DIGITAL MONITORING OF CRITICAL BOLT JOINTS
Bolted connections in structures subjected to high loads—such as steel construction, wind turbines, cranes, and pipeline systems—are critical for the functionality and stability of a structure.
Corrosion, material fatigue, as well as excessive or diminishing preload can have serious consequences. Therefore, many bolted connections must be inspected regularly.
Meyle has developed an easy-to-install sensor solution that enables online monitoring of critical bolted connections—a digital washer.
Insights at the Interface of a Modular Structure
By measuring force, temperature, and acceleration, the following key insights can be obtained:
- Bolt Preload
- Vibration profile
- Operating loads
- Remaining useful life (RUL) estimation
- Bending moments through sensor networks
- Resulting changes in structural behaviour
- Measurement of force with 24-bit resolution and 100 Hz data rate
- Measurement of temperature and acquisition of 6D acceleration for position detection and vibration analysis
- Controller with ARM architecture, memory, RTC, and status LED
- CANopen interface with 500 kBaud and up to 12 sensors in one network
- High-quality protection circuitry
- FOTA (Firmware Over-The-Air) for parameterization and calibration
- Mechanical overload capability
