Showing papers on "Acoustic emission published in 2000"

Quasi‐static fault growth and cracking in homogeneous brittle rock under triaxial compression using acoustic emission monitoring

Abstract: This paper describes the localization of deformation acceleration in the period prior to dynamic failure in hornblende schist rock under triaxial compression using acoustic emission (AE) monitoring. Rather than stabilize the failure process by controlling axial stress to maintain a constant rate of AE (for monitoring AE hypocenters) as in previous works (e.g., Lockner et al., 1991), we have instead developed a rapid multichannel data collection system. This enables us to elucidate the dynamics of fault nucleation under condition of constant stress (creep) loading, which is a better approximation to low strain rate condition in the Earth and allows both quasi- static and dynamic crack growth to occur. The waveforms of more than 8000 AE events which occurred mainly during a 15 s period were recorded on 32 channels, with a sampling rate of 50 ns and mask time of 200 µs. Hypocentral locations of AE sources revealed that the fault initiated at one end of the core and then propagated into the unfaulted rock with a process zone (fault front) of intense cracking. We found that there were two different processes operating during the quasi-static nucleation of a shear fault, namely, a process zone in front of the fault tip and a "wake" of damage zone following the process zone. The process zone had the following features: (1) major tensile cracking, (2) low b value and fewer larger events, and (3) strong self- excitation. The mechanism of crack interaction and fault growth was, therefore, a mutual enhancement on dilatation due to tensile cracking. On the other hand, the damage zone was characterized by (1) major shear cracking, (2) low b value and more larger events, and (3) weak self-excitation, indicating that in the damage zone, following the development of a shear fault, linkage between cracks became the major mechanism of crack interaction and fault development. The mutual changes of b value and self-exciting strength observed in our experiments seem to occur as a result of the hierarchy of fault growth, which was not observed under slowed down loading conditions. Therefore our experimental results, under a realistic approximation of the dynamic condition of the Earth, are meaningful for the problems of earthquakes as well as rock bursts.

Assessing Damage in Corroded Reinforced Concrete Using Acoustic Emission

Abstract: The acoustic emission (AE) behavior of reinforced concrete beams tested under flexural loading was investigated to characterize and identify different sources of damage including microcrack development, localized crack propagation, and debonding of the reinforcing steel. By testing plain, notched-plain, reinforced, and corroded-reinforced specimens, different damage mechanisms were isolated and characterized. AE events were analyzed using conventional AE parameters. In addition, waveform analysis was conducted using both fast Fourier transform and wavelet transform methods. AE event rate and AE generation behavior showed different aspects depending on the degree of corrosion of reinforcing steel. The results of the cross-plot, typically amplitude versus duration, showed a clear difference with each stage of damage. Both AE parameter analysis and waveform analysis exhibited a favorable correlation with the condition of damage in the reinforced concrete beams. As a result, AE may provide a promising method to estimate the damage of reinforced concrete structures.

Fracture process zone in granite

Abstract: In uniaxial compression tests performed on Aue granite cores (diameter 50 mm, length 100 mm), a steel loading plate was used to induce the formation of a discrete shear fracture. A zone of distributed microcracks surrounds the tip of the propagating fracture. This process zone is imaged by locating acoustic emission events using 12 piezoceramic sensors attached to the samples. Propagation velocity of the process zone is varied by using the rate of acoustic emissions to control the applied axial force. The resulting velocities range from 2 mm/s in displacement-controlled tests to 2 μm/s in tests controlled by acoustic emission rate. Wave velocities and amplitudes are monitored during fault formation. P waves transmitted through the approaching process zone show a drop in amplitude of 26 dB, and ultrasonic velocities are reduced by 10%. The width of the process zone is ∼9 times the grain diameter inferred from acoustic data but is only 2 times the grain size from optical crack inspection. The process zone of fast propagating fractures is wider than for slow ones. The density of microcracks and acoustic emissions increases approaching the main fracture. Shear displacement scales linearly with fracture length. Fault plane solutions from acoustic events show similar orientation of nodal planes on both sides of the shear fracture. The ratio of the process zone width to the fault length in Aue granite ranges from 0.01 to 0.1 inferred from crack data and acoustic emissions, respectively. The fracture surface energy is estimated from microstructure analysis to be ∼2 J. A lower bound estimate for the energy dissipated by acoustic events is 0.1 J.

