ACOUSTIC EMISSION

TESTING
 Acoustic emission generation of transient elastic waves
produced by a sudden redistribution of stress in a material.
structure is subjected to an external stimulus (change in
pressure, load, or temperature), localized sources trigger the
release of energy, in the form of stress waves, which propagate
to the surface and are recorded by sensors
Versatility of Acoustic Emission Testing (AET), it has many
industrial applications (e.g. assessing structural integrity,
detecting flaws, testing for leaks, or monitoring weld quality)
and is used extensively as a research tool.

AET simply listens for the energy released by the object. AE

tests are often performed on structures while in operation, as
this provides adequate loading for propagating defects and
triggering acoustic emissions.

Deals with dynamic processes, or changes, in a material,

because only active features (e.g. crack growth) are highlighted

AE testing usually provides an immediate indication relating to

the strength or risk of failure of a component.
 Attenuation
intensity of an AE signal detected by a sensor is
considerably lower than the intensity that would have
been observed in the close proximity of the source, is
due to attenuation.
There are three main causes of attenuation,
Geometric spreading signal decay 30% in 2D & 50%
in 3D
AE wave passes through a material, its elastic and
kinetic energies are absorbed and converted into heat
Geometric discontinuities (e.g. twin boundaries,
nonmetallic inclusions, or grain boundaries) and
structural boundaries both reflect some of the wave
energy that was initially transmitted
Wave Mode and Velocity
AE inspection in conjunction with
other NDE techniques can be an
effective method in gauging the
location and nature of defects
source locations are determined by
the time required for the wave to
travel through the material to a
sensor
 Equipment
Typical AE apparatus consist of the following components:
Sensors used to detect AE events.
Preamplifiers amplifies initial signal. Typical amplification
gain is 40 or 60 dB.
Cables transfer signals on distances up to 200m to AE
devices. Cables are typically of coaxial type.
Data acquisition device performs filtration, signals
parameters evaluation, data analysis and charting.
Equipment
AE Signal Features
 Data Display
Displays provide valuable information about the
detected events and can be classified into four
categories: location, activity, intensity, and data
quality (crossplots)
 AE Source Location
Techniques
Multi-Channel Source Location
Techniques: Geometric effects of
the structure being tested and the
operating frequency of the AE
system must be considered when
determining whether a particular
source location technique is feasible
for a given test structure
Linear Location Technique
 AE Source Location
Techniques
Zonal Location Technique
Used in anisotropic materials or in
other structures
 AE Source Location
Techniques
Point Location Technique
In order for point location to be justified, signals
must be detected in a minimum number of
sensors: two for linear, three for planar, four for
volumetric
 Areas for application
The acoustic emission testing and inspection
method can be effectively applied to a wide
range of pressure equipments such as:
Containers and tanks for gas stations
Spherical reservoirs
Reservoirs of hydrogen and gas
Fiber-reinforced materials
Tubes and tanks
Thermographic
Testing
What is Thermography?

Infra Red Thermography is a

technique for producing a visible
image of invisible (to our eyes) infra
red radiation emitted by objects due
to their thermal conditions
 Thermography
To detect hot or cold areas
To determine absolute
temperature
To view Thermal profiles
To detect temperature loss
Thermography
Infra Red is part of
the Electromagnetic
Spectrum

It travels in straight
lines at the speed of
light
The useful part is
divided between Short
and Long wavelengths
Use of the correct
wavelength is essential
 Equipment

Detector, Imaging systems

Test Equipment
Hand held portable
camera
Battery Powered
Operating at correct
wavelength
Range..-20c to
+1500c
Sensitivity..0.1c at
30c
Real time display
Image Recording
capability
 Why Thermography?

Non Contact
Rapid Scanning
Data can be recorded in differing
formats
Images produced are
comprehensive & reliable
Is there a viable alternative?
Principles of Operation

Object radiates infra red radiation

Temperature difference
Differences are detected and
displayed visually
Emissivity values must be observed
 Advantages
Non Contact
Non Intrusive
Can work at a distance
Fast and Reliable
Portable
Convincing Results
 Limitations

Non Intrinsically safe

There must be a temperature
difference for certain surveys
Operator experience is essential
Filters may be needed for certain
applications
Sensitivity and Resolution reduce
with distance and angle of view
Electrical

Switch Gear
Fuse boxes
Cable runs
Electrical connectors
Insulation
Transformers
Junction Box

4 3

S P 0 1
3

2 2
 Fan

3 7

A R 0 1
3

1 8
Fuse Box

3 8

L I0 1
3

2 3
Electrical Connections
Used for the
detection of;

Corroded connections
Slack / loose
connectors
Connectors at too
high an operating
temperature
Hot spots
Refractory Linings

Torpedo ladles
Boilers
Furnaces
Exhausts
Ducting
Kilns
 Rotary Kiln - Access
Door
1 2 9

S P 0 3
P 0 1
1 2
SL PI0 01 2

1 1
S P 0 4
1 0

9 0

8 0
7 7 .8
 Kiln - Refractory Lining

4 8 .7 C 5 8
L I0 1
S S P P 0 0 1 4

S P 0 3 4 5
5
S P 04 20
1
3 5 4

P 0 2
3 0
3

S P 2 0 5 3

2 2 .5 C 2 2
Torpedo Ladle
Steel Carrying Ladle
 Process Plant

The above Thermograms show how

Thermography can be used as a
very fast and effective maintenance
tool.
The image on the right has a defective
cylinder
 Barkhausen effect
Barkhausen effect refers to the sudden
change in size of ferromagnetic domains
that occur during magnetization or
demagnetization
Minute jumps of magnetization when a
ferromagnetic sample (e.g. iron) is exposed
to an increasing magnetic field
Factors like microstructure, grain
boundaries, inclusions, and stress and
strain
 Barkhausen
Noise
A coil of wire wound on the
ferromagnetic material can
demonstrate the sudden,
discontinuous jumps in
magnetization
Sudden transitions in the
magnetization of the material
produce current pulses in the coil.
This produces a crackling sound
Barkhausen noise can be used as
a method of NDE materials
exposed to high energy particles
(nuclear reactors) or cyclic
mechanical stresses (pipelines)
 Leak Testing
Examination of a tanker transporting
hazardouus material
types
Leak Path
Reason for Leak Testing
System Reliability
Bubble Leak Testing
Train Axle bearing