J Nondestruct Eval
DOI 10.1007/s10921-011-0109-5
Acoustic Emission Characterization of Failure Modes in GFRP
Laminates Under Mode I Delamination
V. Arumugam · S. Sajith · A. Joseph Stanley
Received: 26 April 2011 / Accepted: 21 June 2011
© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2011
Abstract In order to design structural components using
composite materials a deep understanding of the material
behaviour and its failure mechanisms is necessary. To create
a better understanding of the initiation, growth and interac-
tion of the different types of damage, damage monitoring
during mechanical loading is very important. To this direc-
tion, AE is a powerful non destructive technique for real
time monitoring of damage development in materials and
structures which has been used successfully for the identi-
fication of damage mechanisms in composite structures un-
der quasi static and dynamic-cycle loading. In this present
work, pure resin plate and GFRP composite laminates with
stacking sequence of [00 ]6 , are fabricated using Hand lay-up
method. During the layup a Teflon tape of width 45 mm is
kept in the mid plane of the laminate which serves as an ini-
tiator for delamination during loading. As per ASTM STD
D5528 01 DCB (Double Cantilever Beam) specimens are
cut out from the laminates and are subjected to tensile test in
the transverse direction along with acoustic emission moni-
toring. While loading, Markings are made on the sides of the
specimen to track the crack front using a magnifying lens.
Parametric analysis is performed on the AE data obtained
during crack propagation to discriminate the failure modes.
Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) enabled the calculation of fre-
quency content of each damage mechanism. Further STFFT
analysis is performed on a portion of the waveforms repre-
senting the dominant frequency content pertaining to each
damage mechanism.
V. Arumugam () · S. Sajith
Department of Aerospace Engineering, Anna University,
Chennai, India
e-mail: arumugam.mitaero@gmail.com
A.J. Stanley
MIT Campus, Anna University, Chennai, India
Keywords Acoustic emission · GFRP laminates · Mode I
delamination · FFT and STFFT
1 Introduction
Composite materials are nowadays used widely because of
its high strength/Stiffness, light weight and corrosion re-
sistance properties. Hence the knowledge of the damage
behaviour and the transition of damage from a subcritical
stage to a critical stage are of considerable interest in the
case of composite materials [1]. Many NDT techniques are
used for the characterization of the damage mechanisms
in composite structures. AE is one of the powerful non-
destructive techniques for real-time monitoring of damage
development, in materials and structures under quasi-static
as well as dynamic loading conditions [2]. AE monitoring
offers a solution to these experimental and theoretical prob-
lems by the characterization of the failure modes on micro-
scopic scales, by classifying the mechanisms involved and
by quantifying the extension of damage zones [3–8]. Most
studies so far have used AE descriptors such as counts, am-
plitude, energy and also multi parameter method to charac-
terize the development of failure mechanisms. In this way,
Siron et al. [9] used AE waveform parameters to investigate
damage indicators which are related to the physical dam-
age of the composite. Ramirez-Jimenez et al. have applied
the frequency method to identify the failure modes in glass
polypropylene composites [10].
V. Kostopoulos used pattern recognition techniques to
classify the failure modes during Mode I delamination of
CFRP laminates with PZT particles added to the epoxy ma-
trix [11]. A.R. Osokouei used wavelet based signal process-
ing technique to detect the damage types during mode I de-
lamination on glass/polyester composites [12]. Huguet and

