Practical Considerations on the Piezofilm Gauge Technique

The effects of lateral strain and initial temperature on piezofilm gauge performance were investigated. Both were found to cause substantial deviations in gauge output. The charge mode and current mode recording techniques were also compared. For most applications the charge-mode recording technique was found to be far more practical and more direct than the current mode and was capable of producing excellent waveforms. Effect of cable length on charge-mode recording was also investigated. The results suggest minimal distortion of the waveform for cables up to 50 meters in length.