Compaction localization in porous rock

Abstract: Experimental work on shear localization in porous sandstone led to the observation of nonuniform compaction. By analogy with shear localization, the process is referred to as compaction localization. To gain insight into the process of compaction localization, acoustic emission locations were used to define and track the thicknesses of localized zones of compaction during axisymmetric compression experiments. Zones of acoustic emission, demarcating the boundaries between the uncompacted and compacted regions, developed and moved parallel to the sample axis at velocities an order of magnitude higher than the imposed specimen shortening rate. Thus tabular zones of compaction were found to grow (thicken) in the direction of maximum compressive stress. These structures may form due to tectonic stresses or as a result of local stresses induced during production of fluids from wells, resulting in barriers to fluid (oil, gas, water) movement in sandstone reservoirs.

Mapping the cavitation intensity in an ultrasonic bath using the acoustic emission

Abstract: A new method for separate identification and determination of the spatial distribution of the two components of the energy intensity in an ultrasound bath (due to the ultrasound waves and cavitation activity) uses two media - cavitating (water) and noncavitating (silicon oil) - under the conditions of the acoustic field in the ultrasound bath. The variation of cavitation intensity in the frequency domain was obtained by subtracting the acoustic emission spectrum of silicon oil from that of water. Measurements at various locations in the bath revealed significant spatial variations in the cavitation intensity in the bath. The local cavitation phenomena in the bath (stable or transient cavitation) were explained based on the spectral characteristics of acoustic emission. The radial dynamics of the bubbles at the location of cavitation intensity measurements was determined using the Gilmore model of bubble dynamics. The bubbles in the region of highest cavitation intensity underwent a transient motion, while the bubbles in the region of lowest cavitation intensity underwent stable/oscillatory motion. The transient collapse of the bubbles that gives rise to local temperature and pressure maxima is at the root of the observed effects of ultrasound on chemical systems. The more violent the collapse of the bubbles, the higher the local cavitation intensity. It was verified using the spectral characteristics of the acoustic emission and simulation of the radial motion of the bubbles.

Wavelet-based AE characterization of composite materials

Abstract: This paper addresses an application of recently developed wavelet-based signal processing technique on a composite fracture behavior study. Here, the wavelet methodology is introduced, and a complete procedure of wavelet-based acoustic emission (AE) analysis methods developed by the author are demonstrated. In this research, the AE signals from glass fiber reinforced (GFR) composites are collected during the standard quasi-static tensile testing and transformed by the Daubechies discrete wavelets using the programs developed by the author. Based on AE tests, the fracture behaviors are studied for the material. In the study of GFR composite fracture behavior, classical linear fracture mechanics method is used for comparison. The exponential constant m value used to determine the relationship between stress and stress intensity factor are compared relative to the classical fracture mechanics and the AE techniques. In order to demonstrate the advantage of the wavelet-based AE techniques, the conventional AE analysis is also provided side-by-side for comparison. The results verify that the wavelet-based method better approximates residual strength relative to the classical AE techniques. In this paper, the results of the wavelet-based AE analysis of glass fiber composites are presented. The results indicate that wavelets-based signal processing is an efficient tool in the analysis and the transformation of AE signals.

Critical Ruptures

Abstract: The fracture of materials is a catastrophic phenomenon of considerable technological and scientific importance Here, we analysed experiments designed for industrial applications in order to test the concept that, in heterogeneous materials such as fiber composites, rocks, concrete under compression and materials with large distributed residual stresses, rupture is a genuine critical point, ie the culmination of a self-organization of damage and cracking characterized by power law signatures Specifically, we analyse the acoustic emissions recorded during the pressurisation of spherical tanks of kevlar or carbon fibers pre-impregnated in a resin matrix wrapped up around a thin metallic liner (steel or titanium) fabricated and instrumented by Aerospatiale-Matra Inc These experiments are performed as part of a routine industrial procedure which tests the quality of the tanks prior to shipment and varies in nature We find that the seven acoustic emission recordings of seven pressure tanks which was brought to rupture exhibit clear acceleration in agreement with a power law ``divergence'' expected from the critical point theory In addition, we find strong evidence of log-periodic corrections that quantify the intermittent succession of accelerating bursts and quiescent phases of the acoustic emissions on the approach to rupture An improved model accounting for the cross-over from the non-critical to the critical region close to the rupture point exhibits interesting predictive potential

Fracture source location in thin plates using the wavelet transform of dispersive waves

Abstract: A new signal processing approach was presented for acoustic emission source location using the dispersive waves in a thin plate. For wave propagation in dispersive media, the accuracy of source location can be improved by using the arrival times of a single frequency component in the output signals at an array of sensors. The wavelet transform (WT) was used to resolve this problem. By utilizing the time-frequency data of the WT, the frequency-dependent arrival time traveling with the group velocity was shown to be easily determined. Experiments were performed using a lead break as the simulated fracture source on the surface of an aluminum plate. Two plate modes corresponding to the S/sub 0/ and A/sub 0/ Lamb waves were identified, and their group velocities were accurately measured. The source location results based on the WT method agreed well with the true locations. The WT method was also compared with the cross correlation technique, and both methods provide similar results.

