid
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Coefficient of sensitivity (Kt)
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Temperature dependence of the strain factor
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Thermal outlet curve
With this data, temperature influences can be compensated for and measurement errors limited. As a result, the accuracy of the analysis increases further.
Zemic offers a wide range of ESA strain gauges for both standard measurements and specialized test setups.
Thanks to consistent quality, extensive batch data, and various geometries, these strain gauges are suitable for testing, design validation, and structural monitoring.
Would you like to know which ESA strain gauge best suits your application?
View the full range here or take Contact with us.
Read the full Case Study here.