ME 361: INSTRUMENTATION AND MEASUREMENT

INSTRUMENTATION AND
MEASUREMENT

Dr. Mohammad Mamun

ME 361: INSTRUMENTATION AND MEASUREMENT 2

Course Contents: 3.00 Credit Hours

❑ Basic principles of measurements;

❑ Characterisation and behaviour of typical measuring systems;
❑ Uncertainty Analysis
❑ Different types of sensing elements;
❑ Signal Conditioning;
❑ Applied Measurements: displacement, motion, vibration, sound, pressure,
flow, force, torque and strain;
❑ Measurement of temperature and heat flux
❑ Data acquisition, transmission and recording methods.

Underlined sections [1 credit hour] will be covered by Prof. Dr. Md. Zahurul Haq

References:

1. Figliola, R.S. & Beasley, D.E., Theory & Design for Mechanical Measurements, J. Wiley & Sons, Inc.

2. Haq, M. Z., Measurement: System, Uncertainty and Response, Applied Measurement Systems, InTech.

3. Holman, J.P., Experimental Methods for Engineers, McGraw-Hill, Inc.

4. Beckwith, T.G., Marangoni, R.D. & Lienhard, J.H., Mechanical Measurements, Addison Wesley, Inc.
ME 361: INSTRUMENTATION AND MEASUREMENT

“What is not measured does not exist.”

Max Born, 1926

Generic scheme of a measurement

The measurement of a given quantity is essentially an act or result of

comparison between a quantity, whose magnitude is unknown with a
similar quantity whose magnitude is known, the latter is being called
standard.
Standard
(Known
quantity)

Measurand Result
(Unknown Quantity) Process of (Numerical Value)
Comparison
Process, machine or
system being (Measurement)
measured
ME 361: INSTRUMENTATION AND MEASUREMENT

Essential Elements of Scientific Instruments

❑ A Detector (Sensor –Transducer) – Senses desired input to exclusion

of all others and provides analogous output
❑ An intermediate transfer device (Signal Conditioner) – Modifies
transduced signal into form usable by final stage. Usually increases
amplitude and/or power, depending on requirement. May also
selectively filter unwanted components and convert signal into pulsed
form.
❑ An indicator, recorder or a storage device – Provides an indication or
recording in form that can be evaluated by an unaided human sense or
by a computer or controller.

Signal
ME 361: INSTRUMENTATION AND MEASUREMENT

Bourdon Tube Pressure Gage

Working principle:

1. Measurand Pressure causes

the section of the flattened tube
tends toward a more circular
form
2. This causes the free end A
move outward
3. The resulting motion is
transmitted by link B to sector
gear C
4. Then to pinion D and cause the
indicator hand to move over the
scale

❑ The tube serves as the primary detector-

transducer, changing pressure into near
linear displacement

❑ The linkage-gear arrangement acts as a

secondary transducer and as an amplifier,
yielding a magnitude output
ME 361: INSTRUMENTATION AND MEASUREMENT

Mercury in Glass Thermometer

Working principle:

1. Measurand Temperature
source causes the metalic
probe (sensor/detector) to heat
up.
2. Heat is transferred from the
probe to mercury
3. Mercury expands
4. Temperature is read from a
graduated scale

❑ The metallic probe serves as the primary

detector-transducer, transferring heat
from the measurand source to the
mercury

❑ The thermal expansion of mercury acts

as a secondary transducer and as an
amplifier, yielding a magnitude output
ME 361: INSTRUMENTATION AND MEASUREMENT

Strain Gauge Load Cell

Load

Bonded wire
strain-gage
elements

1. Mesurand Load causes the bonded wire

strain-gage elements to deform ❑ The bonded strain-gage wires
2. Thereby changing the electric resistance form the primary detector-
of the gage wires transducer
3. The resistance is measured using a
bridge circuit ❑ The bridge circuit arrangement
4. The measured value of the load is acts as a secondary transducer
calculated with pre-determined relation and as an amplifier, yielding a
between the resistance of the wires and magnitude output
the corresponding load and can be shown
in a display or recorded in a storage.
ME 361: INSTRUMENTATION AND MEASUREMENT

Sensors (Detectors/Transducers)

American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Definition:

A device which provides a usable output in response to a specified measurand

A sensor acquires a physical parameter and converts it into a signal suitable for processing (e.g.
optical, electrical, mechanical)

A transducer is usually a signal type converter.

