Method and apparatus for measuring displacement and force

A method of making a transducer apparatus for measuring relative displacement comprising the steps of:

• providing a first structural member for connection to a first load bearing member;
• providing a second structural member for connection to a second load bearing member;
• interposing an uncured magnetorheological elastomer, having iron particles embedded between said first and second structural members;
• applying a magnetic field of a predetermined orientation relative to said first and second structural members to said magnetorheological elastomer so as to permanently align said particles in said predetermined orientation;
• and
• curing said uncured magnetorheological elastomer at a predetermined temperature level and for a predetermined period of time;
• whereby said predetermined orientation of said particles are electrically responsive to loads applied to said first and second structural members when said magnetorheological elastomer is electrically excited.

A method of measuring relative displacement comprising the steps of:

• providing a transducer having a first structural member for connection to a first load bearing member, a second structural member for connection to a second load bearing member and a magnetorheological elastomer and operatively disposed between said first and second structural members;
• applying a drive signal to an electrode disposed within said magnetorheological elastomer;
• monitoring a preselected electrical state of said magnetorheological elastomer;
• and
• generating an output signal corresponding variations in said preselected electrical state relating to loads applied to said first and second structural members.