1000 Weldable Strain Gauges on a Bridge.

Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) is a catch phrase for monitoring of any infrastructure. SHM can be applied to bridges, buildings, dams, tunnels, wind turbines, industrial facilities, and even light poles. SHM systems provide accurate and near-real-time information regarding the performance and condition of structures. It will never replace visual inspection and human judgment, but if properly deployed, it can be used to keep a “remote eye” on critical structures. It helps minimize inspection cycles, alerts engineers to any changes, and aids in planning and designing maintenance activities. This increases safety, reduces uncertainty, and lowers operating expenses.
Despite the versatility and variety of adhesives, there are instances where adhesive bonding just doesn’t work. In these cases, you need an option that will guarantee your strain gauge can function properly and remain bonded to whatever material is being tested.

Here are several examples of situations that require an installation method other than adhesive bonding:

• Steel bridge sections in cold environments or difficult-to-access locations
• Ship hulls in very humid or wet environments
• High-temperature applications above 700 °F
• Test specimens that can’t be taken offline for gage installation

In such cases, the best solution is often to weld the gauge in place. If done properly, welding a gage in place offers a secure bond with no real downside. Micro-Measurements offers a range of weldable devices, including sealed versions with pre-attached cables for wet environments and open-tab versions to accommodate installation of lead wires. If you are measuring a material in an extremely high-temperature environment, we have you covered there, too. We carry high-temperature weldable strain gages that are free of organic materials for operation up to 1800 °C. Basically, if a condition exists where a strain gage is needed to perform a measurement, we have a solution.

Weldable Strain Gauge Installation: