Strain Gauges and Signal Conditioners

[dafxsua]

We're planning to use half bridge strain gauges configuration to measure the load(stress) that is being applied on the A arms of our car and log data using a data logger (during testing in a close environment and remotely when the car is on track).
In order to use strain gauges effectively, we need to have a signal conditioner. The caveats that we face in using signal conditioner are: 1) cost- since these are quite expensive; 2) we plan to use nearly 24 of these strain gauges.
So a single conditioner cannot handle all these ( we believe most of the conditioners does not have more than 10 channels ); 3) since we plan to log data remotely, we couldn't find any effective conditioners that is compact enough to
be mounted on the car. If we could get some help in order to tackle all these caveats, it would be great.

[Swiftus]

We use MoTeC VIMs to log strain gauges. You can connect 8 differential sensors to a single VIM. When used with an ACL, you can connect 8 VIMs (64 sensors).

[BillCobb]

Are you gauging the A-arms or the frame pockets? Pocket loads let you study different A-arm configurations more easily. You can then take the pocket loads and apply them in a laboratory setting to run fatique tests on your parts.