APPLICATION OF ACOUSTIC EMISSION FOR MASONRY ASSESSMENT

University of Salford

Clive Melbourne Adrienn Tomor

AE instrumentation

AE test results

Static loading

Dead load Live load

Live load

Live load

Live load

Dead load

Dead load

Dead load

Dead load Live load

Dead load Live load

Dead load Live load

Dead load Live load

AE2

AE5

AE7

AE4

AE8

AE1

AE3

AE6

Am

pli

tud

e (d

B)

Load (kN)

Static loading

AE2

AE5

AE7

AE4

AE8

AE1

AE3

AE6

AE3

AE4

AE1

AE2

AE8

AE7

AE6

AE5

Am

pli

tud

e (d

B)

Load (kN)

Static loading

AE2

AE5

AE7

AE4

AE8

AE1

AE3

AE6

AE3

AE4

AE1

AE2

AE8

AE7

AE6

AE5

1st crack2nd crack

Ring separationRing separation

Am

pli

tud

e (d

B)

Load (kN)

Static loading

AE test results

Cyclic loading

AE2 AE4

AE1 AE3

Noise from loading system

Noise from loading system

Am

pli

tud

e (d

B)

Am

pli

tud

e (d

B)

AE 1

AE 2

AE 4

AE 3Time (s) Time (s)

Crackdevelopment

Cyclic loading

AE test results

Energy release

Ab

solu

te e

ner

gy

(aJ

)

Load (kN)

Load (kN)

300,000,000

250,000,000

200,000,000

150,000,000

100,000,000

50,000,000

0

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

300,000,000

250,000,000

200,000,000

150,000,000

100,000,000

50,000,000

0

300,000,000

250,000,000

200,000,000

150,000,000

100,000,000

50,000,000

0

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

300,000,000

250,000,000

200,000,000

150,000,000

100,000,000

50,000,000

0

22kN 28kN

AE1

AE2

AE3

AE4AE5

AE6

Energy release

Movement

Crack development

Crack opening

AE test results

Damaged arches

Abs. Energy / Cycle

AE Absolute Energy / Cycle

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

70000

14kN

1cyc

16kN

1cyc

16kN

1000000cyc

18kN

1cyc

18kN

1000000cyc

20kN

1cyc

20kN

1000000cyc

22kN

1cyc

22kN

1000000cyc

24kN

1cyc

24kN

1000000cyc

26kN

1cyc

26kN

1000000cyc

28kN

1cyc

28kN

1000000cyc

30kN

1cyc

30kN

1000000cyc

32kN

1cyc

32kN

1000000cyc

34kN

1cyc

34kN

1000000cyc

36kN

230cyc C

RA

CK

Loading history

Hit Rate / Cycle

AE Hit Rate / Cycle

0

50

100

150

200

250

14kN

1cyc

16kN

1cyc

16kN

1000000cyc

18kN

1cyc

18kN

1000000cyc

20kN

1cyc

20kN

1000000cyc

22kN

1cyc

22kN

1000000cyc

24kN

1cyc

24kN

1000000cyc

26kN

1cyc

26kN

1000000cyc

28kN

1cyc

28kN

1000000cyc

30kN

1cyc

30kN

1000000cyc

32kN

1cyc

32kN

1000000cyc

34kN

1cyc

34kN

1000000cyc

36kN

230cyc C

RA

CK

36k

N

32k

N

34k

N

Damaged arches

AE test results

Arches with soil

Arches with soilA

bso

lute

en

erg

y (

aJ)

Time (sec)

Cra

ck d

evel

opm

ent

Mov

eme

nt

Cra

ck d

evel

opm

ent

Mov

eme

nt

1st crack observed at ¼ span

AE technique summary

1. AE gives real-time indication of crack opening inside the structure, before their effect is measurable on the surface

2. Can clearly locate damaged regions and potential areas of failure

3. Indicates crack development and residual damages before failure

4. Shows potentials for damaged arches as well as for arches with soil.

5. Periods of ‘crack development’, ‘crack opening’ and ‘movement’ can be clearly distinguished