Study on Acoustic Emission Localization of Concrete Using Modified Velocity

To improve the accuracy of the acoustic emission (AE) source localization, a new 3D AE source localization method was investigated which used a combination of the modified velocity and the 3D localization algorithm based on the exhaustive method. The wave speed has a significant effect on the AE location results. With the increase of distance, the AE signal seriously attenuated due to the anisotropy of concrete, and the measured velocity changed for various distances. The velocity-distance curves were obtained when employing different water-cement ratios (W/C) and aggregate sizes. However, the current AE location system adopted constant wave velocity. As a result, the error was tremendous. The accuracy of the localization before and after the modified velocity was compared. The 3D localization results showed that compared with the constant wave velocity, the position deviation of the modified velocity was smaller and the localization results with the modified velocity were more accurate.

Experimental Study on Acoustic Emission Characteristics of Dry and Saturated Basalt Columnar Joints under Uniaxial Compression and Tensile Damage

An experimental study was carried out to investigate the acoustic emission (AE) characteristics of dry and saturated basalt columnar joints under uniaxial compression and tensile damage by using the TAW-2000 rock experiment system and SH-IIAE system for the whole loading. The results show that the softening coefficient of uniaxial compressive strength and the tensile strength was 0.78 and 0.68, respectively, and water increases the sample complexity and has a strong effect on its strength. The dry sample under uniaxial compression at the beginning of loading produced a large number of AE signals, and the AE signal showed steady growth as the load increased, but the sample destruction occurred during the blank period, which can be used as a precursor of instability. From the amplitude-time-energy diagram, it can be found that as amplitude increases with hit, energy decreases, which shows an obvious triangle relation. From the uniaxial compression damage AE location map, we can find that AE events exist disorderly and show scattered distribution in each area. From the failure modes and sections of tension and uniaxial compression tests, it is found that there are many layers and fissures in rock samples, which are consistent with AE location.

Investigation of Bonding Behavior of FRP and Steel Bars in Self-Compacting Concrete Structures Using Acoustic Emission Method

To extend understanding of the bonding behavior of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) and steel bars in self-compacting concrete (SCC), an experimental series consisting of 36 direct pull-out tests monitored by acoustic emission (AE) were performed in this paper. The test variables involved rebar type, bar diameter, embedded length, and polypropylene (PP) fiber volume content. For each test, the pull-out force and free end slip were continuously measured and compared with the corresponding AE signals. It was found that the proposed AE method was effective in detecting the debonding process between the FRP/steel bars and the hosting concrete. The AE signal strength exhibited a good correlation with the actual bond stress-slip relationship measured in each specimen. Based on the AE location technique, the invisible non-uniform distribution of bonding stress along the bar was further revealed, the initial location of damage and the debonding process were captured. Additionally, the contribution of bar-to-concrete load-bearing mechanism (chemical adhesion, friction, and mechanical interlocking) to sustain the pull-out force was effectively clarified by studying the collected signals in the frequency domain of AE methods. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed AE method has potential to detect the debonding damage of FRP/steel bar reinforced SCC structures accurately.

Fracture Propagation Characteristic and Micromechanism of Rock-Like Specimens under Uniaxial and Biaxial Compression

This paper presents a set of uniaxial and biaxial compression tests on the rock-like material specimens with different fracture geometries through a rock mechanics servo-controlled testing system (RMT-150C). On the basis of experimental results, the characteristics of fracture propagation under different fracture geometries and loading conditions are firstly obtained. The newly formed fractures are observed propagating from or near the preexisting crack tips for different specimens, while the propagation paths are affected by the loading condition obviously. Then, by adopting acoustic emission (AE) location technique, AE event localization characteristics in the process of loading are investigated. The locations of AE events are in good agreement with the macroscopic fracture propagation path. Finally, the micromechanism of macroscopic fracture propagation under uniaxial and biaxial compression conditions is analyzed, and the fracture propagation can be concluded as a result of microdamage accumulation inside the material. The results of this paper are helpful for theory and engineering design of the fractured rock mass.

Acoustic Emission Behavior of Rock-Like Material Containing Two Flaws in the Process of Deformation Failure

Many sudden disasters (such as rock burst) by mining extraction originate in crack initiation and propagation. Meanwhile a large number of shock waves are produced by rock deformation and failure. With the purpose of investigating crack coalescence and failure mechanism in rock, experimental research of rock-like materials with two preexisting flaws was performed. Moreover, the AE technique and photographic monitoring were adopted to clarify further the procedure of the crack coalescence and failure. It reveals that AE location technique can record the moments of crack occurrences and follow the crack growth until final failure. Finally, the influence of different flaw geometries on crack initiation strength is analyzed in detail. This research provides increased understanding of the fracture mechanism of mining-induced disasters.

Experimental Study on Crack Propagation by AE Location under Uniaxial Compression Condition

AE technique is proved a efficient tool for real-time monitoring of the crack initiation and propagation during rock failure process under uniaxial compression condition. In this paper, An AE system was employed to investigate the crack propagation and failure modes of three groups of granite specimens (80mm×100mm×170mm) with the same pre-existing crack. The AE sensors can be surface mounted. By using a Geiger location algorithm, AE event location can be determined by time-of-arrival times. The propagation velocities of p-wave or s-wave of granite samples were measured. Experiments on pre-existing crack propagation of granite samples were carried out on the press machine. From the testing result, failure mode of three kinds of granite samples was mainly shear failure, while the secondary crack propagated slowly and could not influence the failure mode of granite sample. By surveying the relation of accumulative AE events and stress-strain curve, AE activity represents different characters with stress-strain changing during the total loading process, microcracking contributing to fracture propagation with strain corrosion. AE location result reflected crack initiation and propagation, which is of great importance in studying rock instability and predicting rock failure mode.