AN INTELLIGENT SYSTEM FOR MONITORING AND ASSESSING THE TECHNICAL CONDITION OF PRESTRESSED BOLTED LAP OR BUTT JOINTS

An intelligent system for monitoring and assessing the technical condition of prestressed lap or butt screw joints is characterized by the permanent and detachable mounting of an intelligent monitoring head on the monitored lap or butt screw joint (6). This occurs at the end of the screw shank (5), protruding above the joint nut. The measuring GUM (1) or GUT (2) is attached through an adapter (3). The intelligent monitoring and measuring impact head (1) comprises a body (1a), a vibration sensor, and an intelligent electronic system (1b). This system allows the collection of energy necessary to activate the activator (1c) and induce impulse excitation of the impactor (1d). The impactor (1d) is positioned above the front surface of the screw shank (5). The GUT (2) intelligent ultrasonic measurement and monitoring head GUT (2) consists of the body (2a) and an intelligent electronic system (2b) that activates an ultrasonic probe (1c) located above the front surface of the screw shank (5) and immersed in the coupling medium (O). Intelligent heads GUM (1) or GUT (2) are mounted on at least one, preferably on each, monitored screw (5) of the PZ lap joint or PD butt joint (6) of the structure, respectively. One head of a given type is mounted on the shank of one screw. Each head (1) or (2), with an adapter (3) and a locknut (4), is mounted in such a way as to ensure watertightness.