Assessment of the technical condition of prefabricated elements using the acoustic emission method

The article presents the results of tests using the acoustic emission method during the formation process of T-27 prestressed concrete beams. The studies included two stages. The first – testing the compressive strength of the cubic samples taken from the trial batch used for the production of beams together with the acquisition of acoustic emission signals. The second – measurements by acoustic emission, on the actual construction element during accelerated maturation of concrete caused by heating. The undertaking of the above subject results from the fact that this issue is of great importance when assessing the durability of reinforced concrete and pre-compressed elements in the aspect of the analysis of these structures in terms of durability. The impact of material degradation on the durability of the structure is difficult to appraise due to the lack of reliable results needed to estimate the durability of the selected statistical approach. However, the use of the acoustic emission method based on the identification of destructive processes creates the possibility of locating, identifying and monitoring the emerging and developing destructive processes affecting the durability of concrete elements.