Design of sensor for load measurement of river gate based on finite element method

•A special load sensor is designed to indirectly measure the load of river gate.•The load sensor can be used to judge whether the river gate is jammed or not.•The strain of the elastomer is approximately linear with the load it bears.•The finite element method is used to determine the size of the elastomer.•The method of measuring gate load is easy to realize and has high accuracy. In the process of rising and falling, the river gate may cause dangerous accidents due to jamming. Therefore, a sensor specially used to detect the load of river gate is designed. Firstly, the basic structure of the sensor is designed by using the mechanical calculation method, then the relationship between the load and the deformation of the elastomer of the sensor is analyzed by using the finite element method, and the reasonable position of the strain gauges is determined. Engineering practice shows that when the sensors are symmetrically installed under the bearing blocks on both sides of the electric winch used to drag the river gate, the comprehensive error of load measurement is ≤ ±0.5% F.S, and the repeatability error is ≤ ±0.1% F.S.