Advances in Strain Gauge Measurement on Composite Materials

This article gives an overview on the application of strain gauge techniques to the analysis of the strains in composite materials. The orthotropic behaviour of the composite influences the performance of strain gauges that are calibrated for use on isotropic materials. The article considers therefore the typical topics of the strain gauge technology applied to composites with particular reference to the compensation of thermal output, the measurement of the coefficients of thermal expansion, the determination of the strain and stress state, the influence of the misalignment error, the reinforcement effect, the determination of the stress intensification factor, the analysis of residual stresses by the hole drilling method and the effect of transverse sensitivity on the measurement of strains along the fibres.