Acoustic Emission Equipment for Infrastructure Monitoring

Project summary:

Nondestructive evaluation of the infrastructure is an increasingly important subject as the state's infrastructure begins to age. New techniques for assessing damage in steel and concrete structures should be investigated. One such technique is acoustic emission (AK) monitoring. This project will develop an acoustic emission monitoring system for use on medium, large, and full-scale structures. Not only will this technique provide benefit to in-situ structures, but it will also be a benefit to any structural testing that is performed in the University of Minnesota's Structures Lab by providing new information about the damage mechanisms in the structures.