ABSTRACT
Pressure is calculated as force divided by the contact area on which this force acts. It is measured in units of kPa (100 kPa = 10 N/cm2). Force measuring elements are needed to determine pressures and pressure distributions. There are only a few measuring principles that are commonly used to measure force. In the following section these principles will be described and their advantages and disadvantages will be discussed. Electro-mechanical transducers produce a change in electrical properties when subjected to mechanical loads. Depending on the type of transducer, forces can create electrical charges, cause a change in capacitance, modify the electrical resistance or influence inductance. Because inductive transducers are based on relatively large displacements, they are rarely used in measuring instruments for biomechanical applications.
