DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL IIT Ropar

ENGINEERING

INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY ROPAR

RUPNAGAR-140001, INDIA

DESIGN LABORATORY-I (ME205) REPORT

For

Experiment 4: Instrumentation and Thin Cylinder

Submitted by

Name - Gursimer Singh

Entry Number - (2021MEB1285)
Group No -: F_C

Date of Experiment Performed – 03/02/2023

Date of File Submission – 10/02/2023

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PART A – INSTRUMENTATION

EXPERIMENT 1(A): STRAIN GAUGE FORCE TRANSDUCER

AIM OF THE EXPERIMENT:
 In this experiment our aim to measure the relationship
between the strain and the resistance of sample. We
acknowledged the effect of the stress and therefore
strain on the output voltage in the experiment.
 Our purpose is to also learn how to measure the strain
in loaded steel cantilever using the strain gauges. We
also aimed to learn about the working principle behind
the strain gauges. Also, we need to verify the Hooke’s
law.
THEORY RELATED EQUIPMENT:
Strain Gauges are thin wires that can be glued to a metal
structure. When the structure flexes under a load the
resistance of the strain gauges changes and this can be used
to measure the strain in the structure. In this way, the strain
in a structure (e.g., an oil rig or an aircraft wing) can be
measured to verify the design calculations.
When the object is subjected to a force, the metal wire or foil
pattern stretches or compresses, causing its electrical
resistance to change. The change in resistance is
proportional to the amount of strain and is used to calculate
the applied force. This measurement is typically done by
connecting the strain gauge to a Wheatstone bridge circuit
that amplifies the small change in resistance and converts it
into a usable electrical signal.

Figure.1 shows the construction of a strain gauge, consisting

of a grid of fine wire or semiconductor material bonded to a
backing material.

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K is a constant known as the gauge factor and ἐ is the
relative strain.

Figure 3
Fig 3(a) shows the basic Wheatstone Bridge arrangement
with one strain gauge transducer. This circuit is liable to give
inaccurate results due to thermal changes.
To correct for this an identical gauge is used and connected
in circuit as shown in Fig 3(b). Any variation of temperature
now affects both gauges equally and there will be no thermal
effect on the bridge conditions.

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The output from the circuit is small and to increase this, four
gauges are normally used with two active gauges and two
dummies as shown in Fig 3(c).
SPECIFICATIONS:
The main characteristics of the device are –

100g Non-linearity 0.10%

Load capacity
Maximum 0.5mm Hysteresis 0.03%
deflection

Sensitivity 25μV/g Creep 0.05%

OBSERVATION TABLE:

PLOT/GRAPH:

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EXPERIMENT 2(A): LINEAR VARIABLE DIFFERENTIAL
TRANSDUCER
AIM OF THE EXPERIMENT:
 To study the construction, principle and characteristics
of a Linear Variable Differential Transformer (LVDT). We
also aimed to know the logic behind the readings of
output voltage at different core positions.
THEORY RELATED EQUIPMENTS:
The linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) (also
called linear variable displacement transformer,[1] or linear
variable displacement transducer, [2] is a type of electrical
transformer used for measuring linear displacement
(position). LVDT works under the principle of mutual
induction, and the displacement which is a non-electrical
energy is converted into an electrical energy.

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The construction and circuit arrangement of an LVDT are as
shown in Fig .1
LVDT consists of a cylindrical former where it is surrounded
by one primary winding in the centre of the former and the
two secondary windings at the sides. The number of turns in
both the secondary windings are equal, but they are opposite
to each other, i.e., if the left secondary windings is in the
clockwise direction, the right secondary windings will be in
the anti-clockwise direction, hence the net output voltages
will be the difference in voltages between the two secondary
coil [i.e Vout= V(A)-V(B)].
SPECIFICATIONS:
 The operating frequency is given by 50 to 400 HZ as an
input.

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OBSERVATION TABLE:

GRAPH/PLOT:

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EXPERIMENT 3(A): WHEATSTONE BRIDGE
AIM OF THE EXPERIMENT:
 In this experiment we aim to determine the unknown
resistance by putting it in a Wheatstone bridge
configuration.
THEORY RELATED EQUIPMENTS:
A Wheatstone bridge is an electrical circuit used to measure
resistance. It consists of four resistors arranged in a
Wheatstone configuration, which allows for the precise
determination of an unknown resistor value by comparing it
to known resistors in the circuit. The bridge works by
balancing two arms of the circuit, and the unknown resistor
can be calculated from the ratios of the known resistors and
the voltage drop across the circuit. The Wheatstone bridge is
used in various applications, including electrical engineering
and physics experiments, as well as in medical equipment
and industrial process control.

