Effect of Gaseous Hydrogen on Strain Gage Based Instrumentation

Session details:

This study investigates the effects of gaseous hydrogen at pressures of 10–12 MPa 
(1500–1700 PSI) on strain gages used in material testing. Anomalous readings were observed, likely caused by hydrogen altering the electrical properties of the metallic foil in the strain gages. Experiments were performed using Ni-Cr, constantan (Cu-Ni alloy), and hydrogen-resistant Fe-Cr-Al strain gages under steady-state conditions with quarter- and half-bridge configurations. 
Additionally, the impact of post-test environments was assessed to better understand hydrogen’s influence on measurement accuracy, providing insights to improve strain gage reliability in hydrogen testing environments.