In this study, acoustic emission (AE) technique was investigated to distinguish the crack types occurring in reinforced concrete (RC) beams such as bending cracks, shearing cracks and bond cracks between reinforcing steel bars and concrete. First, several model tests were…
In this study, acoustic emission (AE) technique was investigated to distinguish the crack types occurring in reinforced concrete (RC) beams such as bending cracks, shearing cracks and bond cracks between reinforcing steel bars and concrete. First, several model tests were performed to characterize AE signals caused by these cracks. According to the results of the moment tensor analysis for these model tests, the objective type of cracks could be observed dominantly in each model test. Then, in order to establish a simpler distinction method, AE waveform parameters were employed as an evaluation index. As a result, it was found that the maximum amplitude and the average frequency of AE signals detected were effective for discriminating the crack types. Next, in order to verify the validity of the results of model tests, AE measurement was carried out during the bending tests of the mock-up of RC beams. Consequently, various types of cracks occuring during the failure process of RC beams could be distinguished clearly by the two AE wavefonn parameters.