Eccentric Load Sensitivity of Force Sensors

Abstract

Strain gage force sensors are ordinarily designed with a symmetry of form and gage location that makes them relatively insensitive to eccentric load. In general, however, there is a residual eccentric load sensitivity due to imperfections in machining, assembly, gage location, etc. that may be significant. Eccentric load sensitivity is a particularly important characteristic of force sensors that are used as transfer standards either to intercompare force standard machines or to calibrate testing machines or other force sensors. Since load alignment in these processes is not perfect, there are unknown errors due to differences in alignment of the different setups that are compared. Eccentric load sensitivity is an important factor contributing to these errors.