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In the Wheatstone bridge we know two resistances and the
third resistance is a variable resistance. We therefore set the
value of varying resistance in such a way that the net
deflection in the galvanometer is 0. Thereafter using the
balancing analysis, we can determine the unknown
resistance.

The above circuit shows how to measure the unknown

resistance using Wheatstone bridge.
CALCULATIONS:
From the known values of R1, R2 and R3, R4 can be
calculated as:
R4 = (R2/R1) * R3
we know the dial reading, we can calculate the unknown
resistance as
R3 = 10 *(dial reading ohm)
R1 = (10000 - R3) ohm
R2 = 12000-ohm (given)
R4 = (R2/R1) * R3
OBSERVATIONS:
Dial Reading = 210

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Resistance R3 = 10 * dial reading = 2100 ohm
Resistance R1 = 10000 - R3 = 7900 ohm
Resistance R2 = 12000 ohm(given)
Unknown Resistance = Rx = (R2/R1) * R3 = 3189.8734 ohm
CONCLUSIONS AND DISCUSSIONS:
In the instrumentation experiment we do 3 major
experiments. In these experiments we basically
understood the importance of Wheatstone bridge and
how we can use Wheatstone bridge in real life scenarios
and see its applications. We learn about strain gauges
and also studied the relationship between strain
difference and resistance difference in the circuit.
We also learned about linear variable differential
transducer and acquired knowledge about its
functionalities, properties and structures.
PART B – THIN CYLINDER AND SIMULATIONS
AIM OF THE EXPERIMENT:
 In this experiment our aim to study the strains on the
thin cylinder under different stress conditions. We also
need to acknowledge the apparatus and the working of
the machine. We need to perform the experiment in
open and closed conditions.
 Mohr’s circles and simulations are also to be drawn for
the thin cylinder for different values of stresses in this
experiment.
THEORY RELATED EQUIPMENTS:

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The Thin Cylinder (SM1007) is a thin-walled aluminium alloy
cylinder. Inside each end of the cylinder is a free-moving
piston. The cylinder sits inside a sturdy frame, on the top of
a steel box. The steel box contains electrical equipment that
works the electronic strain gauge display and circuits.
Strain gauges are electrical sensors. Their electrical
resistance changes when an external force stretches or
compresses them. This change in resistance has a direct
relationship with displacement (strain). Strain gauges are
small sheets of metal foil cut in a zigzag pattern. They are
only a few microns thick so they are mounted on a backing
sheet, for mechanical stability and electrical insulation.
VDAS is an optional extra for the Thin Cylinder. It is a two-
part product (Hardware and Software) that will:
• automatically log data from experiments
• automatically calculate data
• reduce errors

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• create charts and tables of data
SPECIFICATIONS:

OBSERVATION TABLES:

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rr

CALCULATIONS:

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FOR OPEN END CONDITIONS:
Given, P =3 Mpa d=86.1 mm, t=2.98 mm
Hoop stress = Pd/2t= 43.33 MPa
E (Young’s Modulus) = 69 Gpa
𝜈 (Poisson’s Ratio) = 0.33
Hoop Strain = Hoop stress/Young’ Modulus = 627.97 uE
Longitudinal Strain = - 𝜈 (Hoop strain) = -207.23 uE
Calculating poisson’s ratio theoretically:
poisson ratio is the ratio of longitudinal strain to hoop strain
poisson ratio= -(longitudinal strain)/ (Hoop strain) = -(-
207.23)/627.97 = 0.329
FOR CLOSED END CONDITIONS:
Given, P = 3MPa d = 86.1 mm, t = 2.98 mm
E (Young’s Modulus) = 69 GPa
v (Poisson's Ratio) = 0.33
Hoop stress = Pd/2t = 43.33 MPa
Longitudinal Stress = Pd/4t = 21.665 MPa
Hoop strain = (hoop stress/E) - v (longitudinal stress/E)
=524.355 uE
Longitudinal strain = (longitudinal stress/E) - v (hoop
stress/E) =106.755 uE
GRAPH/PLOTS:
THE FOLOWING GRAPHS SHOW THE DEPENDENCE OF
STAIN ON THE PRESSURE APPLIED IN VARIOUS
DIFFERENT CONFIGURATIONS OF THE STRAIN GAUGES:

GRAPH 1: FOR CLOSED END

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GRAPH 2:
FOR OPEN END CONDITIONS

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MOHR’S CIRCLES:
FOR CLOSED END:

FOR OPEN END:

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ABAQUS SIMULATIONS:

CONCLUSIONS AND DISCUSSIONS:

 In thin cylinder experiment we understood the stress
and strain relationship in different positions of strain
gauges. We understood the working principles of strain
gauges. We also draw Mohr’s circles for both open and
closed end conditions.
 our practical results match with those obtained
theoretically. We also analysed the same through the
simulations. We leant about the importance of this
experiment in real life situations.

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