TenSense: Sensor Node for the Remote Tension Measurement of a Bolted Joint

This paper presents an overview of a sensor node designed to measure the tension of a bolted joint for the purpose of unattended structural health monitoring. The electronic circuits are embedded inside a custom designed stainless steel washer. LoRa is used for wireless communication and data transfer between the sensor node and the base station. The proposed design eliminates the necessity of using specialized bolts with mechanical modifications to monitor tension making it an easy add-on to current and future mechanical structures. Design of the prototype is discussed and evaluated by means of simulation to confirm the proper functionality and adherence to the set requirements.