OSCAR ORRINGER
Pilots in Duxbury, MA

4526039, Jul 2, 1985

Jun 23, 1983

6/506969

Harry Ceccon - Boston MA
Richard A. Murphy - North Abington MA
H. David Reed - Carlisle MA
Oscar Orringer - Duxbury MA

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of
Transportation - Washington DC

G01B 716

73774

The invention encompasses a removable strain gauge fixture, and a method for measuring accumulated stress in a structural component, such as a railroad rail. The strain gauge fixture generally comprises first and second side pieces connected by a strain concentrating bar of reduced cross-section, an electronic strain sensor mounted on the bar, and first and second tapered pins extending from the front faces of each of the side pieces. The tapered pins transmit accumulated strain from the component being measured to the strain focusing bar when the pins are inserted into mating holes in the component. The method of the invention generally comprises the steps of providing a pair of holes in the component mateable with the tapered pins of the strain gauge fixture, inserting the tapered pins into the holes of the material in order to transfer accumulated strain in the material to the strain concentrating bar, taking a first strain measurement via the strain sensor on the bar, removing the tapered pins from the material, and taking a second strain reading from the strain sensor.