Ensuring　adequate　tightening　of　bolted　joints　is　necessary　since　they　are　more　prone　to　corrosion　in　a　harsh　environment　under　insufficient　preload.　To　this　end,　this　paper　first　conducted　an　accelerated　electrochemical　corrosion　experiment　to　expedite　the　corrosion　process　of　bolted　connections　over　different　periods.　The　results　show　that　as　the　corrosion　time　is　extended,　the　overall　dimensions　of　the　bolt　system　remarkably　decrease.　Moreover,　according　to　the　mass　loss　of　the　bolted　joints　in　3.5%　NaCl　solution,　the　rate　of　corrosion　continuously　changes.　Then,　a　real-time　monitoring　approach　based　on　active　sensing　was　utilized　to　evaluate　the　corrosion　conditions　of　bolted　joints.　The　stress　wave　generated　by　one　piezoceramic　transducer　propagates　through　the　bolted　joints　and　is　captured　via　another　transducer　that　acts　as　a　sensor.　The　energy　corresponding　to　the　stress　wave　signal　declines　during　the　corrosion　process,　and　the　normalized　wavelet　packet　energy　index　is　used　to　evaluate　the　degree　of　damage　to　the　bolted　joints.　Overall,　the　health　status　of　the　bolted　joints　is　significantly　affected　by　the　corrosion　time.　The　proposed　active　sensing　method　can　accurately　monitor　the　corrosion　process　of　bolted　joints.　The　experimental　results　verify　the　feasibility　and　practicality　of　the　real-time,　piezoceramic　transducer-enabled　method　for　monitoring　the　structural　health　of　corroded　bolted　joints.　©　2021,　Springer-Verlag　GmbH,　DE　part　of　Springer　Nature.