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Advanced Concrete Material Applications with Strain Gage (Gauge) Technology

Micro-Measurements offers precision-engineered strain gages (gauges), instruments, and accessories for the accurate testing and analysis of concrete materials. Engineers working on concrete structures face significant challenges, including monitoring structural health, ensuring load-bearing capacity, and evaluating performance under stress. Our strain gages (gauges) provide reliable, real-time strain measurement for experimental stress analysis, helping engineers identify potential issues, optimize designs, and ensure the longevity of critical concrete infrastructure. Whether embedded within concrete or used in surface applications, our strain gage (gauge) solutions deliver the accuracy needed for robust structural assessment.

 

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Core Features of Micro-Measurements' Strain Gages for Concrete Material Testing:

  • High-Precision Strain Measurement: Our strain gages (gauges) provide accurate, real-time data on stress and strain within concrete structures, helping engineers assess load distribution and material behavior.
  • Weldable and Embedment Gages (Gauges): Our strain gages (gauges) are available in both weldable and embedment formats, designed to be used in challenging environments and in structural components where long-term monitoring is required.
  • Durable for Harsh Environmental Conditions: Built to withstand extreme environments, including high humidity, temperature fluctuations, and exposure to chemicals, ensuring long-term performance in concrete testing.
  • Seamless Data Acquisition Integration: Our strain gages (gauges) work seamlessly with modern data acquisition systems, allowing for continuous monitoring and detailed analysis.
  • Customizable Solutions: We provide tailored solutions to meet specific testing requirements, ensuring that our strain gages deliver optimal performance for unique concrete applications.

Targeted Solutions for Industry-Specific Applications

Infrastructure and Civil Engineering
Concrete is the foundation of infrastructure, from bridges to tunnels. Our strain gages (gauges) have been used in large-scale projects to monitor the stress distribution in concrete beams and columns, helping civil engineers ensure the structural integrity of buildings, highways, and bridges.


Dams and Waterways
Strain measurement plays a crucial role in the monitoring of dams and other water infrastructure. Our embedment strain gages (gauges) are used to monitor stress within the concrete structure, ensuring the dam can withstand changes in water pressure and environmental conditions over time.


Construction and Building Materials
Our strain gages (gauges) are essential tools for evaluating the performance of concrete during material testing. For example, construction companies use our solutions to test the load-bearing capacities of precast concrete components, ensuring they meet safety standards before implementation.


Geotechnical Applications
Strain gages (gauges) are used in geotechnical testing to monitor the behavior of concrete in foundations and retaining walls. This data helps engineers assess long-term stability and prevent potential structural failures caused by shifting or settlement.


Bridge and Tunnel Monitoring
Our strain gages (gauges) are frequently used in bridge and tunnel monitoring to measure the stress distribution under heavy traffic loads and environmental stresses. These measurements help ensure that concrete structures maintain their integrity and safety.

 

 


 

The Hard Facts on Concrete Embedded Strain Gages and Sensors

man pouring concreteConcrete materials present unique challenges for strain measurement because the aggregate can skew results depending on the size strain gage (gauge) sensor used. That’s why our expertly designed and uniquely sized strain gages (gauges) and sensors are trusted by the American Society for Testing and Materials (Committee C09, which focuses on developing standard test methods and guidelines for concrete and other aggregate type materials). Our strain gages (gauges) and sensors provide precise measurements on concrete, despite the aggregate component.


In addition to our specialty-sized strain gages (gauges) and sensors, Micro-Measurements offers a strain sensor specifically intended to be embedded in concrete castings for long-term monitoring. Protecting a delicate strain gage (gauge) installation from the forces and impact of flowing concrete, the heat of the cure cycle, and the tenacity of water in its attempt to permeate every nook and cranny is a daunting task for even the most experienced strain gage (gauge) installation technician. The Micro-Measurements EGP-5-350 strain sensor is the solution to this problem. A rugged device, the EGP-5-350 is capable of providing years of precision strain measurement despite the pressure of tons of concrete.

 

More about the EGP-5-350 Strain Gage

The EGP-5-350 strain gage (gauge) sensing grid, constructed of a nickel-chromium alloy, has an active gage (gauge) length of 4" [100 mm] for averaging strains in aggregate materials. A rugged 5" [130 mm] outer body of proprietary polymer concrete resists mechanical damage during pouring, minimizes reinforcement of the structure, and provides protection from moisture and corrosive attack. The grid, cast within the polymer concrete to ensure maximum strain sensitivity, is self-temperature-compensated to minimize thermal output when installed in concrete structures. Each gage (gauge) incorporates a heavy-duty 10 ft [3 m] cable with 22-AWG [0.643 mm dia.] lead wires; a three-wire construction to the sensing grid helps minimize temperature effects in the instrumentation leads.
 
 

 

Maximize the performance and safety of your concrete structures with Micro-Measurements’ advanced strain gage (gauge) technology. Contact our sales team today to discuss how our solutions can be tailored for your specific concrete applications, or visit our product catalog to explore the full range of strain gages (gauges), instruments, and accessories. Let us help you ensure precision, durability, and reliability in your next project.

 

Contact Our Concrete Materials Experts

 

 

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Explore our extensive collection of tutorials and informational videos on a variety of strain measurement topics.

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