Anchor bolt tensioning process
View Patent ↗A process for improving structural integrity of a structure is provided that includes retensioning a plurality of anchor bolts installed on the structure to a final load P, for each of a set of anchor bolts at a first time. A bolt stretch, B is measured for each of the set of anchor bolts. The structural integrity of the structure is found by solving an equation for each of the anchor bolts to determine a value of as found load on a bolt. Through monitoring the set of anchor bolts at a later time for changes in F for the anchor bolts, changes in the structure are detected and repaired before further damage occurs to the structure or the associated equipment. The structural failing are assessed in a number of ways including evaluating the values F as a function of the position of each of the tensioning anchor bolts.
1. A process for improving structural integrity of a structure comprising:
re-tensioning a plurality of anchor bolts installed on the structure to a final load P, for each of said plurality of anchor bolts at a first time;
measuring a measured bolt stretch, B for each said plurality of anchor bolts;
solving the equation for each of said plurality of anchor bolts:
F=kP −( BAE )/ L (I)
where F is a value of as found load on a bolt, P is a final load on the bolt, B is the measured bolt stretch from as found load F to final load P, A is the cross sectional area of the bolt, E is a bolt modulus of elasticity, L is a length of the bolt under tension and k is a unit specific constant; and
monitoring said plurality of anchor bolts at a later time for changes in F for at least one bolt of said plurality of bolts to improve the structural integrity of the structure.
2. The process of claim 1 further comprising determining, a structural failing of the structure based on the values of F as measured between the first time and the second time.
3. The process of claim 1 further comprising repairing the structure based on the values of F.
4. The process of claim 1 wherein the repairing the structure includes grout stabilization.
5. The process of claim 1 wherein the structure is a tower or a bridge.
6. The process of claim 1 wherein the structure is wind turbine tower.
7. The process of claim 1 wherein further comprising mapping at least one of F, P, or B onto a positional arrangement of said plurality of anchor bolts.
8. The process of claim 1 further comprising replacing at least one of said plurality of bolts based on the values of F for the at least one bolt at the first time and the second time.