Godin et al. tracked the critical waveforms of different fail-
ure modes based on parametric based approach i.e. by us-
ing the amplitude parameter [13]. A. Marec used the Fuzzy
C means clustering algorithm with PCA to correlate each
clusters to the failure mechanisms [14]. C.R.L. Murthy in
his paper have used the KSOM for the discrimination of the
failure mechanisms and the noises present in it [15]. Chun-
Gon Kim in his paper has studied the different failure modes
using wavelet transform [16]. L.H. Yam in his paper used
the wavelet analysis to track the initial damage occurring in
composite structures [17]. Bussiba et al. used STFFT analy-
sis for the discrimination of failure modes in composite lam-
inates [18]. In this present paper DCB Specimens cut from
GFRP laminates with zero degree fiber orientation are sub-
jected to tensile testing with acoustic emission monitoring.
Dominant AE parameters such as AE count, energy, ampli-
tude, duration, rise time and peak frequency are recorded
during the test. Parametric analysis is performed on the AE
data for initial investigation of failure modes. Range of Peak
frequencies obtained during the tensile test are investigated
using FFT analysis. Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) enabled
the calculation of frequency content of each damage mech-
anism. Randomly chosen hits from each range of peak fre-
quencies are then analysed using STFFT analysis. STFFT
analysis is used to highlight the duration of failure mecha-
nisms associated with each signal.
2 Specimen Preparation
A 300 × 300 mm GFRP composite laminates with stacking
sequence of [00 ]6 are fabricated with 6 layers of Glass with
Epoxy (LY556) as the binding medium containing a non-
adhesive insert (Teflon) in the mid-plane using hand lay-
up technique and cured at room temperature for 24 hours.
This Teflon tape serves as an initiator for delamination. For
pure resin specimen, Epoxy LY556 alone is used. The thick-
ness of the Teflon insert is 13 µm and 45 mm in width. It
should be free from surface wrinkling. Mode I delamina-
tion testing is carried out using ASTM D5528 01 Standard
DCB specimens of size 130 × 25 × 5 mm3 that are cut from
the fabricated laminates. Care should be taken so that the
non-adhesive insert (Teflon) is at one end of the specimen as
shown in Fig. 1. The bonding surface of the specimen and
the loading block or piano hinge are grit blasted or scrubbed
with sandpaper, and then cleaned with volatile solvents like
acetone or methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), to remove any con-
taminates. The hinges are bonded to the specimen using a
thin layer of adhesive like araldite to keep the loading tabs
parallel with the specimen, and with each other.
J Nondestruct Eval
Fig. 1 DCB beam for Mode I delamination testing
3 Experimental Procedure
3.1 Mode I Delamination Testing
For Mode I delamination studies (face opening mode) load
is applied in transverse direction through piano hinges or
loading blocks as shown in Fig. 1 using an INSTRON
3367 Universal Testing Machine with 30 kN capacity load
cell. Displacement control mode is preferred to load con-
trol mode for this testing. The crosshead speed is main-
tained at a rate of 1 mm/min. A travelling optical microscope
or an equivalent magnifying device with an accuracy of at
least ±0.5 mm is used to observe the delamination front as
it propagates along one edge. Delamination length can be
measured with the help of markings that are made at the
sides of the specimen.
3.2 Acoustic Emission Monitoring
An 8 channel AE system supplied by Physical Acoustics
Corporation (PAC) is used for this purpose. The sampling
rate and pre amplification are kept as 1 MSPS and 40 dB
respectively. Preamplifiers having a bandwidth of 10 kHz–
2 MHz are used. The ambient noise was filtered using a
threshold of 45 dB. AE activities are sensed using wide
band WD piezoelectric sensors (the sensor that gives same
response over a wide frequency range). The operating fre-
quency range of the sensors used is in the range of 100–
900 kHz. High vacuum silicon grease is used as a couplant.
Velocity and attenuation studies are performed on the lam-
inates. The average wave velocity in the material is found
to be 3078 m/s. The Pre-Trigger value and the Hits length
value are estimated as 26 µsec and 4 K.The timing param-
eters are calculated and are as follows: Peak definition time
(PDT) = 30 µs, Hit definition time (HDT) = 160 µs, Hit
lockout time (HLT) = 300 µs. The HDT is calculated from
trial and error method. Proper setting of the HDT ensures
that each signal from the structure is reported as one and
only signal.
J Nondestruct Eval
Fig. 2 Load versus AE energy versus load point displacement
4 Results and Discussion
4.1 Parametric Analysis
DCB Specimens cut from GFRP laminates with zero de-
gree fiber orientation are subjected to Mode I tensile testing
with acoustic emission monitoring. Dominant AE parame-
ters such as AE count, energy, amplitude, duration, rise time
and peak frequency are recorded during the test. Parametric
analysis is performed on the AE data for initial investigation
of failure modes.
Figure 2 shows the variation of load and AE energy with
load point displacement. At the initial stages of loading most
of the hits are associated with lower energy levels which are
possibly related to matrix cracking. Beyond the non- linear
load point acoustic emission activity increases and still be-
yond the ultimate load more number of hits with higher en-
ergy levels are recorded. This may be possibly related to the
macro failures which are normally initiated at the time of
visible crack opening. The hits corresponding to the macro
failure such as crack opening and friction are associated
with higher energy, higher duration and higher amplitude.
Beyond the crack initiation point, the crack propagation is
stable which can be also seen from the AE energy rate re-
maining constant throughout the crack opening in Fig. 2.
4.2 Frequency Analysis of AE Signals
To discriminate the failure modes involved in Mode I delam-
ination testing of composite laminates, frequency analysis is
one of the promising technique. The AE energy correspond-
ing to the different failure mechanisms are related to the
amount of strain energy released. Therefore AE waveform
corresponding to the failure modes such as matrix cracking,
fiber pullout, debonding, delamination and fiber failure are
investigated using the AE parameters such as amplitude, du-
ration, energy and peak frequency. Figure 3 shows the vari-
ation of peak frequency with time for the DCB specimen
subjected to tensile test with AE monitoring. Five ranges
Fig. 3 Peak frequency versus time
of peak frequencies are identified. At the initial stages of
loading and before the crack initiation most of the hits are
recorded in the frequency range of 90–120 kHz which may
be possibly related to Matrix cracking. AE hits in the fre-
quency range of 300–450 kHz are found to occur well be-
yond the initiation of crack. Hence the high peak frequency
range 300–450 kHz may be possibly related to fiber failure
mechanism. The remaining range of peak frequencies which
occurs from the time of crack opening such as 130–200 kHz,
220–245 kHz and 260–295 kHz may be related to fiber pull-
out, fiber matrix debonding and delamination respectively.
4.3 Pure Resin Specimen
For the purpose of Matrix cracking studies, pure resin spec-
imens are fabricated using LY556 Epoxy with HY 051 as
hardener. The pure resin specimens are subjected to uniax-
ial tensile test with acoustic emission monitoring. Figure 4a
and 4b shows the typical waveform of AE signal and FFT
magnitude pertaining to the Matrix cracking signal obtained
from pure resin specimen. Figures 5a and 5b shows the typi-
cal waveform of AE signal and FFT magnitude pertaining to
the Matrix cracking signal obtained from Mode I DCB spec-
imen. For the DCB specimen FFT analysis is performed for
the AE hit data obtained before the initiation of crack open-
ing. From the FFT Magnitude plot the dominant peak fre-
quency content is found to be in the range of 90–120 kHz.
Hence the frequency range of 90–120 kHz is associated with
matrix cracking.
4.4 Identification of Fibre Pull-out Failure Mode
There is yet another peak frequency content in the range of
130–200 kHz identified during the course of testing from
where the delamination and debonding initiates. To inves-
tigate the nature of the failure mechanism in the frequency
range of 130–200 kHz, Mode I Delamination is carried out
for zero degree oriented specimens; cross ply and angle ply
specimens. In that study more number of hits in the peak
frequency range of 130–200 kHz is found to occur in spec-
imens with zero degree orientation. It is observed that this

