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Acoustic Emission Testing Method

Level I Questions

1. Hold Periods at high during fiberglass reinforced pressure (FRP) vessel

examinations using ASME Article II are necessary to:
a. Calculate the felicity ration
b. Check for leaks
c. Monitor continuing damage
d. Measure the Kaiser ratio

2. In acoustic emission testing per ASME Section V, Article 11, sensor

spacing on fiberglass-reinforced pressure (FRP) pressure vessels in
governed by:
a. The article temperature
b. Sensor diameter
c. Attenuation
d. The type o couplant

3. How can an examiner be assured that proper contact has been made
between the sensor and the vessel?
a. Apply extra couplant around the sensor
b. Use heavy-duty fasteners on sensors and cables
c. Measure the peak amplitude response from a simulated acoustic
emission source
d. Use acoustic waveguides

4. The source of the energy of the acoustic emission wave during crack
growth is the:
a. Acoustic emission sensor
b. Surface energy of the new crack
c. Elastic stress field in the structure
d. Power supply from the mainframe to the preamplifier

5. Which of the following can be a significant source of background

noise?
a. Inrushing fluid
b. Wind
c. Radio transmissions
d. All of the above

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6. The elastic energy that is released by materials when they undergo

deformation is called:
a. Transformation
b. Acoustic emission
c. Brittle fracture
d. Isotropy

7. One of the two major differences in the acoustic emission method from
other forms of NDT is that:
a. Acoustic emission relies on visual interpretation of data
b. Computers are used exclusively for analysis
c. The energy detected is radiated from the defect itself
d. Transducers are used to gather data

8. One advantage of using acoustic emission over other forms of NDT is

that acoustic emission can:
a. Be used to evaluate an entire structure during one test
b. Be used to “size” a discontinuity in a material
c. Determine material thicknesses
d. Measure thermal gradients within a material

9. During loading, a metallic structure emits throughout the test period.

When the load is reduced and then reapplied, no emissions are noted
until the previous stress level was exceeded. This phenomenon is an
example of:
a. The Dunegan corollary
b. The Kaiser effect
c. The Felicity ratio
d. A Hsu-Nielsen source

10. The founder of modern acoustic emission technology was:

a. Conrad Earl Krieder
b. Professor Firestone
c. James C. Bolling
d. Josef Kaiser

11. The test most often performed on a structure to determine maximum

sensor spacing is called:
a. A flaw detection test
b. An attenuation test
c. An EMI test
d. A Kaiser test

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12. The use of a couplant between the acoustic emission sensor and the
surface of the material being tested is to provide:
a. A protection for the sensor
b. Ground loop elimination
c. A medium through which elastic stress waves can excite an acoustic
emission sensor
d. None of the above

13. During a pressure vessel test, there is a rapidly (exponentially)

increasing count rate. There are several possible causes. The operator’s
first priority is to examine the possibility that:
a. The initial system calibration was invalid
b. The vessel is undergoing local yielding due to high secondary stresses
c. Failure of the vessel is impending
d. The level of background noise has increased

14. In order for an acoustic emission (AE) system to detect an active AE

source in a material, the AE sensor must be placed:
a. Directly on the AE source
b. Anywhere in the general vicinity of the AE source
c. As far from the AE source as possible
d. At a standard distance from the AE source

15. Which of the following is measured in meters per second (m/s)?

a. The time required for a crack to grow
b. The resonant frequency of a material
c. The velocity of sound in a given material
d. The rate of strain when a material is being deformed

16. A sensor is positioned 3 m form an acoustic emission (AE) source. If a

particular component of the AE wave travels at 3000 m/s, how long will it
take this component to travel from source to sensor?
a. 1 millisecond
b. 3 milliseconds
c. 9 milliseconds
d. 1000 milliseconds

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17. One of the major difference is the acoustic emission NDT method
compared to most other NDT methods is that:
a. Acoustic emission relies on visual interpretation of data
b. Computers are used exclusively for analysis
c. Acoustic emission directly detects the growth of flaw
d. Transducers are used to gather data

18. Which of the following facilitates the transmission of acoustic waves to

a typical sensor?
a. Active element
b. Surface of the test object
c. Couplant
d. Damping material

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Acoustic Emission Testing Method

Level I Answers

Question Answers
1 C
2 C
3 C
4 C
5 D
6 B
7 C
8 A
9 B
10 D
11 B
12 C
13 C
14 B
15 C
16 A
17 C
18 C

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