Manufacturing and testing of octal ring load cell for wide range loading
摘要
The capacity of strain gauges plays a critical role in the design of load cells, as it determines their load-bearing capabilities. Load cells are typically manufactured within specific load capacity ranges. An optimal solution is the development of an octal ring load cell to enable the measurement of a broader spectrum of loads. This load cell configuration consists of two limbs with gaps that differentiate between light and heavy loads. It exhibits low stiffness for mild loads, resulting in high sensitivity, and high stiffness for severe loads to prevent overstraining. Experimental performance evaluations comparing the load cell's behavior under severe and mild load conditions revealed a remarkable 15.88 percent increase in sensitivity for mild loads ranging from 0 to 3000 N, as opposed to loads between 3000 N and 5000 N. Using an octal ring load cell demonstrates its effectiveness in expanding the load measurement range while maintaining optimal sensitivity for various load conditions.