A compressed symbology strain gage includes a target in the form of a symbolic
strain rosette ("SSR"), the target being associated with a body for which strain
is to be measured and being adapted to emit a detectable physical quantity; a sensor
compatible with and adapted to pre-process the detectable physical quantity emitted
by the target and output data representing the physical quantity adapted to receive
signals from the target and provide output signals based thereon; a computer program
or programs for analyzing the signals data output by the sensor to define the SSR;
and for calculating the strain directly on the body based on the pre-processed
and analyzed data. The SSR can be defined either a priori by manufacture or a posteriori
by identification. A method of measuring strain on an object using the compressed
symbology strain gage includes the steps of associating a SSR with an object in
such a way that deformation of the SSR and deformation under load of the object
bear a one-to-one relationship; identifying the changes in the SSR as a function
of time and change in the load applied to the object; and translating the changes
in the SSR into strain.