Mentor.com - What is 'Drift' in Strain Gauges?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the concept of 'drift' in strain gauges, specifically its implications and causes. It also touches on the relevance of strain gauges in practical applications, such as in the design of a hovercraft, although this aspect diverges from the original topic.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant asks for clarification on what 'drift' refers to in the context of strain gauges.
  • Another participant explains that drift is the tendency of a strain gauge to deviate from actual readings due to temperature variations, emphasizing the importance of selecting gauges that closely match the parent material.
  • A separate participant introduces a question about building a hovercraft, linking it to the need for understanding wing shapes and Reynolds number, although this is seen as off-topic by others.
  • Some participants express confusion regarding the hovercraft discussion, suggesting it may not belong in the current thread.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

There is a general agreement on the definition of 'drift' in strain gauges, but the hovercraft discussion introduces competing views and confusion about topic relevance, indicating a lack of consensus on that aspect.

Contextual Notes

The hovercraft discussion introduces assumptions about the relationship between wing shapes and performance, but these connections remain unexplored and unresolved within the thread.

bill nye scienceguy!
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when talking about strain gauges, what does 'drift' refer to exactly?
 
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Drift refers to a strain gauge's tendency to deviate from the actual reading due to variations in temperature. It is the main reason when selecting gauges for testing that they be as close to the parent material as possible.
 
thanks!
 
Lost in PF

Not sure if this is correct form but I have a question. I am building,(in the process of planning to build) a hovercraft. But not just a hovercraft, which is itself exciting enough, but one that uses very little horsepower to operate. I feel that I need a least a basic knowledge of wing shapes or contours, not sure the correct label, in order to design my device properly. This knowledge should link together Reynold's number with these shapes. Who can help me with this idea?
 
Normouse, you seem to have an off-centre idea of what a hovercraft is. If you're talking about wings, you probably have a WIGE (Wing In Ground Effect) vehicle in mind. That is a totally different animal.
By the bye, this should be a separate thread, since it has nothing to do with the original post.
 
New type of hovercraft

Maybe this is the wrong thread but I know exactly what a hovercraft is. How do I get on the correct thread?
 
Normouse said:
Maybe this is the wrong thread but I know exactly what a hovercraft is. How do I get on the correct thread?

You simply start a new thread under the appropriate sub-forum. If unsure, PM a mentor.

CS
 

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