Fracture mechanism characterization of cross-ply carbon-fiber composites using acoustic emission analysis

Abstract: The sequence of microscopic fracture mechanisms in locally loaded cross-ply carbon-fiber composites was studied by analyzing acoustic emission (AE) signals in combination with the modal analysis of Lamb waves, using microscopic and ultrasonic examination of the specimen after load interruption. The first 70 AE events were analyzed, which were detected during the initial loading segment when the first sudden load drop and gradual load recovery were observed. Characteristics of the detected waves were compared with the S 0 - and A 0 -mode Lamb waves produced by a spot- or line-focused YAG laser. The internal damage progression of the composite specimen was determined to be the fiber fracture in the front lamina, transverse cracks in the mid-lamina, delamination and splitting.

A dual passive cavitation detector for localized detection of lithotripsy-induced cavitation in vitro.

Abstract: A passive cavitation detector (PCD) identifies cavitation events by sensing acoustic emissions generated by the collapse of bubbles. In this work, a dual passive cavitation detector (dual PCD), consisting of a pair of orthogonal confocal receivers, is described for use in shock wave lithotripsy. Cavitation events are detected by both receivers and can be localized to within 5 mm by the nature of the small intersecting volume of the focal areas of the two receivers in association with a coincidence detection algorithm. A calibration technique, based on the impulse response of the transducer, was employed to estimate radiated pressures at collapse near the bubble. Results are presented for the in vitro cavitation fields of both a clinical and a research electrohydraulic lithotripter. The measured lifetime of the primary growth-and-collapse of the cavitation bubbles increased from 180 to 420 microseconds as the power setting was increased from 12 to 24 kV. The measured lifetime compared well with calculations based on the Gilmore-Akulichev formulation for bubble dynamics. The radiated acoustic pressure 10 mm from the collapsing cavitation bubble was measured to vary from 4 to 16 MPa with increasing power setting; although the trends agreed with calculations, the predicted values were four times larger than measured values. The axial length of the cavitation field correlated well with the 6-dB region of the acoustic field. However, the width of the cavitation field (10 mm) was significantly narrower than the acoustic field (25 mm) as bubbles appeared to be drawn to the acoustic axis during the collapse. The dual PCD also detected signals from "rebounds," secondary and tertiary growth-and-collapse cycles. The measured rebound time did not agree with calculations from the single-bubble model. The rebounds could be fitted to a Rayleigh collapse model by considering the entire bubble cloud as an effective single bubble. The results from the dual PCD agreed well with images from high-speed photography. The results indicate that single-bubble theory is sufficient to model lithotripsy cavitation dynamics up to time of the main collapse, but that upon collapse bubble cloud dynamics becomes important.

Analysis of acoustic emission in chatter vibration with tool wear effect in turning

Abstract: The progressive wear of cutting tools and occurrence of chatter vibration often pose limiting factors on the achievable productivity in machining processes. An effective in-process monitoring system for tool wear and chatter therefore offers the unique advantage of relaxing the process parameter constraints and optimizing the machining production rate. This research presents a dynamic model of the cutting RMS acoustic emission (AE) signal when chatter occurs in turning, and it determines how this motion is related to the RMS AE signal in the presence of tool flank wear. The tool wear effect on acoustic emission generated in turning is expressed as an explicit function of the cutting parameters and tool/workpiece geometry. The AE generated from the sliding contact on the flank wear flat during chatter is investigated based on the energy dissipation principle. This model offers an explanation of the phenomenon of chatter vibration in the neighborhood of the chatter frequency of the tool. It also sheds light on the variation of the RMS AE signal power in close correlation to the characteristic of the state of wear. Cutting tests were conducted to determine the amplitude relationship between RMS AE and cutting parameters. It is shown that RMS AE is quite sensitive to the dynamic incremental changes in the friction and the wear flat mechanism active in machining processes.

