Improved calibrator for the evaluation of batch produced strain gauges in cryogenic environments

We have constructed a simple, improved apparatus for calibrating strain gauges down to liquid helium temperatures to permit an estimate of the repeatability and linearity of commercially available, batch produced, metal foil strain gauges. The apparatus is based upon an original design first proposed by McClintock [R. M. McClintock, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 30, 715 (1959)]. Calibrations performed on a particular batch produced metal foil strain gauge indicate that it behaved ideally at low temperatures. Although the gauge resistance was strongly temperature dependent, the gauge factor was virtually independent of temperature and did not display any detectable nonlinearity or hysteresis. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0034-6748(99)04506-2].