| | | The piezoelectric measuring principle is ideal for the assembly of multi-component force sensors. The structure of the sensor is similar to that of the single-component load washer. A pair of quartz plates cut for the longitudinal effect measure the normal component Fz of forces acting on the sensor, while two quartz ring pairs cut for the shear effect each measure the shear component Fx and Fy. As the shear forces are transmitted only through friction, multi-component force sensors must be installed with sufficient mechanical preload. Multi-component force sensors are usually not installed in so called dynamometers or multi-component force plates individually but in groups of three of four. In this configuration, the particular properties of these piezoelectric sensors are utilized. These allow transducers with similar sensitivity to be used in direct parallel connection. | | The corresponding output signal corresponds to the sum of all forces acting upon the sensors. Therefore, a dynamometer acts as the only multi-component force sensor to measure the three components of the resulting force independently of their force application point. While moments acting upon the dynamometer apply a load to the sensor, the parallel connection prevents their measurement. Moments may be determined from the output signal of those sensors which are not in parallel connection. Such a system measures the three components of the resulting force and the three components of the resulting moment in terms of the coordinates determined by the sensors. Most Kistler dynamometers and force plates are suitable for both 3-component force measurement and 6-component force-moment measurement. | | |