LOCALIZATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF CRACKING MECHANISMS IN REINFORCED CONCRETE USING ACOUSTIC EMISSION ANALYSIS

In the context of a research project that aims at improving the capabilities of acoustic emission (AE) analysis in assessing internal damage in reinforced concrete, laboratory tests have been carried out. Qualitative and quantitative acoustic emission techniques were applied to locate and distinguish different cracking mechanisms. During preliminary tests, specimens and loading arrangements with defined damage locations and processes were chosen. In order to study the interaction of reinforcement and concrete, several pull-out tests were performed. Double punch tests were conducted to monitor AE occurring due to tension cracks. In a second phase reinforced concrete beams were subjected to static and repeated loading. The AE parameters and waveforms of signals obtained by eight broadband piezoelectric transducers were processed and stored by a measuring device. In a subsequent analysis AE sources were located. Furthermore, a classification of different fracture mechanisms on the basis of the similarity of some waveforms was attempted. For the covering abstract see ITRD E106406.