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National Instruments Corporation
4-1
4
Theory of Operation
This chapter discusses strain-gauge concepts and the theory of operational
measurement concepts.
Strain-Gauge Theory
This section describes how to arrange, connect, and scale signals from
bridge-based sensors—especially strain gauges.
Wheatstone Bridges
All strain-gauge configurations are based on the concept of a Wheatstone
bridge. A Wheatstone bridge is a network of four resistive legs. One or
more of these legs can be an active sensing element. Figure 4-1 shows a
Wheatstone bridge circuit diagram.
Figure 4-1.
Basic Wheatstone Bridge Circuit Diagram
The Wheatstone bridge is the electrical equivalent of two parallel voltage
divider circuits. R
1
and R
2
compose one voltage divider circuit, and R
4
and
R
3
compose the second voltage divider circuit. The output of a Wheatstone
bridge is measured between the middle nodes of the two voltage dividers.
A physical phenomenon, such as a change in strain or temperature applied
to a specimen, changes the resistance of the sensing elements in the
+
V
CH
R
1
R
2
R
4
R
3
V
EX
+
–