Once you have decided the type of strain you intend to measure (axial or bending), other considerations include sensitivity, cost, and operating conditions. For the same strain gage, changing the bridge configuration can improve its sensitivity to strain. For example, the full-bridge type I configuration is four times more sensitive than the quarter-bridge type I configuration. However, full-bridge type I requires three more strain gages than quarter-bridge type I. It also requires access to both sides of the gaged structure. Additionally, full-bridge strain gages are significantly more expensive than half-bridge and quarter-bridge gages. For a summary of the various types of strain gages, refer to the following table.

Grid Width

Using a wider grid, if not limited by the installation site, improves heat dissipation and enhances strain gage stability. However, if the test specimen has severe strain gradients perpendicular to the primary axis of strain, consider using a narrow grid to minimize error from the effect of shear strain and Poisson strain.

Nominal Gage Resistance

Nominal gage resistance is the resistance of a strain gage in an unstrained position. You can obtain the nominal gage resistance of a particular gage from the sensor vendor or sensor documentation. The most common nominal resistance values of commercial strain gages are 120 Ω, 350 Ω, and 1,000 Ω. Consider a higher nominal resistance to reduce the amount of heat generated by the excitation voltage. Higher nominal resistance also helps reduce signal variations caused by lead-wire changes in resistance due to temperature fluctuations.

Temperature Compensation

Ideally, strain gage resistance should change in response to strain only. However, a strain gage’s resistivity and sensitivity also change with temperature, which leads to measurement errors. Strain gage manufacturers attempt to minimize sensitivity to temperature by processing the gage material to compensate for the thermal expansion of the specimen material for which the gage is intended. These temperature-compensated bridge configurations are more immune to temperature effects. Also consider using a configuration type that helps compensate for the effects of temperature fluctuations.

Installation

Installing strain gages can take a significant amount of time and resources, and the amount varies greatly depending on the bridge configuration. The number of bonded gages, number of wires, and mounting location all can affect the level of effort required for installation. Certain bridge configurations even require gage installation on opposite sides of a structure, which can be difficult or even impossible. Quarter-bridge type I is the simplest because it requires only one gage installation and two or three wires.