Real-time evaluation of energy attenuation: A novel approach to acoustic emission analysis for damage monitoring of ceramic matrix composites

This paper proposes a new approach to the analysis of acoustic emission data. The energy of acoustic emission signals recorded at two sensors is used to evaluate real-time energy attenuation due to damage accumulation. The method is applied to acoustic emission data recorded during static fatigue tests at intermediate temperatures on ceramic matrix composites. The evaluation of energy attenuation appears as a new indicator for damage monitoring and lifetime prediction, the attenuation increase being attributed to transverse matrix cracks opening. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.