Microphone, Loud Speaker, Biological Senses (e.g. touch, sight,…etc.)

ME 361: INSTRUMENTATION AND MEASUREMENT

for
ME 361: INSTRUMENTATION AND MEASUREMENT

Detectable Phenomenon (Physical Parameters)

Stimulus/Measurand Quantity
Acoustic Wave (amplitude, phase, polarization), Spectrum, Wave
Velocity
Biological & Chemical Fluid Concentrations (Gas or Liquid)

Electric Charge, Voltage, Current, Electric Field (amplitude,

phase,
polarization), Conductivity, Permittivity

Magnetic Magnetic Field (amplitude, phase, polarization), Flux,

Permeability

Optical Refractive Index, Reflectivity, Absorption

Thermal Temperature, Flux, Specific Heat, Thermal Conductivity

Mechanical Position, Velocity, Acceleration, Force, Strain, Stress,for

Pressure, Torque
ME 361: INSTRUMENTATION AND MEASUREMENT

Classification of Sensors and Actuators

Based on physical laws ◼

Based on any convenient distinguishing property ◼

Active and Passive sensors ◼

Contact and non-contact sensors .1

Absolute and relative sensors .2

Other schemes .3
ME 361: INSTRUMENTATION AND MEASUREMENT

1. Active and passive sensors

Active sensor: a sensor that requires external power to operate.

Examples: the carbon microphone, thermistors, strain gauges,
capacitive and inductive sensors, etc.

Other name: parametric sensors (output is a function of a parameter -

like resistance)

Passive sensor: generates its own electric signal and does not require a
power source. Examples: thermocouples, magnetic microphones,
piezoelectric sensors.

Other name: self-generating sensors

Note: some define these exactly the other way around

ME 361: INSTRUMENTATION AND MEASUREMENT

2. Contact and noncontact sensors

Contact sensor: a sensor that requires physical contact with the stimulus.
Examples: strain gauges, most temperature sensors

Non-contact sensor: requires no physical contact. Examples: most optical

and magnetic sensors, infrared thermometers, etc.
ME 361: INSTRUMENTATION AND MEASUREMENT

3. Absolute and relative sensors

Absolute sensor: a sensor that reacts to a stimulus on an absolute scale:

Thermistors, strain gauges, etc., (thermistor will always read the
absolute temperature)

Relative scale: The stimulus is sensed relative to a fixed or variable

reference. Thermocouple measures the temperature difference,
pressure is often measured relative to atmospheric pressure.
ME 361: INSTRUMENTATION AND MEASUREMENT

Classification by broad area of detection

Electric sensors ◼

Magnetic ◼

Electromagnetic ◼

Acoustic ◼

Chemical ◼

Optical ◼

Heat, Temperature ◼

Mechanical ◼

Radiation ◼

Biological ◼
ME 361: INSTRUMENTATION AND MEASUREMENT

Classification by physical law

Photoelectric ◼

Magnetoelectric ◼

Thermoelectric ◼

Photoconductive ◼

Photomagnetic ◼

Thermoelastic ◼

Thermomagnetic ◼

Thermooptic ◼

Electrochermical ◼

Magnetoresistive ◼

Photoelastic ◼
ME 361: INSTRUMENTATION AND MEASUREMENT

Classification by specifications
Accuracy ◼
Sensitivity ◼
Stability ◼
Response time ◼
Hysteresis ◼
Frequency response ◼
Input (stimulus) range ◼
Resolution ◼
Linearity ◼
Hardness (to environmental conditions, etc.) ◼

Cost ◼
Size, weight, ◼
Construction materials ◼
Operating temperature ◼
Etc. ◼
ME 361: INSTRUMENTATION AND MEASUREMENT

Classification by area of application

Consumer products ◼

Military applications ◼

Infrastructure ◼
Energy ◼
Heat ◼
Manufacturing ◼
Transportation ◼
Automotive ◼
Avionic ◼
Marine ◼
Space ◼
Scientific ◼