Measurement of Bending Stress using

a Strain Gauge
AM 2540: Strength of Materials Laboratory

Dr. Sayan Gupta

Instructor

Objective

The objective of this experiment is to measure the tensile bending stress at the root of
a cantilever beam subjected to tip transverse loading using a strain gauge.

Apparatus

The apparatus consists of a strain gauge, a strain gauge indicator (model P 3500), an
alluminium specimen bar, a bar holder with a provision for loading and a multimeter.

Experimental Setup

Figure 1: General setup of the apparatus.

The general setup is shown in Figure 1. An alluminium beam specimen is attached to

the bar holder by clamping it tightly at one end. A strain gauge is attached to the
beam specimen on the top surface, near the clamped end of the beam. The wires from
the strain gauge are connected to the strain gage indicator P-3500, which displays the

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bending strain measured by the strain gauge. A micrometer is attached towards the free
end of the cantilever beam. By rotating the micrometer, a deflection is induced on the
free end of the cantilever beam.

Theory

A strain gauge is a device used to measure the strain in any component. The most com-
mon example of a strain gauge consists of an insulating flexible backing which supports
a metallic foil pattern. The gauge is attached to the component by a suitable adhesive.

Figure 2: Visualization of the working concept behind the strain gauge on a beam under
exaggerated bending; courtesy Wikipedia.

A strain gauge takes advantage of the physical property of electrical conductance and its
dependence on not only on the electrical conductivity which is a property of the material,
but also on the conductor’s geometry. When an electrical conductor is stretched within
the limits of its elasticity such that it does not break or permanently deform, it will
become narrower and longer. This causes a change in its electrical resistance end-to-
end. Conversely, on compression, the conductor becomes broader and shorter, and once
again brings about a change in its electrical resistance properties. This can be explained

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by the fact that the electrical resistance in a piece of wire is directly proportional to the
length and inversely proportional to the area of the cross section. A schematic diagram
of this phenomenon is shown in Figure 2.

Experimental Estimate

As the object undergoes deformation, the foil is deformed, causing its electrical resistance
to change. This resistance change is related to the strain by a quantity known as the
gauge factor. By measuring the changes in resistance, and from a knowledge of the
gauge factor, one can estimate the strain in a deformed body. This is mathematically
expressed as
R/R
SG = , (1)
✏xx
where,
R is the resistance of the gauge in the undeformed state,
R is the change in the resistance in the gauge due to deformation,
SG is the strain gauge factor, and
✏xx is the strain.

Once the strain is measured experimentally, the stress can be calculated using the well
known stress-strain relations. For linear systems (i.e., when the deformations are small
compared to the geometrical dimensions of the specimen), this can be given by the relation

xx = E✏xx , (2)

where,
xx is the stress, and
E is Young’s modulus of elasticity.

Analytical Estimate

An analytical estimate of the bending stress developed can be determined from the well
known flexure relations, given by
Mb xx E
= = . (3)
Izz y ⇢
Here,
Mb is the bending moment developed at the location of the strain gauge due to the
induced deformation,
Izz is the moment of inertia of the beam cross-section due to flexure,

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 xx is the normal bending stress acting on the plane x and in the direction x,
y is the distance of the fibre from the centroidal axis, and ⇢ is the radius of curvature of
the beam under flexure.

By measuring the deflection at the free end of the cantilever beam, an estimate of the tip
load can be obtained from the well known load-deflection relation of a cantilever beam
given by
P L30
= , (4)
3EIzz
and the bending moment at the gauge location is given by

Mb = P L1 . (5)

Here, the dimensions L0 and L1 are shown in the schematic diagram Figure 3.

Figure 3: Schematic diagram of the experimental setup.

Test Procedure
1. Fix the beam specimen onto the bar holder so that the specimen acts as a cantilever
beam. Measure the important dimensions L0 , L1 , breadth b and thickness t.

2. Measure the resistance of the strain gauge using the multimeter.

3. Connect the two ends of the strain gauge as a QUARTER bridge as shown on the
inner side of the strain indicator’s lid (see Figure 3).

4. Depress the Gauge Factor button and set the initial gauge factor to 2.05 or 2.06.
This value is supplied by the strain gauge manufacturer. Please refer the gauge
specification sheet for this value. Use the small four position range selector knob
first and then the bigger potentiometer. Lock the potentiometer.

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5. Depress the AMP ZERO button (amplifier) - the display should be +/ 0000.
Alternatively, use the ‘fingertip control’ knob to bring to +/ 0000.

6. Balance the circuit (still beam is not loaded). Depress the RUN button (with all
other buttons set to OFF) and set the display. The present strain gauge actual
output will be shown. Using the BALANCE knob, set the display to a convenient
value (zero or any other value). Since the readings are going to be relative with
respect to a point, it does not make any difference if the initial setting is zero or
not as long as it is taken into account. If the initial setting is not zero, the initial
value should be subtracted from the reading value. (You may have to use both the
smaller and the bigger knobs). Lock the potentiometer.

7. With no load on cantilever, take the first set of readings. Note down the indicated
strain.

8. For the next step, make a deflection of 0.5 mm with the micrometer handle. Add
deflection in 0.5 mm steps, to a maximum of 5 mm. Repeat the measurements.

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Please fill up the following pages and submit to the instructor at the end
of the experiment. A viva voce will also be conducted at the end of the
experiment.

Name: Roll No: Date:

Sl. Deflection Display Strain Strain (based Stress Stress % difference

No. mm value (experimental) on beam (experi- (beam
theory -mental) theory)