Method for thermally correcting data obtained through strain gauges mounted to a surface

A method of thermally correcting data obtained from strain gauges mounted to a surface comprising:

• mounting a first strain gauge system to a surface of interest, the surface of interest comprising a first material having non-uniform coefficients of thermal expansion;
• forming a thermally compensating coupon having body including a first surface and an opposing second surface, the coupon comprising a second material having substantially the same non-uniform coefficients of thermal expansion as the first material;
• mounting a second strain gauge system to the first surface of the thermally compensating coupon;
• positioning the thermally compensating coupon on the surface of interest adjacent to the first strain gauge system such that the non-uniform coefficients of thermal expansion of the thermally compensating coupon substantially align with the non-uniform coefficients of thermal expansion of the first material on the surface of interest;
• mechanically isolating the thermally compensating coupon from the surface of interest;
• and
• collecting a thermally corrected strain data set from the first strain gauge system and the second strain gauge system.

A rotary wing aircraft comprising:

• a component formed from a first material having non-uniform coefficients of thermal expansion;
• a first sensing system mounted to the component to sense temperature and mechanical forces on the component;
• at least one thermally compensating coupon mounted to the component adjacent the first sensing system, the at least one thermally compensating coupon being formed from a second material having non-uniform coefficients of thermal expansion that are substantially identical to the non-uniform coefficients of thermal expansion of the first material;
• and
• a thermally compensating sensing system mounted to the at least one thermally compensating coupon and connected to the first sensing system, the thermally compensating sensing system being isolated from the mechanical forces perceived by the component while sensing the temperatures on the component such that the connection of the thermally compensating sensing system to the first sensing system compensates for the temperature sensed by the first sensing system.