Acoustic Emission Studies on Composite Eliptic Spring Elements

. Composite Elliptic spring elements were subjected to AE studies. The AE studies clearly indicate the nature of fatigue damage growth. The spring elements started emitting acoustic waves from the very beginning of the fatigue tests. The analysis of characteristic curves of AE signal showed a burst type emission during the initial stages of fatigue. The AE signal parameters of UDR/WRM laminate type-1 spring elements reach their peak at around 27,000cycles. During this period continuous type of AE signals were observed. This continuous type signals could consist of numerous infinite burst type emission and these kinds of signals are different from the burst type signals recorded during the early part of the fatigue life. Once the peak is crossed some continuous and some burst type emission have been observed.