Modeling and experimental studies on the dynamics of bolted joint structure: Comparison of three vibration-based techniques for structural health monitoring

Abstract

Detection of inadequate tightening in bolted joints is quintessential to ensure structural rigidity and to prevent catastrophic failure. Studies show that 30% of assembly failures occur due to inadequate tightening. In the present study, three vibration-based techniques are presented and compared to detect inadequate tightening of bolted joints. Variation in the damped natural frequency, variation in the damping ratio, and variation in the dynamic joint stiffness are studied with varying tightening torques in the bolted joint. The results show that all the three dynamic parameters vary with the tightness of the bolted joint. Dynamic joint stiffness varies significantly as opposed to the damping ratio and damped natural frequency as tightening torque reduces. In order to verify the results of dynamic stiffness method, ANSYS is used to model and analyze the joint. The experimental setup used to calculate the parameters consists of two Euler–Bernoulli beams connected with single lap bolted joint. © Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd 2020.