Vibrating Wire Strain Gauges,

Kingmach manufactures vibrating wire strain gauges for direct embedment in concrete or attachment to structural steel. The sensor element is a steel wire tensioned between two end blocks; when the structure deforms, the wire tension changes, altering its resonant frequency. This frequency is read by a portable indicator or data logger, and because it’s a frequency signal, it’s immune to cable resistance effects over long distances—a practical advantage on sites where the readout station is hundreds of meters away. Our standard gauge lengths are 150 mm and 250 mm, but we frequently produce custom lengths for specific reinforcement spacing. The gauge body is stainless steel, and the end blocks can be flanged for arc welding or fitted with spot-weldable tabs, depending on the installation method. A built-in thermistor allows temperature correction, which matters when you’re measuring thermal strain in bridge girders. We ship each gauge with an individual calibration sheet showing gauge factor and temperature coefficient, no extra charge. For projects requiring remote monitoring, the gauge can connect to our data loggers via a terminal box, and we offer technical support for setting up reading schedules and alarm thresholds. While we’re not the cheapest option, our focus is on consistent manufacturing: every gauge is checked for zero stability and full-scale linearity before delivery. That attention reduces the chance of a gauge drifting during a 2-year monitoring program and creating data headaches for the engineer.