FIFTH CANADIAN CONFERENCE ON NONDESTRUCTIVE ... - IAEA

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CONTINUOUS ACOUSTIC EMISSION MONITORING
J.S. Mitchell
Viatec Ra-ioufice Sij.bte.mt> Inc., Calgaiij, Albe-ita
M.SI. Baiiim
Unive-ï-Sity o f 6 Manitoba.
Winnipeg, Manitoba
1. Abstract:
A novel concept that essentially reconfigures the architecture of current
acoustic emissions (A/E) monitoring instruments has been developed and is
now the focus of prototype construction. This system will enable the
continuous A/E monitoring of structures with enhanced reliability.
Applications include integrity monitoring of large structures (pressure
vessels, pipelines, etc.) and process control monitoring (valve operation,
catalyst performance, etc.). Each application requires a thorough
understanding if the metallurgical and acoustic regimes operating in the
structures of interest. With this information the A/E monitor is
programmed to observe and to some extent identify significant acoustic
emissions, and present this information to personnel otherwise not skilled
in interpretation of A/E data.
2. Review:
The present method of acoustic emission monitoring of large structures is
primarily based upon equipment developed within the past 15 years. This
development was enabled by the availability of rugged peizo-electric
transducers, and the advent of "portable" mini computers. There have been
some improvements with this equipment (primarily in the software areas) but
the overall configuration has essentially remained unchanged, see Figure 1.