Acoustic Emission

M. Vedani
Failure and Control of Metals - AY 2020/21
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 Principles of Acoustic Emission

Acoustic emission (AE) is a monitoring technique that can reveal defect formation and
their evolution (nucleation and propagation) inside materials and components under
load. It is used both in laboratory and on field tests, for in-service monitoring of
structures and plants

AE testing is based on the detection of mechanical waves caused by rapid energy

release from a localized source inside a medium, and their conversion into electrical
signals
 Acoustic Emission measurement

 To perform the measurements, piezoelectric probes are fixed on the surface of

the component, and the latter is intentionally stimulated (stressed) in order to
produce detectable signals
 Probes are placed in site by devices allowing a stable positioning over time and
changing conditions, in order to avoid any unwanted displacement from the
original analysis position
 As for US, a couplant agent is necessary
between probes and surface
 The signals from each probe are collected,
amplified, filtered and analyzed before
visualization
 As the method allows to record in real time
the presence of defects under development,
it offers the possibility of online monitoring,
for example when performing hydrostatic
testing, leak testing, or directly during
service of plants
 Acoustic Emission sources

The source of emissions in metals can be closely associated with the initiation and
propagation of micro-cracks or cracks (sudden release of elastic energy) in structures
subjected to mechanical or thermal stresses
Other possible sources of AE can be:
 motion of dislocations accompanying plastic deformation
 melting and solidification,
 phase transformations,
 cooling cracks (quench cracks),
 corrosion phenomena

Different types of sources generate noises (AE) with specific spatial distribution of the
signal phase
Using multiple sensors, it can be possible not only to identify the type of event, but
also to locate the source of noise
 Acoustic Emission sources

Example of the position of AE piezoelectric Example of recorded AE signal and identification of

sensors on a specimen for fracture mechanics some typical event parameters
tests

By carefully analyzing the statistics of AE signal, considering the features of single

events such as their amplitude, duration, rise-time, counts, it is possible to state the
type of defects generating them and their evolution with external loading conditions
 Advantages and limitations

 The big advantage of AE is the ability to detect structural cracks, corrosion cracks,
extensive deformations as soon as they develop even under service, as a form of
continuous monitoring
 The entire structure can be monitored by placing a minimum number of sensors
in appropriate locations
 Analyses can be done while the plant/part is operating
 It is also possible to set appropriate alarms connected to the signal processing
systems, to assure a continuous automatic monitoring
 There is the possibility to locate the source of acoustic emissions using a system
with multiple sensors.
 Changes in the structure can also be detected even at the microscopic level as
long as sufficiently high energy is released

 Only changes occurring “dynamically” can be detected. A structure that has

already been damaged does not show any distinctive signal if there is no
evolution of the flaws
Application of AE in linepipes