Review on Structural Health Evaluation with Acoustic Emission

Abstract

This review introduces several areas of importance in acoustic emission (AE) technology, starting from signal attenuation. Signal loss is a critical issue in any large-scale AE monitoring, but few systematic studies have appeared. Information on damping and attenuation has been gathered from metal, polymer, and composite fields to provide a useful method for AE monitoring. This is followed by discussion on source location, bridge monitoring, sensing and signal processing, and pressure vessels and tanks, then special applications are briefly covered. Here, useful information and valuable sources are identified with short comments indicating their significance. It is hoped that readers note developments in areas outside of their own specialty for possible cross-fertilization.

A Simple Estimation Method of Weibull Modulus and Verification with Strength Data

“…The simple estimation method improved in this study can easily add Weibull modulus data to elaborate data collection and analysis conducted in metal and construction industries and elsewhere. The m values will be beneficial in subsequent analyses, such as those conducted in the structural health monitoring of structures [140].…”

A Comprehensive Report on Ultrasonic Attenuation of Engineering Materials, Including Metals, Ceramics, Polymers, Fiber-Reinforced Composites, Wood, and Rocks

“…The methods include ultrasonic testing (UT), which uses active interrogation of target components, and acoustic emission (AE) testing, which relies primarily on "acoustic" signals emitted from the target. In recent years, their roles have expanded into continual monitoring and preventive maintenance of wide-ranging products and infrastructures, offering useful tools for structural health monitoring [4][5][6][7]. As the size of structures being inspected increases, the attenuation of stress waves becomes a concern, especially for components of modern fiber-reinforced composites and other high damping materials.…”

Structural Health Monitoring of Large Structures Using Acoustic Emission–Case Histories

“…Lastly, a review paper by the present author, 'Review on structural health evaluation with acoustic emission' [3] gave an overview of the current status of AE contribution to SHM. This article first examined signal attenuation, since any AE application seeks minimizing the number of sensors.…”

“…Acoustic emission (AE) techniques have successfully been used for assuring the structural integrity of large rocket motorcases since 1963 [1], and their uses have been expanded to ever larger structures [2,3], especially since the structural health monitoring (SHM) of large structures has become an urgent task for engineering communities globally. The needs for advanced methods of AE monitoring are felt most keenly by those dealing with aging infrastructure.…”