Prediction of Micro-Cracks in Steel Structures Subjected to Fatigue by Means of Acoustic Emission

This paper presents the development of a monitoring system using acoustic emission (AE) analysis for the prediction of micro- and initial cracks in fatigue-stressed steel structures such as bridges, cranes, offshore, or industrial constructions. Initial experimentation suggests a relationship between microscopically observed crack length and AE intensity, further data is required to establish a definitive correlation. As part of an ongoing research project, AE measurement techniques and evaluation are to be further developed to create a monitoring concept for micro-crack prediction in more complex fatigue-stressed steel components. The focus of this research is not on the localization and detection of crack growth or structural changes but on micro-crack detection using AE. Existing acoustic emission analysis systems can thus be extended to measure and detect micro-cracks for the earliest possible identification of damage events. This paper describes the first results of the innovative research idea.