Vibrating Wire Strain Gauges

Vibrating Wire Strain Gauges

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Vibrating wire strain gauges are typically used to measure strain and deformation in metal structures, concrete and reinforced concrete.

Depending on the type of installation and use, these instruments have some characteristics which make them particularly well-suited, more functional and easier to install. For strain gauges that measure strain in concrete, we offer instruments with circular heads at both ends which allowing better functioning once cemented in position.

For vibrating wire strain gauges to be welded on armatures of metal piles, diaphragm, walls, tunnel linings, etc., two special removable welding heads are mounted, this speeds installation and consolidate the instrument perfectly with the structure.

Our vibrating wire strain gauges and all variations are extremely robust instruments due to a stainless steel body, and are extremely reliable over time. For these reasons, they are widely used for long-term structural monitoring and wherever reliability, high precision, speed of installation and durability are required. The integration of a thermistor into the sensor allows the measurement of the instrument’s operating temperature.

Our strain gauges can be read with the portable units (DEC3000 and DEC5) or automatic unit (CUM3000).

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Applications

Vibrating wire strain gauges are used for the monitoring of deformations in concrete and are either spot welded to metal structures or embedded in concrete.

Particularly used for the control of:

  • Load tests on pile
  • Piles
  • Bridges
  • Viaducts
  • Tunnel Entrances
  • Precast concrete blocks for TBM tunnels
  • Tunnel linings
  • Dams in conventional concrete or RCC
  • Metal structures

1.2.1.7 Features and Benefits

Our vibrating wire strain gauges are particularly robust and therefore suitable for applications in places not reachable after installation. They have:

  • Long duration
  • High resistance to corrosive agents
  • Negligible thermal drift
  • No need for protection against overvoltage
  • Easy connection and metering
  • Are available in larger sizes for concrete specific applications
  • IP68 protection
  • Built-in temperature sensor

Measuring Principle

The instrument is supplied complete with:
Tubular sensor body containing the fitted wire, 2 plates to solder
or:
Tubular sensor body, containing the wire, 2 fixed circular plates to embed in concrete.
Both are supplied with:
– Excitation coil unit to be fixed to the sensor body
– 1 metal clamp for fixing the coil
– 1.5m cable with 3 or 4 conductors
Our strain gauges are generally classified in two basic groups:
strain gauges for concrete – embedded
strain gauges for metal structures – spot welded
Our strain gauges are characterized by their small size and short section length.
All strain gauges are equipped with an internal sensor for measuring the temperature.
Strain gauges are available with different sized bases and greater mechanical resistance for use in traditional concrete dams.

Technical Specifications

Instrument Base 150mm Base 150mm Heavy duty model
To be welded To be embedded To be embedded
Measuring Base 150mm 150mm  150 – 250 -300
Range 3.000 µstrain 3.000 µstrain 3.000 µstrain
Sensitivity 1,0  µstrain 1,0  µstrain 1,0  µstrain
Linearity ±0,2% f.s. ±0,2% f.s. ±0,2% f.s.
Temperature range -30+80 °C -30+80 °C -30+80 °C
Typical Frequency 850-1150Hz 850-1150Hz 500-1200Hz
Thermistor NTC 3KOhm NTC 3KOhm NTC 3KOhm
Operating Temperature -20 ÷ + 80 -20 ÷ + 80 -20 ÷ + 80

Accessories and related products

Plates for vibrating wire strain gauge to be welded
Coil Group

Technical Assistance

If you have any requests or questions about our instruments or if you have special needs that require different solutions from the standard, please contact us. Our team will provide all the necessary information and will be very happy to work with you to study, develop and customize instruments and solutions suitable for your specific needs

All information in our datasheet is subject to change without prior notice.
Please check the datasheet/details carefully and contact Pizzi Instruments for further information