Acoustic Emission Signal Analysis on Corroded Concrete Beam

Abstract

The steel corrosion of concrete structures has been one of the primary causes of structural degradation. Early identification of the steel corrosion might help minimize the location and the duration of the repair required and the cost associated with restoration work. The acoustic emission (AE) technique is more effective for assessing the corrosion of the steel reinforcement in the concrete structures. The AE technique successfully monitors and analyses energy signals released from the crack of the concrete matrix by the corrosion activity using AE sensors placed on the concrete surfaces. The main objective of this research is to assess the flexural behaviour of the corroded concrete beam specimens under the loading test using the AE technique. Three concrete beams were performed for the evaluation of corroded concrete beam specimens using the AE technique. During the experiments, the corroded beam specimens were flexural loaded together with data acquisition by the AE technique. The data obtained were processed, and AE parametric-based analysis was carried out. The AE technique was successfully conducted for fracture monitoring of the corroded beam specimen under flexure load. The AE parameters include the AE hits, and the Ib-value of the AE data was successfully introduced to assess the flexure behaviour of the corroded concrete beam specimens. It can be found that fluctuation follows a rising pattern in the Ib-value and then a declining trend in the Ib value. The lowest Ib-value exists at the damage stage IV for all beam specimens except the HC beam specimen. The lowest Ib-value occurs at the beginning of the damage stage III for the HC beam specimen.