Something that isn’t always clear when looking at our strain gauge options is the “Pattern Type” attribute, though it’s basically what is sounds like, the pattern of the resistive element along the gauge, it can be hard to parse what all of the different terms actually mean when referencing the pattern. I’ll summarize them below. In most cases, a simple linear gauge will do but it’s good to at least know what these look like when you’re sorting through your options.
Linear
This is the simplest pattern, and by far the most common: One section that measures strain in one direction. A good visual example can be found in part number 5880-KFH-6-350-C1-11L1M2R-ND, pictured here:
Tee Rosette
Sometimes called a T Rosette. This is essentially two linear sections, side by side at a 90 degree angle from each other. Typically it looks like two squares, one with a vertical pattern and one with a horizontal pattern, as shown in the reference photo below for 1033-MMF404753-ND:
Rectangular Rosette
These are 3 sections, each placed 45 degrees off from its neighbor so that the lineup is -45, 0, +45 (or -90, -45, 0 depending on description preference). Sometimes they are placed with different angles such as -60, 0, +60 but the general pattern tends to look the same. For an example of this, see 1033-MMF405135-ND, pictured below:
Shear/Torque
These can look several different ways, at least the way they’re categorized on DigiKey’s site. First is the “Full Bridge” style, with four sections set 90 degrees apart from each other in a cross pattern, as shown in 1033-MMF405640-ND pictured here:
The other way that these can look is something more of a V-Shape, such as 1033-MMF405341-ND, shown here:
For more information on selecting a strain gauge see this post by Shawn Adams: