A 3D parameter correction technique for damage assessment of structural reinforced concrete beams by acoustic emission

Deterioration of ultrasonic signals obtained from nonhomogeneous mediums due to dispersion and attenuation is a crucial problem affecting the validities of elastic-wave-based nondestructive testing methods. Concrete, which is the main construction material, is also an excessively heterogeneous material as it consists of cement, water, aggregate and other admixtures. Because Acoustic Emission (AE) is known to be an appropriate method for detecting active damages nondestructively in concrete structures, enhancement of this technique is important for more reliable inspections. This paper describes development of a 3D Parameter Correction Technique (3D-PCT) and first application of AE parameter correction in reinforced concrete (RC). The technique was applied to plain and CFRP-strengthened RC beam specimens. Accordingly, AE data obtained from three-point-bending tests were localized, their signals and also amplitude and energy parameters were corrected in 3D space and parameter analyzes were conducted. By applying 3D-PCT for RC; corrected results were obtained, some AE parameter relations were altered and activity type classification was improved. Moreover, accordance with mechanical observations was enhanced. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.