27-11-2018

SCHOOL MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Department of Design and Automation

NON DESTRUCTIVE TESTING (NDT)

Dr. S. RENOLD ELSEN

Acoustic emission

Radiation of acoustic (elastic) waves in solids that occurs when

a material undergoes irreversible changes in its internal
structure.

Acoustic Emission (AE) techniques have been studied in civil

engineering for a long time.

1
 27-11-2018

Development of Acoustic
emission
• The sample due to loading/movement will create elastic stress
waves.
• Also, if an dynamic/moving defect when the sample is loaded
Acoustic emission.

sources

The source of AE is the redistribution of the stress field in the sample

due to movement of defect in atomic scale.

• Crack initiation and propagation due to loading.

• Elastic deformation due to aging.
• Thermo-mechanical strain.
• Seismic waves
• Slip and twining
• Phase transformation

2
 27-11-2018

Detection of Ae

Detection and analysis of AE signals can supply valuable

information regarding the origin and importance of a
discontinuity in a material.

assessing structural integrity,

detecting flaws,
testing for leaks,
monitoring weld quality) and
is used extensively as a research tool.

GenerAtion of stress

• Loading has to be done for generation of elastic stress waves.

It may be crack initiation and propagation.

 The sample is loaded in a pattern.

 The sample will be induced to develop the elastic stress waves.
 This elastic stress waves propagates.

3
 27-11-2018

Acoustic emission

uniqueness of Ae

Dynamic Structure
• Other NDT techniques detects the existing defects.
• The active crack will be observed by AE.
• The test has to done only by loading the test specimen.
• The test can be done during service as well.

Static Structure
• Load bearing structures can also be tested.
• Big structures can be inspected in an single examination.
• By placing a no of sensors at critical positions.

4
 27-11-2018

loADinG Develops

• Metals
 Micro and macro cracks initiating and propagation. (Lead to
generation of acoustic emission).
 Micro dynamics events like twinning.
 Movement of dislocation
 Brittle inclusions fracture
 Corrosion leads to elastic wave generation
 Phase transformation of metals. Generally leads to change in volume.
This change in volume leads to development of strain.

loADinG Develops

• Fibre reinforced Composite

 Fibre fracture at medium strain level.
 Delamination at high strain level.
 Fibre pull out from matrix leading to voids
 Matrix cracking at low strain level.
 Fibre bebonding from matrix at low strain level.

5
 27-11-2018

loADinG Develops

• Concrete
 The reinforcing steel bars (RSB) can develop micro and macro crack
 Separation of RSB from concrete
 Mechanical rubbing of RSB after separation.

loADinG Develops

• Tanker
 Due to leakage of water, the flow passing the hole develop AE
 Turbulence/Turbulent jet due to presence of liquid head
 Material corrosion

6
 27-11-2018

ADvAntAGe

• No external sources and no external supply of

energy
• It detects active defects and highlights them.
• Full structure can be examined
• Time and cost is minimal

DisADvAntAGe

• It is an qualitative method
• The location size of the defect is not known.
• Loud service environments hinders the test accuracy.
• Overall acceptability of a part is not known

7
 27-11-2018

other ApplicAtions

• Fiber-reinforced polymer-matrix composites, in particular glass-fiber

reinforced parts or structures (e.g. fan blades)
• Material research (e.g. investigation of material properties, breakdown
mechanisms, and damage behavior)
• Inspection and quality assurance, (e.g. wood drying processes, scratch
tests)
• Real-time leakage test and location within various components (small
valves, steam lines, tank bottoms)
• Detection and location of high-voltage partial discharges in
transformers
• Railroad tank car and rocket motor testing.