Load Cell - Application, Advantages, and Types

A load cell, as the name suggests, is employed to transform force into a readable electrical output. It is also known as a force transducer and converts tensions, pressure, compression or even torque into measurable output. They are many different varieties of load cells, including strain gauges, pneumatic, and hydraulic. The most common one is the strain gauge load cells.

Strain Gauges consists of a spring element that is curated from steel or aluminium. As the load is exerted on the cell, the spring tends to get deformed and then springs back, responding elastically to every load. The deformation leads to a shift in resistance which is converted into a readable unit to determine the weight of an object.

Now that you understand load cell working; let's look at its application in the geotechnical field.

Application of Load Cell

Load Cells have a diverse range of applications in the geotechnical domain and can be used during the initial stage i.e, during the research and development, and even at a later monitoring stage.

Monitoring Struts

The strain gauge load cells are adopted to determine the load transferred to the struts. Hence, they are installed between the struts.

The anchor-back load cells are employed to measure the load in tie-backs, rock bolts, and ground anchors. Here, the load cell is set between the retaining wall and the hydraulic jack. As the jack opens up, the load transferred to the tie-back is picked by the load cell.

Monitoring Retaining Wall

The load cells are placed in the retaining walls to monitor the changes behind and analyze the effectiveness of the restraining system.

Diaphragm or Sheet Pile Wall

Load Cells are established in the tie-back anchor systems to gauge the stability of the diaphragm or sheet pile wall.

Apart from the above-mentioned application, load cells are used for the following purpose:

• Monitor roof support in underground cavities and slope stability in landslide zones.
• Monitor the anchor for the stability of the dam.
• Perform load testing in piles
• Proof test and monitor long-term performance of anchor systems
• Correlate data obtained from extensometers
• Measure compressive load and axial force in struts

Advantages of Load Cells

There are many advantages of using Encardio-rite's range of Load Cells.
These include the following:

1. They offer robust and reliable construction, promising long term stability.
2. The load cells are particularly designed to function accurately in a harsh and severe industrial environment.
3. They are temperature compensated.
4. To reduce the positioning effect, a few load cells are combined with multiple strain gages.
5. A complete stable system with no moving parts and linkages.
6. It can be linked with any standard read-out device.
7. They have negligible side and eccentric load effects.

Encardio-rite's range of Load Cell

Encardio-rite offers six different types of Load cells, each offering a unique feature for accurate geotechnical instrumentation and monitoring.

• Model ELC - 30S - Centre Hole Load Cell

The Centre Hole Load Cell is based on a Wheatstone bridge principle, equipped with eight 350 Ohm resistance strain gages, wired to form a 700 Ohm bridge, inside a cylinder of high steel strength. These load cells are used to measure the load in rock bolts, tieback anchors, etc through a centre hole.

• Model ELC - 30S-H High Capacity Centre Hole Load Cell

The ELC-30S-H is a high capacity centre hole resistive strain gauge type load cell, similar to the ELC - 30S. It comprises sixteen 350 Ohm resistance strain gages, wired to form a 1400 Ohm bridge, inside a stainless steel cylinder of high steel strength, in a load cell with a capacity above 5000 kN.

• Model ELC - 31V - Hydraulic Centre Hole Load Cell

The Model ELC - 31V is a vibrating wire hydraulic centre hole load cell curated with the help of a sensitive pressure pad and joining two very stiff steel discs at their periphery. It is fluid-filled and is constructed from stainless steel. When the load is applied to the cell, the pressure on the fluid fluctuates. The variation in the fluid is noted to measure the change in the load being applied to the cell.

• Model ELC-32V - VW Center Hole Load Cell

The Model ELC-32V is a vibrating wire centre hole load cell consisting of a cylinder of high strength martensitic stainless steel with three vibrating wire strain gauges mounted at 120 degrees. This is done to minimize the effect of uneven and eccentric loading. It is available in capacities ranging from 250 kN to 3500 kN.

• Model ELC-150S-H - High Capacity Solid Load Cell

Encardio-rite ELC-150S - H is a resistive strain gauge type load cell used extensively in pile testing. It has great resistance to extraneous forces and is protected against dust, moisture, and adverse environmental conditions. Designed to measure large compressive load or axial forces, the load cell permits a less stringent mounting alignment and reduces the possibility of reading error.

• Model ELC-210S - Solid Load Cell

Model ELC-210S is a heavy-duty precision load cell with a high degree of accuracy and reliability, it is ideally suited for the measurement of compressive load or forces in struts application. The load cell is available in capacities ranging from 1000 kN to 3500 kN.

This was all about the Load Cells and its different types. If you have any queries, feel free to comment below.