Abstract:
A photoelastic force sensor comprising a sensor plate or disk bonded by means of diffusion or reactive bonding of identical or like materials onto a first face of a spacer ring which defines an aperture. The spacer ring also has an appropriate thickness and width so that other sealing requirements that induce stress into the spacer ring are not appreciably passed onto the sensor plate. A seal plate is attached to a second face of the spacer ring to form a sealed cavity which can then be evacuated or pressurized as required for the application.