With the expansion of hydrogen systems, operators are installing new storage or repurposing existing infrastructure. To ensure safe operation, material properties and fracture toughness must be characterized. Mechanical testing, including tensile and fracture evaluation, relies on precise instrumentation like strain gauges and load cells. However, in hydrogen environments these sensors are susceptible to embrittlement, leading to drifted readings and compromised accuracy, so designing mechanical sensors for hydrogen applications requires careful consideration of material selection to maintain reliability. This presentation will explore key design considerations for instrumentation in hydrogen environments, focusing on strategies to mitigate hydrogen-related degradation and ensure measurement accuracy.

• Challenges of hydrogen environments on mechanical sensors. Understanding how hydrogen embrittlement affects strain gauges, load cells and clip gauges
• Key design considerations for sensor reliability. Experimental data of gaseous hydrogen effect for sensors in low (10-12Mpa) and high (90Mpa) pressure
• Key design considerations for sensor reliability, such as material selection and pressure resistance
• Strategies for ensuring long-term accuracy. Best practices for designing and selecting instrumentation that maintains stable and reliable measurements