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A method of validating a compressive axial preload on adjacent rotatable elements serially arranged around a shaft, created through application of a progressively increasing axial tension to a tensioning member configured to compress the elements when the axial tension is applied. The method include

A method of validating a compressive axial preload on adjacent rotatable elements serially arranged around a shaft, created through application of a progressively increasing axial tension to a tensioning member configured to compress the elements when the axial tension is applied. The method includes monitoring a load in the tensioning member and/or in one or more of the elements, and an elongation of the tensioning member, during application of the axial tension, determining at least one validation parameter from the load and the elongation, comparing each validation parameter with a respective predetermined range therefor; and if at least one of the at least one validation parameter is out of the respective predetermined range, correcting the preload on the elements, and repeating the method. A method of applying the compressive preload and a system for validating the compressive preload are also described.

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1. A method of validating a compressive axial preload on adjacent rotatable elements serially arranged around a shaft, the axial preload being created through application of a progressively increasing axial tension to a tensioning member configured to compress the elements when the axial tension is

1. A method of validating a compressive axial preload on adjacent rotatable elements serially arranged around a shaft, the axial preload being created through application of a progressively increasing axial tension to a tensioning member configured to compress the elements when the axial tension is applied thereto, the tensioning member corresponding to the shaft around which the elements are arranged or to another elongated member, the method comprising: a) monitoring a load in the tensioning member and/or in one or more of the elements during application of the axial tension;b) monitoring an elongation of the tensioning member during application of the axial tension;c) determining at least one validation parameter from the load and the elongation;d) comparing each validation parameter with a respective predetermined range; ande) if at least one of the at least one validation parameter is out of the respective predetermined range, correcting the preload on the elements, and repeating the method from step a). 2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the preload is maintained through engagement of a retaining member with the tensioning member to prevent retraction of the tensioning member once the axial tension thereon is released, and wherein: steps c) and d) are performed before the retaining member is engaged with the tensioning member;if each validation parameter is within the respective predetermined range, the axial tension is applied up to a predetermined value, the retaining member is engaged with the tensioning member, and the axial tension is released; andif at least one of the at least one validation parameter is out of the respective predetermined range, step e) includes releasing the axial tension on the tensioning member before the retaining member is applied, at least partially disassembling elements from around the shaft, re-assembling the elements around the shaft, and re-applying the axial tension on the tensioning member. 3. The method as defined in claim 2, wherein the load increases linearly as a function of the elongation following a first rate of increase up to a point of transition and following a second rate of increase after the point of transition, and steps c) and d) include: determining the first rate of increase of the load with respect to the elongation; and comparing the first rate of increase with the respective predetermined range; and/ordetermining a transition load at the point of transition and comparing the transition load with the respective predetermined range; and/ordetermining the second rate of increase of the load with respect to the elongation and comparing the second rate of increase with the respective predetermined range. 4. The method as defined in claim 3, wherein step c) includes determining the first rate of increase of the load with respect to the elongation, and wherein the respective range for the first rate of increase is determined around a respective nominal value determined based on a stiffness of the elements and of the tensioning member. 5. The method as defined in claim 3, wherein step c) includes determining the transition load, and wherein the respective range for the nominal value for the transition load is determined around a respective nominal value determined based on a required interference fit between the elements and the shaft. 6. The method as defined in claim 3, wherein step c) includes determining the second rate of increase of the load with respect to the elongation, and wherein the respective range for the second rate of increase is determined around a respective nominal value determined based on a stiffness of the tensioning member without the elements. 7. The method as defined in claim 3, wherein step c) includes determining the first rate of increase of the load, the transition load and the second rate of increase of the load. 8. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the preload is maintained in the assembly through engagement of a retaining member with the tensioning member preventing retraction of the tensioning member once the axial tension thereon is released, and wherein: steps c) and d) are performed after the retaining member is engaged with the tensioning member and the axial tension is released;if at least one of the at least one validation parameter is out of the respective predetermined range, step e) includes re-applying the axial tension on the tensioning member, adjusting a position of the retaining member on the tensioning member, and releasing the axial tension. 9. The method as defined in claim 8, wherein the load increases linearly as a function of the elongation following a first rate of increase up to a point of transition and following a second rate of increase after the point of transition, and steps c) and d) include: determining residual load at a point after the axial tension is released and comparing the residual load with the respective predetermined range; and/ordetermining an effective load corresponding to a difference between the residual load and the load at the point of transition and comparing the effective load with the respective predetermined range; and/ordetermining an effective load energy between the point after the axial tension is released and the point of transition and comparing the effective load energy with the respective predetermined range. 