Strut Axial Force Sensor

Standard vibrating wire sensors from Kingmach typically hold ±0.1% full-scale accuracy under stable temperature conditions. In practice, a properly installed sensor on a clean, straight strut section will usually report values you can trust to within about 2% over months, provided you take a good zero reading after welding and before loading starts.

Yes. We offer a clamping collar assembly that bolts around the strut, avoiding hot work on site. It works best on circular or square hollow sections. For H-beams, we sometimes provide a saddle bracket that still requires minimal tack welding, but the collar kit is the go-to for wet or gas-risk environments where a welding permit is impractical.

The sensor outputs a frequency signal via a 4-core cable. You can use any datalogger or portable readout that accepts vibrating wire inputs—we test our sensors with common brands like Geokon, RST, and Campbell Scientific loggers. If you don’t have a compatible unit, Kingmach can supply a handheld readout that displays load directly in engineering units, with calibration coefficients pre-loaded.

Every sensor has a thermistor inside, and the calibration sheet includes temperature correction coefficients. Most modern dataloggers apply the correction automatically. If you’re reading manually, you measure the period and the thermistor resistance, then use a simple formula to back out the temperature-compensated load. It’s standard practice and takes about 30 seconds per reading.

We can modify the capacity range, cable length, and the physical mounting dimensions to fit non-standard strut sections. For projects requiring ATEX or IECEx certification, we can supply sensors with certified cable glands and potting. Just send us a drawing of your strut profile and the required load range—we’ll come back with a proposal, usually within a week.