A novel acoustic emission monitoring method of cross-section precise localization of defects and wire breaking of parallel wire bundle

Abstract

The monitoring and localization of defects and wire breaking of bridge cable are vital to the safe operation of the whole bridge. In this work, an innovative monitoring method that uses waveguides to draw out the steel wires at the end of the cable is proposed. This monitoring method can effectively capture the acoustic emission (AE) signal produced by defects and wire breaking of the cable. The transverse position of the wire breaking can also be accurately located so as to provide basis for the decision making of maintenance department. The pencil-lead breaks (PLB) test method is utilized to investigate the influence of the transition modes between the waveguide and the sensor and the connection modes between the waveguide and the cone on the AE signal. The PLB test and tensile test method are utilized to examine the AE signal characteristics of different sensors at the end of steel wires. Results showed that the cone transition between the waveguide and the sensor and the welding connection between waveguide and cone exhibit the minimum effect on AE waveform and parameters, such as amplitude, compared with that of the reference sensor without waveguide. In the tensile test, the transverse position of the wire breaking cannot be identified by analyzing the AE signals collected by each senor when the wire breaks, whereas it can be identified in the process of defects before the wire breaks.