Strain-gage-stability measurements for years at 75°C in air

The authors have evaluated the performance of three types of metal-foil strain gages for two and a half years at a constant temperature of 75°C in air. The studies included polyimide-backed and phenolic-glass-backed gages with copper-nickel foil (constantan) and glass-fiber-rein-forced epoxy-phenolic-resin-backed gages with nickel-chromium foil (modified Karma). All gages were tested in a three-wire-lead, single-active-gage Wheatstone bridge system at nominal mechanical-strain levels of 0, +1000 and ?1000 μm/m. The polyimide-backed constantan gages used in Installation No. 1 typically zero-shifted more than +200 μm/m after 30 days' testing at 75°C. The phenolic-glass-backed constantan gages used in Installation No. 2 zero-shifted ?40 to +20 μm/m after 30 days and +270 to +350 μm/m after 900 days. The glass-fiber-reinforced, epoxyphenolic-resin-backed Karma gages used in Installation No. 3 zero-shifted about +5 μm/m after 30 days, and +20 to +45 μm/m after 900 days. The Karma gages used in Installation No. 3 performed better than the other two types of gages. The measured results for the Karma gages appeared to be independent of the adhesives, test-part material, and mechanical-strain levels that we tested. The high stability and low zero drifts of this gage at 75°C allowed us to reliably correct the measured static-strain data on actual test parts.