Strain Gages | Elina Technologies LTD.

Strain Gages

from HBK Test & Measurement

Our range of strain gauges comprises of an extensive assortment for the most widely differing strain measurement applications – from experimental stress analysis, durability testing through transducer manufacturing.

Strain Gauges & Accessories

Our range of strain gauges comprises of an extensive assortment for the most widely differing strain measurement applications – from experimental stress ... analysis, durability testing, transducer manufacturing

Y Series Universal Strain Gauges: Over 2,000 Different Types Available

Y series foil strain gauges (SG) can be used in many areas, for static or dynamic stress analysis. They measure highly precisely, are robust, extremely flexible and can be installed on different materials due to seven different types of temperature response matching. Y series universal SG are available in many versions for a wide range of applications - thanks to properties such as geometry, nominal (rated) resistance and measuring grid length that can be combined as required. Over 260 frequently used types (“preferential strain gauge”) are immediately available immediately from stock.

M Series Strain Gauges: For Stress Analysis of Materials with High Fatigue Strength

M series strain gauges are foil strain gauges for stress analysis of materials with high fatigue strength such as fiber composites. They can also be used in product development, for example in the aerospace or sporting goods industries.

In addition, M series strain gauges offer a very large temperature range. Due to their excellent fatigue life, M series strain gauges enable measurements to be repeated extremely frequently, also in case of high strain. Properties such as different geometries, resistance values, and measuring grid lengths can be combined to configure the ideal strain gauge—over 36 preferential strain gauges are available for immediate delivery.

Temperature range: -200 to +300 °C
Load cycles: Up to 10 million at +/- 2000 µm/m fatigue loading
Measuring grid lengths: 1.5 to 6 millimeters

C Series Strain Gauges: Temperature range up to -269 ° C

The C Series strain gauges are the ideal choice for structural tests at exceptional temperature conditions. They have an enormous temperature range and measure precisely even at very low temperatures down to -269 ° C. For a good mechanical flexibility, as well as flexibility and optimum adaptation to the material to be measured, the measuring grid of the C Series consists of a chrome-nickel special alloy on a polyimide foil.

Strain gauges of the C Series have an extremely wide temperature range at a very good price-performance ratio. The strain gauges of the C Series are available with three different geometries and are used, for example, in research and development, in the automotive industry, as well as in power plants and superconductors.

Temperature range: -269 to +250 ° C
Resistance: 120 and 350 Ohm
Measuring grid lengths: 1.5 to 10 mm

HBK offer you strain gauges (SGs) in various geometries and sizes, available with temperature responses adapted to the following materials:

Ferritic steel (10.8 ppm/K; 6.0 ppm/°F); temperature matching codes: 1
Aluminum (23 ppm/K; 12.8 ppm/°F); temperature matching codes: 3

Strain Gauges for Transducer Manufacturers Offer Both Cost Advantage and Optimal Performance

Regardless of whether the sensors you manufacture measure weight, force, torque, pressure, or another quantity, HBM offers you the strain gauge that best meets your needs. Benefit from over 50 years of experience, standard products that are available in large quantities from stock, a committed and accessible team of experts, and our excellent customer service.

Alongside two standard and two special series of high-grade strain gauges, further useful options such as pre-tinned solder tabs or strain gauges pre-coated with adhesive are available. In addition, we offer everything you need to build top-class transducers – from the adhesive to the balancing resistor. If you have any special requirements and/or need of low- or high-volume custom sensors, you can also collaborate with a dedicated team of design engineers to develop a custom solution.

Strain Gauges for Special Applications

RF9 Strain Gauge Rosette for Printed Circuit Board Testing and Small Surfaces

Thanks to its three stacked measuring grids, the smallest version of the RF9 miniature SG rosette is only 5 mm in size. It enables biaxial stress states with unknown principal stress directions to be determined in the most confined of spaces, owing to its small diameter. The SG rosette is, therefore, particularly suitable for measurements on electric circuit boards or especially small components.

The following variants are available:

Pre-wired with thin, enameled copper wires (d=0.2 mm) and a particularly small measuring grid: 1-RF9x-0.8/120ZE
Pre-wired with thin, enameled copper wires and a 1 mm² measuring grid (JEDEC/IPC 9704-compliant): 1-RF9x-1/120ZE
Pre-wired with 0.5 m enameled copper wires + 3 m temperature-resistant TPE cable (4-wire configuration), and a 2 mm² measuring grid (new and JEDEC/IPC 9704-compliant):1-RF9x-1.4/350ZE
Without a cable: 1-RF95-0.8/120_W

RY: Strain Gauges for Residual Stress Analysis (Ideal for Hole Drilling Method)

Determining residual stresses in materials (e.g. during casting, welding and forming processes) becomes easy with HBM's special strain gauges. These special strain gauges for residual stress analysis are available for precise and safe high-speed drilling (in combination with the MTS3000 drilling device from our partner company Sint Technology). For high-speed drilling, we also offer our patented six-wire strain gauges, which can compensate for non-centric boreholes, providing increased measurement accuracy.

