Strain Gauge Testing Australia-Wide
In mining construction and engineering, the journey from blueprint to reality is paved with rigorous scrutiny and meticulous planning. Strain gauge tests emerge as a pivotal tool in this approval process, offering a unique and indispensable means of assessing static and dynamic loads on structures.
Despite the advent of advanced Finite Element Analysis (FEA) techniques, the role of strain gauge measurements still needs to be improved. They serve as the litmus test, providing empirical evidence to validate the models and simulations employed in the design phase.
Our Capabilities
In-house and Field Strain Gauge Applications and Testing: Field Engineers specialise in in-house and on-site strain gauge applications and testing, ensuring flexibility and precision.
Load and Force Monitoring: Our expertise extends to load and force monitoring, providing real-time insights into the performance of your structures.
Thermal Stress Analysis: We excel in thermal stress analysis, allowing you to understand how temperature variations impact your components.
Mechanical Stress Analysis: Our mechanical stress analysis evaluates the structural integrity of your designs under various conditions.
Residual Stress Analysis: Our comprehensive services include residual stress analysis, which is critical for fatigue and failure predictions.
CTE Testing: We offer Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE) testing to assess material behaviour under temperature changes.
Field Engineers, your trusted partner for strain gauge testing, specialises in evaluating metal components, pipelines, and structures. With our seasoned experts and state-of-the-art equipment, we ensure the reliability and safety of your critical assets. When the stakes are high, and the success of a project hinges on every element working in harmony, engineers demand more than theoretical conjecture. They require concrete proof that a design will withstand the demands of the real world. It’s here that strain gauge measurements come into their own, delivering the precise stress data necessary for informed decisions.
In a world where precision is paramount and accuracy is non-negotiable, Field Engineers and our strain gauge tests stand as the bedrock of confidence in structural approvals, bridging the gap between theory and reality.
Read our Dragline Revolving Frame Strain Gauge and FE Analysis
What our Strain Gauge Services Can Do For You
When the stakes peak, the demand for tangible evidence that a design will perform as expected becomes imperative. Engineers, in pursuit of precision and reliability, rely on concrete verification of machine or material behaviour. In this quest, the availability of accurate stress data assumes paramount significance.
At Field Engineers, we harness the power of strain gauging to provide engineers with a reality check that extends across a spectrum of industrial applications, including draglines, ship loaders, cranes, hydraulic testing rigs, and more. Our unwavering commitment to excellence and our profound understanding of material stresses in mechanical equipment positions us as the trusted partner you need.
Our expertise shines in the meticulous acquisition of surface strain measurements in static and dynamic environments. By harnessing this data, we don’t just offer data points; we present practical, viable solutions tailored to your specific equipment repair or upgrade needs. When precision is the benchmark and reliability is the goal, Field Engineers stand ready to transform data into actionable insights, ensuring your engineering endeavours meet and exceed expectations.
Critical Applications for Strain Gauging
The following are a few of the common applications strain gauges are used for.
Fatigue Analysis: Measuring stress ranges to estimate the residual life.
End-of-life determination: Long-term strain gauge measurement – Monitor trend to provide reactive maintenance.
Torque measurements: Quantify torque in a rotating shaft.
Dynamic stress analysis: Measure stress difference over time.
Verification of analysis models: comparing actual stress vs. simulated stress.
Weight of dragline or critical plant: strain gauges are used in load cells to measure the weight.
Our Strain Gauge Installation Services Australia-Wide
Field Engineers specialise in harnessing strain gauging installation capabilities to provide engineers with a vital reality check across various sectors, including applications such as draglines, ship loaders, cranes, and hydraulic testing rigs. Our deep experience and profound understanding of material stresses in mechanical equipment enable us to offer high-quality data acquisition for surface strain measurements in static or dynamic environments.
But our expertise extends beyond stain gauge installation alone. It encompasses interpreting and deriving meaningful insights from the measurement data. This critical skill set is where we truly stand out. Our team comprises strain gauge technicians who are also consulting engineers. With their expertise, we gather data and offer comprehensive recommendations and conclusions based on the insights drawn from strain gauge measurements.
When precision, reliability, and actionable insights matter most across diverse sectors, choose Field Engineers as your trusted partner in strain gauge installation and data interpretation.
Frequently Questions About Strain Gauge Installation and Testing Services
What is a strain gauge?
A strain gauge is a specialised sensor widely used in engineering and materials testing to precisely measure the deformation or strain experienced by an object when subjected to mechanical force or load. It converts mechanical strain into an electrical signal for measurement and analysis.
The core component of a strain gauge is a thin wire, foil, or semiconductor material bonded to the surface of the object being monitored. As external forces act upon the object, it deforms, causing the strain gauge to undergo deformation. This deformation alters the electrical resistance of the gauge material in proportion to the applied strain.
A Wheatstone bridge circuit or other electrical circuits are commonly employed to measure this change in resistance. As the resistance of the strain gauge changes, the electrical circuit detects this variation and generates an electrical signal, typically in millivolts or microvolts, which corresponds to the strain magnitude.
This electrical signal can then be accurately measured, recorded, and analysed, providing valuable insights into the material’s mechanical behaviour, structural integrity, or other critical factors. Strain gauges are indispensable tools in civil engineering, aerospace, automotive engineering, and material science, enabling precise stress and strain analysis in various applications.
What are the types of strain gauges?
There are four types of strain gauges:
Bonded Metallic Foil Strain Gauge: These are the most common and consist of a thin metallic foil bonded to a flexible backing material.
Bonded Semiconductor Strain Gauge: These gauges use semiconductor materials, such as silicon, and are known for their high sensitivity.
Wire Strain Gauge: Wire strain gauges use a fine wire as the sensing element and are suitable for applications with high temperatures.
Unbonded Resistance Wire Strain Gauge: Unlike the bonded wire gauge, this type allows the wire to expand freely under strain, making it suitable for measuring large strains.
What is strain measured in?
Strain is typically measured in microstrain (µε) or simply strain units. One microstrain is equivalent to a strain of one millionth (0.000001) of the original length or size of the material being measured.
How does a strain gauge work?
A strain gauge works based on the principle of electrical resistance change due to mechanical deformation. When strain is applied to the material to which the gauge is attached, it deforms, causing the resistance of the strain gauge to change. This change in resistance is proportional to the applied strain and can be measured as an electrical signal.
How is strain measured?
Strain gauges, once established, require precision in data extraction. Integration into a Wheatstone bridge circuit is typical for this purpose. An excitation voltage is applied, and output voltage is measured across critical points. When structures are undisturbed, the bridge remains balanced, yielding zero output voltage. However, the slightest material deformation alters the gauge’s resistance, throwing the bridge off balance and resulting in voltage change. Due to the minute resistance shift, signal amplification becomes essential, though it introduces unwanted noise. Signal conditioning filters out this noise, ensuring precise and intelligible data and empowering informed decisions in engineering and research.
Get More Information On Strain Gauging?
We have a team of qualified strain gauging technicians and have invested in state-of-the-art hardware and training for our team so you can be certain of our strain gauge results. Contact us so we can talk about your project and how we can help.
Recent case studies
Our diverse portfolio is a reflection of the expertise and skills FIELD Engineers possess and a testament to the commitment of our team.