R&D Project: Strain gaging inside a tube

We are always trying to improve upon existing techniques and explore new methods so we can assure our customers that they are receiving the best services we have to offer.

After we spread out into our new laboratory space, we found some interesting things during the move that were hidden away. Something that caught our eye was a project a member of our lab team did, dealing with applying a strain gage to the inner diameter of a long tube with limited access.

Continue reading R&D Project: Strain gaging inside a tube

Strain Gaging Services

Strain gages are devices used to measure strain on the surface of an object. These strain measurements can be used to infer the amount of stress induced on the object, as is done with many types of residual stress measurements.

Additionally, strain gages can be used to measure things such as aircraft wing deflection, bridge cable creep, and tensile testing for material properties, making them an ideal tool for in-field measurements.

Strain gages come in many shapes and sizes and can measure strain in a single direction or in multiple directions, depending on the goal of the experiment. Strain gages can be used on a wide variety of materials under many conditions, such as in extreme temperatures or underwater.

Hill Engineering has extensive experience with strain gage application and can help design the experiment needed to reach your project’s goals. Strain gage application can be performed in our laboratory or at your site, to your specifications.

Strain gage application is useful for:

  • Applications requiring in-field measurements with portable equipment
  • Measuring strain in multiple directions
  • Parts in every shape and size – nothing is too big or too small
  • Measuring residual stress

If you’re interested in how we apply a strain gage to a simple specimen, watch our video:

Photograph of a uniaxial strain gage
Photograph of a uniaxial strain gage

Zoomed in image of a uniaxial strain gage grid
Zoomed in image of a uniaxial strain gage grid

A photograph of a pile of various strain gages
A photograph of a pile of various strain gages

Strain gage in a bottle

A representative composite overwrapped pressure vessel. Image courtesy of CompositesWorld: https://www.compositesworld.com/articles/thermoplastic-composite-pressure-vessels-for-fcvs

We’re putting something in a bottle, and no, it’s not an SOS to the world. It’s a strain gage!

Hill Engineering has recently developed technology to orient and apply strain gages inside a pressure vessel with restricted interior access. Continue reading Strain gage in a bottle

Hole drilling residual stress measurement method

This week, we have uploaded a new vlog to Hill Engineering’s YouTube channel revolving around a particularly handy residual stress measurement technique. The hole drilling measurement method is one of our most popular residual stress measurement options, and involves the incremental drilling of a small hole into the surface of a specimen. Watch the video below and read on to learn more about the hole drilling method. Continue reading Hole drilling residual stress measurement method

Hill Engineering Vlog: Strain Gaging

Strain gages are key tools when performing residual stress measurements. By tracking the electrical resistance change of the strain gage foil, we can evaluate strain through material deformation. In our vlog presented below, we demonstrate how to apply a strain gage on an aluminum tensile specimen. While the setup described in the video is simple, we are capable of applying strain gages to much more complex geometries to fit the needs of our residual stress tests. For more information or any questions about your residual stress needs, please contact us.