Supported residual stress measurement methods: integral hole-drilling, high-speed drilling
Nominal resistance: 120 Ohm
Measuring grid lengths: 1.5 to 5 mm

RDS: Strain Gauges For Determining Crack Propagation

The RDS strain gauges are used to determine crack propagation in a component. HBM offers four different types:

RDS20 and RDS40 consist of electrically isolated conductor tracks (resistors), i.e. as the crack extends, individual circuits will be interrupted. If the circuits are contacted individually, the direction in which the gap is extending can be detected. In this case, individual circuits are interrupted as the crack propagates.
RDS17.8 and RDS22 consist of conductor tracks connected in parallel which will tear if the crack extends under the crack propagation gauge. This will gradually increase the electrical resistance of the strain gauge as the crack continues to extend.

This change in resistance can be measured using a resistance meter or strain gauge amplifier.

TT-3/100: Sensor for Measuring Temperature

The TT-3/100 strain gauge can be used to measure temperature. It has the appearance of a conventional metal strain gauge and is installed in the same easy and flexible way; however, it can also be installed on curved surfaces. Another plus of the TT-3/100 is its short response time to temperature variations. Processing of TT-3/100 temperature data requires a measurement instrument, for example, a measuring amplifier that enables resistors to be recorded as well.

LS31HT: Weldable Strain Gauge for Rough Environments and High Temperatures

The LS31HT is a weldable strain gauge to be spot welded to steel structures and materials. It is ideal to be used "on site", when the cleanliness required for gluing cannot be guaranteed, for example on construction sites or in production plants, withstanding hazardous conditions. Such conditions would likely damage the adhesive bond of conventional strain gauges. The LS31 strain gauge is mounted by a simple spot welding process that requires little practice. It is fitted with 0.5-m stranded connection wires.

Typical applications for LS31HT include the mechanical load analysis on bridges, piles, tunnels, buildings, pipelines, wind power plants, and tanks.

We recommend using the VBS Fügetechnik c33 spot welder to install weldable strain gauges.

LE11: Strain Gauge for Moist and Chemical Environments

The LE11 is an encapsulated strain gauge with an IP67 degree of protection (in compliance with the chemical resistance of the adhesives). A 1-meter-long stranded connection wire with fluoropolymer insulation is included in the scope of supply. The LE11 strain gauge is encapsulated in a special plastic material and is, therefore, moisture proof and resistant against chemicals (with the exception of highly concentrated acids such as sulfuric or nitric acid). The LE11 comes with a 2-wire or 4-wire connection. The nominal (rated) resistance is 350 ohms and the temperature response is adapted for steel.

LD20: Strain Gauge for High Strain or Compression up to 10 %

The use of the strain gauge LD20 is recommended wherever an extremely high strain or compression can occur (>5 %). The LD20 has a maximum elongation of +/- 100,000 µm/m (+/-10 %) and is attached with 30 mm leads.

Note: In terms of fatigue life, the LD20 exhibits a lower resistance to alternating loads than standard Y series strain gauges.

PMS40: Strain Gauge for Highly Dynamic Pressure Peaks

With transient pressure measurements, e.g. explosions, shock waves or ultrasonic applications, the rise time of the pressure curve is very short and the pressure peaks are high.

The PMS40 pressure measurement strain gauge enables high pressure peaks up to 10 kbar to be captured.

LB11 & TB21: Strain Gauges for Measurements in Screws and Bolts

Bolts are a common construction element used to connect various components. The LB11 and TB21 series of cylindric strain gauges with lead wires, have especially been designed to measure strain, force, and vibration in bolts, screws, and other axial construction elements.

They have been equipped with copper leads and can be used directly in pre-drilled bolt elements.For this, a 2 mm drilling in the structure is required. Both, LB11 and TB21, come as a tubular strain. gauge that can be used in a temperature range of –200°C to +140° C.

The LB11 has a linear measuring grid in the strain direction. It is suitable for quarter-bridge applications and has a resistance of 120 Ω.
The TB21 has two measuring grids arranged at 90° and is connected as a half-bridge. This allows for an improved temperature compensation at varying temperatures. The temperature compensation at +-5 °K temperature change causes a drift in the range of 0 to 80 µm/m, depending on the screw and the installation. This is due to the geometry of the application and differs significantly from installations on planar objects. The resistance of the strain gauge is 1000 Ω (+/- 1%).

