Cryogenic strain gauge development project

Abstract

The use of strain gauge technology in industry is a common feature for determining mechanical stress in components. However, there is less understanding of the use of this technology in cryogenic applications. The current method of recording gas pressure in containment vessels used at cryogenic temperatures can be considered to be unreliable under certain conditions. A development project has been instigated to investigate the extreme temperature effects on strain gauges working at liquid helium (4 K) temperatures. A small, rectangular helium gas pressure containment vessel has been designed which operates at 20 bar. This will provide deflections to one of its faces onto which a suitable strain gauge can been fixed. The key temperature-dependent variables influencing the strain gauge’s parameters are discussed, with proposed methods to mitigate their effect.