Acoustic Emission Technique, an Overview as a Characterization Tool in Materials Science

 

C. R. Ríos–Soberanis

 

Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán Calle 43 No. 130 C.P. 97200 Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico. E–mail: rolando@cicy.mx

 

ABSTRACT

In order to predict the mechanical behavior of a composite during its service life, it is important to evaluate its mechanical response under different types of external stresses by studying the initiation and development of cracks and the effects induced by damage and degradation. The onset of damage is related to the structural integrity of the component and its fatigue life. For this, among other reasons, non–destructive techniques such as acoustic emission (AE) have been widely used nowadays for composite materials characterization. This method has demonstrated excellent results on detecting and identifying initiations sites, cracking propagation and fracture mechanisms of polymer matrix composite and ceramic materials. This paper focuses on commenting the importance of the acoustic emission technique as a unique tool for characterizing mechanical parameters in response to external stresses and degradation processes by reviewing previous investigations carried out by the author as participant. Acoustic emission was employed to monitor the micro–failure mechanisms in composites in relation to the stress level in real–time during the tests carried out. Some results obtained from different analysis are discussed to support the significance of using AE, technique that will be increasingly employed in the composite materials field due to its several alternatives for understanding the mechanical behavior; therefore, the objective of this manuscript is to involve the benefits and advantages of AE in the characterization of materials.

Keywords: Polymer matrix, mechanical properties, cermets, acoustic emission.

 

RESUMEN

Para lograr una predicción de las propiedades mecánicas de un material compuesto durante su vida en servicio, es importante evaluar su respuesta mecánica bajo diversos tipos de esfuerzos externos estudiando la iniciación y desarrollo de grietas así como los efectos inducidos por el daño y la degradación. El inicio del daño está relacionado con la integridad estructural del componente y su vida en fatiga. Por esta razón, entre otras, técnicas no destructivas tales como la emisión acústica (EA) han sido ampliamente empleadas en la caracterización de materiales. Este método ha demostrado excelentes resultados en la detección y determinación de los sitios de iniciación, propagación de grietas y mecanismos de fractura en compuestos de matriz polimérica y cerámica. Este artículo se enfoca en remarcar la importancia de la técnica EA como una herramienta única para la caracterización de los parámetros mecánicos en respuesta a esfuerzos externos y el proceso de degradación. La emisión acústica fue empleada para monitorear los mecanismos de micro–falla en compositos en relación al nivel de esfuerzo en tiempo real durante la prueba llevada a cabo. Resultados obtenidos de diferentes análisis son discutidos para apoyar la importancia de utilizar EA., técnica que será empleada en mayor demanda en el campo de los materiales compuestos debido a sus diversas alternativas para comprender el comportamiento mecánico; por lo tanto, el objetivo de este escrito es involucrar los beneficios y ventajas de la técnica EA en la caracterización de materiales.

 

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