Request Customized Strain Gauges Here

You have not found the right strain gauge for your application in our wide range of standard products? Then let us develop a customized strain gauge design for you! Please use the following form to describe your requirements as precisely as possible. Our team of experts will review your request with regard to feasibility and cost-effectiveness for you and HBM.

Strain Gauge Accessories

The quality of a measuring point is not only dependent on the strain gauge itself but also on the type of application and its implementation.

A perfectly functioning measuring point requires a thorough preparation of the application surface, careful bonding, correct connection, and a protective coating, With its strain gauge accessories, the HBM product range offers everything necessary for a good strain gauge application.

Strain Transducers & Strain Sensors

SLB700A/06VA Active Strain Transducer: A Cost-effective Sensor with Integrated Electronics for Extremely High Forces

The SLB700A/06VA is a strain transducer with integrated electronics, which can easily be attached to structures with screws. If force is applied to the structure, the SLB700A/06VA reliably measures the resulting strain. Since the strain is often proportional to the force, the strain sensor can be used to measure the applied force, provided a corresponding calibration has been made. This principle is also called ‘measurement in the force shunt’.

The SLB700A/06VA active strain transducer is simply as robust as the passive version, that is, the SLB700A. However, the active SLB700A/06VA is more cost-effective, owing to its integrated measuring amplifier. The advantage of this attractively priced sensor is that it enables even extremely large forces to be measured in a reliable manner. The machine dynamics remain unaffected.

The teach-in procedure for the electronics utilized in the SLB700A/06VA is very simple. It only requires a measurement to be taken at the maximum force and another measurement at zero force. The output signal is scaled between these two points; irrespective of the strain level, the maximum possible signal will be transmitted to the next level in the measurement chain (refer to the explanation provided below).

The sensor materials withstand most of the oils used in applications involving presses and are rustproof.

DD1 Displacement Transducer: Measuring Displacement and Strain with an Accuracy Class of 0.1

The strain-gauge-based DD1 displacement and strain transducer measures displacements in a range of ±2.5 mm very accurately, offering the HBM accuracy class of 0.1. It is a unique product in the market due to its wide range of possible applications. The DD1 can be used in materials testing as well as for monitoring tasks, for instance, as a settlement sensor in the monitoring of buildings and in research and development tasks.

The DD1 is based on a displacement transducer that converts the displacement of a probe tip into an electrical signal. The DD1 has become the proven standard in many strain measurement applications owing to its wide range of accessories, such as a quick clamp set, extensions, and probe blades. It has proven to be a useful and reusable alternative to bonded strain gauges for tensile tests in materials testing. The DD1 has a creep value that is very close to zero owing to the use of a special strain gauge developed by HBM. The sensor can be used at frequencies of up to 50 Hz and, therefore, provides detailed results in dynamic applications. The transducer is renowned for its very low weight and compact dimensions. The quick clamp set enables the transducer to be flexibly fixed to a wide range of objects. Integrated stops at both ends protect the DD1 from overload, and the full-bridge technology allows fast integration into existing measurement systems.

HBM accuracy class: 0.1
Nominal change in displacement: ±2.5 mm
Dimensions: 66 mm x 37 mm x 10.4 mm

SLB700 Strain Sensor: A Cost-Effective Sensor for Indefinitely High Forces

The screw-on SLB700 strain sensor is based on the principle that an applied force always results in strain on an object. This strain can be reliably measured. Since the strain is generally proportional to the force, the SLB700A sensor enables the applied force to be reliably determined. The sensor needs to be calibrated prior to its use to obtain quantitative results.

The advantage of this cost-effective sensor is that it enables even extremely large forces to be reliably measured. Additionally, the sensor does not affect the monitored machine’s dynamics.

The SLB700 is a strain transducer. This means that the output signal is higher by a factor of 2.3 when compared to a bonded strain gauge installation. This allows using the sensor with objects, like presses, which show only minimal deformation under load.

The sensor materials withstand most of the oils, which are used in applications involving presses, and are rustproof.

CST/300 Strain Transducer: A Sensitive Sensor with a Large Measuring Range

PaceLine

The CST/300 piezoelectric strain transducer precisely measures the strain in a very broad measuring range up to 300 µm/m. Owing to its exceptionally high sensitivity, it is suitable for applications with a very low strain level, for instance, for indirect force measurement in presses and welding systems in the industry or for crimping in cable production.

The CST/300 is mounted on the structure that is to be monitored with a single screw; no drilling template or similar tools are required. The strain transducer measures the strain resulting from the application of a force to the target object and converts it into a charge signal. A calibration enables the active force to be correlated with the transducer’s output signal, at a high measurement quality, even in components designed with a high stiffness and low strain level.

Electrical isolation allows the direct mounting of the charge amplifiers and summing boxes from HBM that perfectly match the CST/300; no insulating washers are required.

