Bonded-wire strain gauge
Galga extensométrica de hilo adherido
- Date
- 1938 · confidence high
- Place
- Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
- Credited to
- Edward Simmons and Arthur Ruge
- Field
- Knowledge & symbols
⚠️ Disputed: the sources disagree.
What it is
A thin metal wire bonded to a part that changes resistance when stretched or compressed, so that strain is measured as an electrical signal. It is the basis of load cells, electronic scales and structural strength testing.
Edward Simmons (Caltech) and Arthur Ruge (MIT) invented it independently in 1938; Lord Kelvin had observed in 1856 the change of resistance with deformation. It is placed at MIT because of Ruge's patent.
What it led to
- electronic scales and load cells
- stress measurement in aircraft, bridges and machines
- pressure and torque sensors