Damage evolution monitoring and evaluation of self-repairing concrete using acoustic emission technique

The concrete ultimate load capacity is improved through self-repairing.Because there is a dearth of studies regarding damage evolution of self-repairing concrete,acoustic emission(AE) technology is presented to monitor its evolution process.The full-process damage of self-repairing concrete is monitored under three-point bending beam testing using AE technique.It is found that the initiation,propagation and evolution of self-repairing concrete cracks can be described using AE hits.Firstly,the corresponding relationship between the AE hits and load is testified by comparing with their embraceable curve.Secondly,the repairing effect of self-repairing concrete is judged using Kaiser effect and Felicity ratio.Finally,the different damage types of AE waveforms of self-repairing concrete are extracted and analyzed using wavelet singularity theory.The damage causes are analyzed according to the waveform frequency distribution.The testing results show the AE technique can provide a new testing method for self-repairing concrete damage judgment.