Due to its compact dimensions, the CST/300 can be ideally used in applications where little space is available It is suitable for many industrial applications, owing to its robust measuring body, IP65 degree of protection, and insensitivity to acceleration. Besides the piezoelectric strain transducers, HBM also offers strain transducers based on strain gauges as well as a wide range of strain gauges that meet the many different requirements required in strain measurement for indirect force measurement.

HBM accuracy class: 2
Nominal strain: 300 µm/m
Dimensions: 46 mm x 17 mm x 12 mm

Optical Strain Sensors from HBK- FiberSensing

Bringing Light to Measurement

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Optical sensors based on Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) technology are a reliable and safe solution for demanding testing and monitoring applications

newLight FS62 Optical Strain Sensors and Rosettes for Static and Dynamic Strain Measurements

The FS62 optical strain sensors and rosettes of the newLight sensor series are designed to easily retrieve static and dynamic strain measurements for stress analysis in smart materials, machines, components, and other types of structures.

With different encapsulations, materials, and attachment methods, they fulfil the requirements of strain measurements for smart materials testing, laboratory, and structural health monitoring (SHM) applications.

newLight FS63 Optical Temperature Sensor for Accurate and Reliable Temperature Measurements

The newLight FS63 optical temperature sensors are based on the Fiber Bragg Grating Technology (FBG) and designed to accurately retrieve temperature measurements in large structures and machines without interferences from external noise. Furthermore, their small size and lightweight structure makes them the ideal choice for hard-to-reach locations and measuring points granting low transmission losses even under harsh environments.

With improved temperature stability, these sensors are particularly suited for temperature measurements in large structures and thermal mapping in electrical machines. Moreover, the FS63 temperature sensors can be used for thermal compensation of other optical sensors. Different calibration options allow for diverse temperature ranges or cost reduction for when the sensor is used as a temperature compensation element.

newLight FS64 Tilt Optical Sensor for Measuring Small Angle Variations

Based on the newLight optical sensor line, the FS64 tilt sensor is a ruggedized Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) inclinometer designed to measure very small angle variations towards the vertical. The sensor uses two FBGs in a push-pull configuration for effective temperature compensation.

It can be used in a large range of monitoring applications such as sustaining walls, bridge piles, tunnels, or buildings. The measurement of tilt in different directions is possible with the use of multiple sensors.

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newLight FS65 Optical Accelerometer for Low Frequencies

Based on the Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) technology and the newLight optical sensor line, the FS65 accelerometer is a high precision vibration sensor tailored to measure acceleration at different frequencies from 0 to 50Hz.

The accelerometer can be used in a large range of monitoring applications where low frequency, but relevant amplitude vibrations are present, including measuring load induced vibration of civil structures and ambient cable vibrations. The simultaneous measurement of vibration along different axes is possible using multiple accelerometers.

newLight: The Easy To Install Optical Sensor for Strain, Tilt, Temperature and Acceleration

The optical sensor line newLight by HBK enables large strain measurement ranges at increased long-term stability. It is the ideal choice for structural health monitoring due to its fast and easy installation and its resistance to environmental conditions such as humidity, rust, and salt even over extremely long distances.

The compatibility with standard telecom cables makes this line very cost efficient – especially for medium-to-high channel applications! The newLight range is based on the Fiber Bragg Grating technology and offers optical sensors for measurements of strain, temperature, acceleration, and tilt.

Optical Measuring Devices for Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) Sensors

FS22 Industrial BraggMETER: Static and Dynamic Optical Interrogator

The FS22 Industrial BraggMETER for static and dynamic optical measurements is designed to interrogate Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) based sensors in industrial environments. It can operate at a sampling rate of 1 S/s or up to 1000 S/s, depending on the model.

BraggMETER interrogators are suited for measuring large sensing networks – composed of various types of sensors – in high strain and high fatigue applications, while addressing long-distance measurements with high quality and reliability. They employ proven continuous swept laser scanning technology. Additionally, they include a traceable wavelength reference that provides continuous calibration to ensure system accuracy over long-term operation.

The industrial optical interrogators are available and represent a cost-effective solution for both laboratory testing and field deployment in Civil, Aeronautics, Energy and R&D.

FS42PI Portable BraggMETER: Compact Optical Interrogator with Embedded Software

The FS42PI Portable BraggMETER is the most effective way of supporting the installation of Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors in the field or for short measurement tasks in laboratory applications.

It can run on batteries or be plugged into an external power source, and is supplied with an easily removable bag for protection and transport. This is a unique and unparalleled solution that allows accurate FBG measurements in the field without the need for an external power supply or PC.

Dedicated embedded software and a touchscreen interface provide an easy and effective way to control the unit without any further devices. It is also possible to control the unit remotely and stream data in real time via the Ethernet port using SCPI commands.