10. A method of applying a compressive axial preload on adjacent rotatable elements serially arranged around a shaft, the method comprising: a) inducing the compressive axial preload by applying axial tension to a tensioning member connected to an abutment surface pressing against the elements when the tensioning member is under the axial tension, the tensioning member corresponding to the shaft around which the elements are arranged or to another elongated member, the axial tension being applied in a progressively increasing manner;b) monitoring a load in the tensioning member and/or in one or more of the elements and an elongation of the tensioning member as the axial tension is applied;c) determining at least one validation parameter from the load and the elongation;d) comparing each validation parameter with a respective predetermined range therefor;e) if each validation parameter is within the respective predetermined range, applying the axial tension up to a predetermined value, engaging a retaining member with the tensioning member to block retraction of the tensioning member and maintain the compressive axial preload on the elements, and releasing the axial tension; andf) if at least one of the at least one validation parameter is out of the respective predetermined range, releasing the axial tension on the tensioning member before the retaining member is engaged, at least partially disassembling elements from around the shaft, re-assembling the elements around the shaft, and repeating the method from step a). 11. The method as defined in claim 10, wherein the load increases linearly as a function of the elongation following a first rate of increase up to a point of transition and following a second rate of increase after the point of transition, and steps c) and d) include: determining the first rate of increase of the load with respect to the elongation; and comparing the first rate of increase with the respective predetermined range; and/ordetermining a transition load at the point of transition and comparing the transition load with the respective predetermined range; and/ordetermining the second rate of increase of the load with respect to the elongation and comparing the second rate of increase with the respective predetermined range. 12. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein step c) includes determining the first rate of increase of the load with respect to the elongation, and wherein the respective range for the first rate of increase is determined around a respective nominal value determined based on a stiffness of the elements and of the tensioning member. 13. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein step c) includes determining the transition load, and wherein the respective range for the transition load is determined around a respective nominal value determined based on a required interference fit between the elements and the shaft. 14. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein step c) includes determining the second rate of increase of the load with respect to the elongation, and wherein the respective range for the second rate of increase is determined around a respective nominal value determined based on a stiffness of the tensioning member without the elements. 15. The method as defined in claim 10, further comprising after engaging the retaining member with the tensioning member and releasing the axial tension: determining at least one additional validation parameter from the load and the elongation;comparing each additional validation parameter with a respective predetermined range; andif at least one of the at least one additional validation parameter is out of the respective predetermined range, re-applying the axial tension on the tensioning member up to a different value, adjusting a position of the retaining member on the tensioning member, and releasing the axial tension. 16. The method as defined in claim 15, wherein the load increases linearly as a function of the elongation following a first rate of increase up to a point of transition and following a second rate of increase after the point of transition, and determining the at least one additional validation parameter includes: determining a residual load at a point after the axial tension is released and comparing the residual load with the respective predetermined range; and/ordetermining an effective load corresponding to a difference between the residual load and the load at the point of transition and comparing the effective load with the respective predetermined range; and/ordetermining an effective load energy between the point after the axial tension is released and the point of transition and comparing the effective load energy with the respective predetermined range. 17. A system for validating a compressive axial preload on adjacent rotatable elements serially arranged around a shaft, the axial preload being created through application of a progressively increasing axial tension to a tensioning member configured to compress the elements when the axial tension is applied thereto, the system comprising: a processing unit configured to: receive measurement data from one or more sensors indicative of a physical quantity related to a load in the tensioning member and/or in one or more of the elements during application of the axial tension and indicative of a physical quantity related to an elongation of the tensioning member during application of the axial tension,determine the load and the elongation from the measurement data,determine at least one validation parameter from the load and the elongation,compare each validation parameter with a respective predetermined range therefor, andsend a comparison signal validating the compressive axial preload when each validation parameter is within the respective predetermined range and rejecting the compressive axial preload when at least one of the at least one validation parameter is out of the respective range;an output unit configured to receive the comparison signal and to output data based on the comparison signal; anda machine control unit configured to receive the comparison signal, the machine control unit accordingly actuating a machine tool responsive to validating or rejecting the compressive axial preload. 18. The system as defined in claim 17, wherein the machine control unit actuates the machine tool to apply the axial tension and/or cause a required displacement of the elements. 19. The system as defined in claim 17, wherein the load increases linearly as a function of the elongation following a first rate of increase up to a point of transition and following a second rate of increase after the point of transition, and wherein the preload is maintained through engagement of a retaining member with the tensioning member to prevent retraction of the tensioning member once the axial tension thereon is released, and wherein the processing unit includes: a first rate module configured to determine the first rate of increase of the load with respect to the elongation; and/ora transition module configured to determine a transition load at the point of transition; and/ora second rate module configured to determine the second rate of increase of the load with respect to the elongation; and/ora load module configured to determine one or both of a residual load at a point after the retaining member is engaged and the axial tension is released and an effective load corresponding to a difference between the residual load and the load at the point of transition; and/oran effective load energy module configured to determine an effective load energy between the point after the retaining member is engaged and the axial tension is released and the point of transition.