Acoustic emission monitoring of cracking in reinforced concrete specimens

Title: Acoustic emission monitoring of cracking in reinforced concrete specimens
Author(s): Aljoša Šajna, Jaka Kovac, Žiga Bajt
Paper category : conference
Book title: 2nd International RILEM Symposium on Advances in Concrete through Science and Engineering
Editor(s): J. Marchand, B. Bissonnette, R. Gagné, M. Jolin and F. Paradis
Print-ISBN: 2-35158-003-6
e-ISBN: 2351580028
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Publication year: 2006
Nb references: 14
Language: English

Abstract: In spite of the fact, that the possibilities of acoustic emission (AE) based monitoring techniques of concrete structures aren’t a common practice yet, it’s believed that the AE analysis is a promising method for early crack formation detection in concrete elements. As a preliminary investigation of a larger project concerning bridges evaluation by the means of AE methods, some preliminary investigations on reinforced concrete specimens have been performed.
In this paper the results of an experimental study of the AE emission analysis and its applicability for detection and monitoring of damage processes in reinforced concrete specimens subjected to load are presented. In the investigation plain and reinforced concrete beams (10x15x80 cm) were loaded in flexure up to the failure. Additionally the bond performance of reinforcing bars was monitored by the AE techniques. In both cases (bending and pull-out) the deformed and plain reinforcing bars were used, to investigate the difference in the AE performance between both and to simulate “new” concrete structures where mainly deformed reinforcement is used, and “old” concrete structures with mainly plain reinforcement. During the loading the applied load, deformation and the AE events were monitored.
During the investigation new experiences in AE monitoring of cracking in reinforced concrete specimens were gained. Based on the results it was established that by the AE acquisition the cracking could be detected much earlier as it could be seen by the eye-observation or perceived on the load-deformation curves. The results prove that the AE analysis is a promising method for early crack formation monitoring in reinforced concrete elements.

Keywords: concrete, cracking, acoustic emission, reinforcement, bending test, pull-out

Online publication: 2006-08-02
Classification: 3.3 Theme 3: Monitoring, Repair and Maintenance of Concrete Structures
Publication type : full_text
Public price (Euros): 0.00
doi: 10.1617/2351580028.109