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Full-Text Articles in Mechanical Engineering
Fiber-Optic Strain Gauge With High Resolution And Update Rate, Fernando Figueroa, Ajay Mohan Mahajan, Mohammad Sayeh, Bradley Regez
Fiber-Optic Strain Gauge With High Resolution And Update Rate, Fernando Figueroa, Ajay Mohan Mahajan, Mohammad Sayeh, Bradley Regez
Mechanical Engineering Faculty Research
An improved fiber-optic strain gauge is capable of measuring strains in the approximate range of 0 to 50 microstrains with a resolution of 0.1 microstrain. (To some extent, the resolution of the strain gauge can be tailored and may be extensible to 0.01 microstrain.) The total cost of the hardware components of this strain gauge is less than $100 at 2006 prices. In comparison with prior strain gauges capable of measurement of such low strains, this strain gauge is more accurate, more economical, and more robust, and it operates at a higher update rate. Strain gauges like this one are …
"Smart" Sensor Module, Ajay Mohan Mahajan
"Smart" Sensor Module, Ajay Mohan Mahajan
Mechanical Engineering Faculty Research
An assembly that contains a sensor, sensor-signal-conditioning circuitry, a sensor-readout analog-to-digital converter (ADC), data-storage circuitry, and a microprocessor that runs special-purpose software and communicates with one or more external computer(s) has been developed as a prototype of "smart" sensor modules for monitoring the integrity and functionality (the "health") of engineering systems. Although these modules are now being designed specifically for use on rocket-engine test stands, it is anticipated that they could also readily be designed to be incorporated into health-monitoring subsystems of such diverse engineering systems as spacecraft, aircraft, land vehicles, bridges, buildings, power plants, oilrigs, and defense installations. The …