A tubular column with a strain gauge measures load, with calculations for force, normal stress, and strain provided for loads between 0 and 500 kg. The discussion includes corrections on sign conventions for stress and strain, emphasizing that compressive stresses are negative while transverse strains should be positive. Participants explore how changing the strain gauge orientation to vertical or at a 45° angle could affect strain measurements, with suggestions for maximizing sensitivity using a Wheatstone bridge configuration. The final calculations for changes in diameter and length are confirmed as reasonable, and participants share graphs illustrating strain against applied load for different gauge orientations. Overall, the thread addresses both theoretical calculations and practical applications of strain gauges in structural analysis.