Thin Film Strain Gauging of Engineering Components

This report is a research document, and as such describes work carried out to demonstrate the feasibility of fabricating in-situ thin film strain gauges.

A suitable component containing a weldment was selected for gauging.

An array of resistance strain gauges was designed which would allow localized strains in and around the weldment to be monitored and compared with measurements made with an extensometer.

After providing an introduction and background to the work, the report details methods for depositing the thin films onto the text component, etching the resistor patterns and making connections to external measurement circuits.

The test procedure and data collection methods are noted and the results studied.

Useful conclusions are drawn and suggestions made for a further programme of work which will be required to improve both materials and methods before these processes can be exploited as part of a strain gauging procedure.