Patent ID: 8297129

Claim:
A strain gage mounting system, comprising: a thermal shield, comprising: a first thermal shield comprising a first surface configured to face away from a test specimen during use and a second surface configured to face the test specimen during use; and a second thermal shield comprising a first surface configured to face away from a test specimen during use and a second surface configured to face the test specimen during use; wherein the first thermal shield and the second thermal shield are not rigidly coupled to one another, and wherein at least a portion of the first thermal shield and at least a portion of the second thermal shield overlap one another; a strain gage carrier mount disposed on a first side of the thermal shield such that the thermal shield is disposed between the strain gage carrier mount and the test specimen during use, the strain gage carrier mount comprising: a first carrier mount rigidly coupled to the first side of the first thermal shield and configured to couple to a first portion of a strain gage carrier; and a second carrier mount rigidly coupled to the first side of the second thermal shield and configured to couple to a second portion of a strain gage carrier, wherein the first carrier mount and the second carrier mount are not rigidly coupled to one another; and a specimen mount disposed on a second side of the thermal shield opposite from the first side of the thermal shield such that the specimen mount is disposed between the thermal shield and the test specimen during use, the specimen mount comprising: a first specimen mount rigidly coupled to the second side of the first thermal shield and configured to be coupled to a surface of a test specimen; and a second specimen mount rigidly coupled to the second side of the second thermal shield and configured to be coupled to a surface of the test specimen, wherein the first specimen mount and the second specimen mount are not rigidly coupled to one another.