The Reinforcement Effect of Strain Gauges Embedded in Low Modulus Materials

The reinforcement effect of electrical resistance strain gauges is well-described in the literature, especially for strain gauges installed on surface. This paper considers the local reinforcement effect of strain gauges embedded within low Young modulus materials. In particular, by using a simple theoretical model, already used for strain gauges installed on the surface, it proposes a simple formula that allows the user to evaluate the local reinforcement effect of a generic strain gauge embedded on plastics, polymer composites, etc. The theoretical analysis has been integrated by numerical and experimental analyses, which confirmed the reliability of the proposed model.