Fig. 4a Typical AE waveform of matrix cracking for pure resin spec-
imen
Fig. 4b Frequency domain of AE signal for matrix cracking for pure
resin specimen
Fig. 5a Typical AE waveform of matrix cracking for DCB specimen
failure is highly influenced by the orientation of the fiber
which may be possibly related to fiber breakage or fiber pull
out. Since the AE signals in the peak frequency range of
130–200 kHz are of low to moderate amplitude and low
duration, this failure mechanism is identified as fiber pull-
out failure mode [17]. Figures 6a and 6b shows the typical
waveform of AE signal and FFT magnitude pertaining to the
Fiber pull out signal obtained from Mode I DCB specimen.
J Nondestruct Eval
Fig. 5b Frequency domain of AE signal for matrix cracking for DCB
specimen
Fig. 6a Typical AE waveform for fiber pull out
Fig. 6b Frequency domain of AE signal for fiber pull out
4.5 Identification of Fiber Failure Mode
A range of peak frequency content is identified only after
a while from where the delamination initiates. The failure
mode in this peak frequency range is of high frequency and
can be related to a micro event known as fiber failure. Gen-
erally the fibre failure mechanism corresponds to high fre-
quency [19]. It occurs only after the fiber pulls out and fibre
bridging phenomenon is observed between the fractured sur-
faces. Fiber bridging for Mode I delamination was reported
J Nondestruct Eval
Fig. 7a Typical AE waveform for fibre breakage
Fig. 7b Frequency domain of AE signal for fibre breakage
by Bascom [19]. Figures 7a and 7b shows the typical wave-
form of AE signal and FFT magnitude pertaining to the fiber
breakage signal obtained from Mode I DCB specimen. The
frequency content pertaining to the fiber failure mode was
found to be in the range of 300–450 kHz. More ever the AE
signals in this frequency range are associated with high am-
plitudes.
4.6 Identification of Debonding and Delamination Failure
Modes
There are two ranges of peak frequencies identified in be-
tween 220–290 kHz. The first frequency range 220–245 kHz
possesses low to medium amplitude, moderate duration
which corresponds to fiber matrix debonding [21]. The sec-
ond frequency range of 260–295 kHz is associated with
moderate to high amplitude and typically has high duration
which corresponds to delamination. These failure modes
which are found to be overlapping are discriminated initially
using parametric analysis. Figures 8 and 9 shows the varia-
tion of peak frequency versus amplitude and duration for the
AE signals in the frequency range of 220–290 kHz. From the
plots it is evident that AE signals in the frequency range of
220–245 kHz are of low to medium amplitude and moder-
ate duration whereas AE signals in the frequency range of
Fig. 8 Peak frequency versus amplitude for fiber matrix debonding
and delamination
Fig. 9 Peak frequency versus duration for fiber matrix debonding and
delamination
260–295 kHz are of moderate to high amplitude and high
duration. Figures 10a and 10b shows the typical waveform
of AE signal and FFT magnitude pertaining to the fiber ma-
trix debonding signal obtained from Mode I DCB speci-
men. Figures 11a and 11b shows the typical waveform of
AE signal and FFT magnitude pertaining to the Delamina-
tion signal obtained from Mode I DCB specimen. Further
using STFFT analysis it was found that Delamination has
high duration than fiber matrix debonding. In this way fiber
matrix debonding and Delamination failure modes are dis-
criminated.
5 STFFT Analysis
Short time Fast Fourier transform (STFFT) can be used to
obtain the time frequency information of a small portion
of the signal. It calculates the local spectral density using
windowing techniques to analyze a dominant section of the
signal at a time. This gives a picture into how a wave-
form’s frequency content is varying at any particular instant
of time [20, 21]. STFFT analysis is used to highlight the
possible failure mechanism associated with each signal [21].
STFFT analysis is further performed for a small portion of
the AE waveform corresponding to the dominant frequency
 J Nondestruct Eval