Impact Monitoring of Smart Composite Laminates Using Neural Network and Wavelet Analysis

Abstract: Low-velocity impact damage is a major concern in the design of structures made of advanced laminated composites, because such damage is mostly hidden inside the laminates and cannot be detected by visual inspection. It is necessary to develop the impact monitoring techniques providing on-line diagnostics of smart composite structures susceptible to impacts. In this paper, we discuss the process for impact location detection in which the generated acoustic signals are detected by PZT using the improved neural network paradigms. To improve the accuracy and reliability of a neural network based impact identification method, the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm and the generalization methods were applied. This study concentrates not only on the determination of the location of impacts from sensor data, but also the implementation of time-frequency analysis such as the Wavelet Transform (WT) to measure the characteristic frequencies of acoustic emission waves for the determination of the occurrence and the estima...

Mode I fracture and acoustic emission of softwood and hardwood

Abstract: The Mode I fracture behaviour of two softwoods (spruce and pine) and three hardwoods (alder, oak and ash) was studied in the RL crack propagation system using the splitting test in combination with monitoring acoustic emission (AE) activity. Test parameters measured included notch tensile strength, specific fracture energy, characteristic length and AE cumulative counts, AE amplitudes as well as parameters characterizing the frequency spectra of the emitted acoustic emission events. The notch tensile strength was found to correlate with density. The specific fracture energy and characteristic length showed the different crack propagation process between the softwoods and hardwoods. The softwoods fractured in a more ductile way and the hardwoods showed a more linear elastic behaviour. This finding was supported by the AE measurements showing much less cumulative counts for the hardwoods indicating that less microcracks were formed and that processes like fiber bridging were not so effective. Differences in the frequency domain of the AE signals between softwoods and hardwoods could not be detected.

Flank Wear Estimation in Turning Through Wavelet Representation of Acoustic Emission Signals

Abstract: This paper investigates a flank wear estimation technique in turning through wavelet representation of acoustic emission (AE) signals It is known that the power spectral density of AE signals in turning is sensitive to gradually increasing flank wear In previous methods, the power spectral density of AE signals is computed from Fourier transform based techniques To overcome some of the limitations associated with the Fourier representation of AE signals for flank wear estimation, wavelet representation of AE signals is investigated This investigation is motivated by the superiority of the wavelet transform over the Fourier transform in analyzing rapidly changing signals such as AE, in which high frequency components are to be studied with sharper time resolution than low frequency components The effectiveness of the wavelet representation of AE signals for flank wear estimation is investigated by conducting a set of turning experiments on AISI 6150 steel workpiece and K68 (C2) grade uncoated carbide inserts In these experiments, flank wear is monitored through AE signals A recurrent neural network of simple architecture is used to relate AE features to flank wear Using this technique, accurate flank wear estimation results are obtained for the operating conditions that are within in the range of those used during neural network training These results compared to those of Fourier transform representation are much superior These findings indicate that the wavelet representation of AE signals is more effective in extracting the AE features sensitive to gradually increasing flank wear than the Fourier representation

Numerical simulation and visualization of elastic waves using mass-spring lattice model

Abstract: A computer program package has been developed for simulation and visualization of two-dimensional elastic wave propagation and scattering using the mass-spring lattice model (MSLM) and, for comparison, a finite difference model. To assess the reliability of the numerical schemes, their convergence and accuracy have been analysed using the Taylor series expansion and the von Neumann analysis methods. As a result, the grid spacing-time increment combinations previously adopted in the literature have proved to be non-optimal. The optimal combinations have been found and shown to yield the most accurate results with the least computation time, particularly in the high frequency regime. Using these algorithms, a program package has been developed in Visual C++(R) (Microsoft, Redmond, WA) with graphic user interfaces for convenient exploration of visualized results. Numerical results have been obtained for some fundamental problems in ultrasonic testing such as plane waves incident on cracks. All numerical results have shown excellent qualitative agreements with the analytical results of the wave physics, as the reflected, diffracted, head, and Rayleigh waves have been observed. Also, for numerical results with anisotropic media, the cusps on the shear wavefronts have been observed. Finally, slight modification of the modeling method for free surfaces has led to more accurate prediction of Rayleigh waves.

Environmentally enhanced fatigue damage in glass fibre reinforced composites characterised by acoustic emission

Abstract: A series of tests has been conducted to investigate the effect of sea water absorption on fatigue damage accumulation in a glass fibre reinforced polyester laminate of the type widely used in the marine and offshore industries, using four-point bend flexural loading to ensure peak strain in the outer layers of the material most subject to seawater absorption. Pre-exposure was found to reduce the flexural strength and enhance damage accumulation in fatigue by stimulating matrix cracking, fibre debonding and delamination. Acoustic emission (AE) was used to characterise damage accumulation. These results were found to correlate well with independent measurements of changing bending stiffness and with microstructural observations of the damaged sections.