Evaluation of damage accumulation in masonry by means of acoustic emission technique

Title: Evaluation of damage accumulation in masonry by means of acoustic emission technique
Author(s): E. Verstrynge, S. Ignoul, L. Schueremans, D. Van Gemert, M. Wevers
Paper category : conference
Book title: RILEM Symposium on On Site Assessment of Concrete, Masonry and Timber Structures - SACoMaTiS 2008
Editor(s): L. Binda, M. di Prisco, R. Felicetti
Print-ISBN: 978-2-35158-061-5
e-ISBN: 978-2-35158-075-2
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Publication year: 2008
Pages: 683 - 692
Total Pages: 10
Nb references: 8
Language: English

Abstract: The interest in acoustic emission (AE) as a monitoring technique to assess the damage evolution in masonry structures is recently gaining field. The AE technique detects transient energy waves emitted by a material as a result of stress redistributions. Therefore, the technique requires an external load to be imposed on the structure, such as a mechanical, thermal or chemical loading. In this paper, the focus is on long-term monitoring and the use of AE-monitoring to assess damage evolution under sustained stresses, such as damage accumulation during creep phenomena in masonry.
A laboratory test campaign is set up, during which long-term creep tests are performed on masonry specimens at different stress levels. The latter are increased at specific time intervals.
In addition to stress-strain and crack monitoring, AE-monitoring is performed at discrete moments in time. Both sources of data are used to validate the AE-monitoring technique to assess the damage-accumulation. In this paper, focus is both on the added value and limitations of AE measurements for damage assessment. Results from a preliminary test combining creep testing and AE detection are briefly presented and problems experienced during these tests are dealt with in the next test series.

Online publication: 2009-05-26
Publication type : full_text
Public price (Euros): 0.00