Fig. 10a Typical AE waveform for fiber matrix debonding

Fig. 11a Typical AE waveform for delamination

Fig. 10b Frequency domain of AE signal for fiber matrix debonding

Fig. 11b Frequency domain of AE signal for delamination

content of the failure modes such as matrix cracking, fiber
pullout, debonding, delamination and fiber failure. Figure 12
shows the STFFT analysis performed on a portion of the
dominant frequency content pertaining to the different fail-
ure modes. From the STFFT analysis it is evident that 1. Ma-
trix cracking has low, medium and high amplitude, short to
moderate duration with low frequency content. 2. Fiber pull
out signals are associated with low to moderate amplitude,
low duration and are with low frequency content. 3. Fiber
Matrix debonding which occurs after the initiation of crack
opening is normally associated with low to medium am-
plitude, moderate duration and medium frequency content.
4. Delamination signals are associated with moderate to high
amplitude and typically have long duration and medium fre-
quency content. 5. Fiber breakage is normally associated Fig. 12 STFFT representation of all failure modes
with moderate amplitude and long duration with high fre-
quency content [10, 22].

5.1 Discrimination of Failure Modes Using AE Energy
In Mode I Delamination studies AE energy is the measure of
the Strain energy released during crack opening. Figure 13
shows the AE energy versus Peak frequency for the differ-
ent failure modes. From the plots it is observed that Matrix
cracking signals in the frequency range of 90–120 KHz oc-
curs at low to high energy levels. The AE energy values for
Fiber pull out signals in the frequency range of 130–200 kHz
are found to be low. Fiber matrix debonding signals in the
frequency range of 220–245 kHz possess medium AE en-
ergy values; whereas Delamination signals in the frequency
range of 260–295 kHz possess relatively higher energy in
comparison with Fiber matrix debonding signals. The AE
energy values for Fiber breakage signals which are in the
range of 300–450 kHz are found to be very low.
J Nondestruct Eval
Fig. 13 AE energy versus peak frequency for different failure modes
6 Conclusion
The purpose of this study was to discriminate the failure
modes in GFRP composite laminates during Mode I delam-
ination testing. The signal processing procedure permitted
successfully to identify the damage mechanisms. The la-
beling of AE signals with specific damage modes was car-
ried out by waveform comparison and FFT analysis. STFFT
analysis was carried out to understand the sequence of fail-
ure events associated with each dominant failure mode.
Time information of frequency range for specific failure
modes like matrix cracking, Fiber pull out, Fiber matrix de
bonding, delamination and Fiber breakage are investigated.
From the results it is evident that Matrix cracking has low,
medium and high amplitude, short to moderate duration and
low to medium and high energy levels. Fiber pull out signals
are associated with low to moderate amplitude, low duration
and low energy. Fiber matrix debonding is associated with
low to medium amplitude, moderate duration medium en-
ergy values. Delamination signals are associated with mod-
erate to high amplitude and typically have long duration and
comparatively higher energy values. Fiber breakage is nor-
mally associated with moderate amplitude and long duration
with very low energy values in contrast to specimens sub-
jected to tensile load along the longitudinal direction. This
procedure is found to be useful in the investigation of failure
mechanisms in composite laminates.
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