Compact System for Monitoring Acoustic Emission Parameters in Mechanical Testing of Materials

The system for monitoring acoustic emission (AE) parameters in mechanical testing of materials built up from electronic equipment and corresponding software is described. The electronic equipment based on a high-speed data storage module with a USB interface provides conversion of AE signals, their amplification, filtering, and digital input to a personal computer. The AEMonitor software performs continuous analog-digital conversion of AE signals, evaluation of their spectral distribution (fast Fourier transform), online display, accumulation, and storage of experimental data with load parameters for their further analysis. The software features an online automatic display of the spectral distribution of signals and corresponding stresses against the number of AE pulses from tested materials. The functional potentials of the system were verified in bending tests of corundum refractory and glass fiber plastic specimens with recording AE parameters. The relations between major AE parameters, form, and spectral distribution of pulses under loading of those materials were greatly different due to varied fracture mechanisms.