Calibration of commercial manganin stress gauges under static uniaxial strain conditions

Abstract

We have calibrated commercial manganin stress gauges, statically, in the 0–1.0 GPa range, under uniaxial strain conditions. This was achieved in an arrangement, called the butt joint configuration, in which a very thin adhesive layer was compressed axially between two rigid cylinders. We have shown that if the ratio of thickness to diameter for this layer is less than 0.5% one can consider the layer as though it were undergoing purely uniaxial strain. This state of strain condition also exists in shocked specimens undergoing planer shock loading. Consequently a direct comparison to the dynamic calibration of these gauges could be made. We found that the static and dynamic calibration curves agreed, to within 2%, which was a significant improvement over the existing difference of 20% between hydrostatic and dynamic calibrations.