The strain gauge, a seemingly simple device, has greatly impacted the world of technology. Born from a friendly rivalry between Edward E. Simmons from Caltech and Professor Arthur Ruge from MIT, the strain gauge has sparked the imagination of countless researchers and engineers, inspiring them to push the boundaries of what’s possible.
The Birth of the Strain Gauge
Our journey began in 1936 when Simmons had a brilliant idea: why not use bonded wire to measure forces? Under the guidance of his mentor, Dr. Gottfried Datwyler, a special wire was attached to a piece of clock spring.
This marked the birth of the strain gauge, a device that would change how we analyse stress in various applications.
In fact, this invention was a significant milestone in engineering, opening up new opportunities for discovery and innovation.
The Many Uses of the Strain Gauge
Over the years, the strain gauge has evolved from a simple tool into an adaptable sensor with various uses.
In addition, it’s a vital means to test materials, verify designs, and monitor the condition of structures like bridges, dams, wind turbines, ships, and airplanes in real time.
It’s even found in our homes, helping us weigh everyday items and in medical applications contributing to patient care and safety.
Beyond its practical use in everyday life, the strain gauge has proven its worth in various fields – one example is its role in space technology.
The Strain Gauge's Journey to Space
The strain gauge has played a crucial role in many significant technological achievements. One of the most impressive uses of the strain gauge was in NASA’s Surveyor 1 mission.
For example, strain gauges were installed on each leg shock absorber of the spacecraft to record the forces on landing impact. The experiment provided excellent data during the satellite’s touchdown, offering invaluable information for future missions.
The result marked a significant accomplishment for strain gauge technology.
The Strain Gauge Gets an Upgrade
In the 1950s, Peter Scott Jackson invented the foil strain gauge, addressing many of the challenges of the wire gauge.
This single invention led to the device we know today – small, sturdy, stable, accurate, and user-friendly.
Today, Advanced Sensors Technology has taken strain gauge manufacturing to the next level. The new process involves laser-cutting small adjustment loops, improving accuracy and consistency. These advancements have made strain gauges vital products.
The SR4 Strain Gauge: A Story of Innovation
The SR4 strain gauge, named after Simmons, Ruge, and four other contributors, has a rich history of innovation. This strain gauge was used on NASA’s lunar lander to confirm that “the eagle has landed.”
The SR4 strain gauge represents a significant step in the evolution of strain gauge technology, showcasing the potential of this simple device in the most challenging of environments – space.
The Strain Gauge in the World of Wearable Tech
Recently, the strain gauge has found a new home in wearable tech. With the rapid development of flexible electronic devices, stretchable strain sensors have become essential.
These sensors, often based on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), are used in various applications, including entertainment tech, human-machine interfaces, personal healthcare, and sports performance monitoring.
Creating these PDMS-based strain sensors involves multiple methods, such as filtration, printing technology, micro molding, coating techniques, and liquid phase mixing.
This new generation of strain gauges is pushing the limits of what’s possible, leading the way for the era of wearable smart electronic systems.
In addition, advancements in the field have led to the development of electrically conductive networks of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) in a silicone elastomer matrix to make stretchable sensors sensitive to mechanical strain.
These sensors have high tensile sensitivity, linearity, low hysteresis, tensile strength, and fast strain response, making them ideal for smart gesture recognition systems with a recognition accuracy of ~94%.
The Strain Gauge in Aerodynamics
The strain gauge has also found significant use in the field of aerodynamics. In a recent study, strain gauges were used to measure the aerodynamic balance in an experiment involving airfoil models.
In fact, the strain gauges could accurately reproduce reference data sets for drag and lift coefficients, clearly indicating the flow separation.
This experiment demonstrated the outstanding accuracy of strain gauges in capturing complex aerodynamic information, further highlighting their essence in technology.
The Strain Gauge - A Big Part of Modern Life
The strain gauge story is more than a tale of invention and competition. It’s a story about the human spirit, the drive to create, and the pursuit of recognition.
It’s a story that offers valuable lessons for inventors, researchers, and professionals alike.
And it’s a story that resonates today as we continue to push the boundaries of tech innovation and tackle the challenges that come with it.
As we look to the future, the strain gauge remains a big part of modern life, proving its worth in various applications and industries. It’s a testament to the fact that where there’s a will, there’s a way.
