Strain Gauge

R2026b

Deformation sensor

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Strain Gauge block

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Libraries:
Simscape / Electrical / Sensors & Transducers

Description

The Strain Gauge block represents a sensor that generates a change in resistance as a function of strain using the following equation:

$$\frac{\Delta R}{R}=K\epsilon$$

where:

• ΔR/R is the fractional change in resistance.

• $$\epsilon$$ is the strain at port E.

• K is the Gauge factor parameter value.

Examples

Strain Gauge and Wheatstone Bridge

How to model a strain gauge and measurement amplifier. The strain gauge forms one leg of a Wheatstone bridge, which is connected to a differential amplifier. A second op-amp is then used to both amplify and apply a low-pass filter to the measurement signal. The op-amps are modeled at a system level, with the user specifying parameters such as open-loop bandwidth, gain and maximum slew rate. In this circuit, the dynamics are primarily set by the low-pass filter. The op-amp bandwidth and maximum slew rate have little impact on the step response.

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Assumptions and Limitations

The Strain Gauge block does not support energy accounting. If you try to get energy information for this block using the getEnergyInfo function, the function generates an error message.

Ports

Input

E — Strain input

physical signal

Physical signal port associated with the strain input.

Conserving

+ — Positive port

electrical

Electrical conserving port associated with the strain gauge positive port.

- — Negative port

electrical

Electrical conserving port associated with the strain gauge negative port.

Parameters

Gauge resistance — Unstressed gauge resistance

100 Ohm (default)

Unstressed gauge resistance.

Gauge factor — Gauge factor

2 (default)

The ratio K of the fractional change in resistance to the fractional change in length.

Extended Capabilities

C/C++ Code Generation
Generate C and C++ code using Simulink® Coder™.

Version History

Introduced in R2008a