Correlating Strain and Acoustic Emission Signals of Metallic Component Using Global Signal Statistical Approach

Abstract

This study clarifies the fatigue properties using global signal statistical approach during the crack initiation stage for metallic component. Strain loading and acoustic emission (AE) signatures are captured simultaneously in the form of signal waves recorded by strain gauge and AE transducer. An initial study was carried out in the laboratory on medium carbon AISI 1045 steel specimens at constant amplitude cyclic loading condition, which lead to the fatigue failure characteristics. This study was carried out to investigate the relationship between strain and AE signals in order to make sure that AE technique also can be used as a detecting and monitoring crack initiation in metallic specimens. To achieve the goal, three different loads were applied on three specimens to capture the differences of the signals. The specific data acquisition systems were used to collect strain and AE signatures. For the purpose of analysis, the method of root mean square (r.m.s) and the kurtosis were used. The r.m.s value was used to quantify the overall vibrational energy content whereas the kurtosis was then used because of its sensitivity to high amplitude events. Based on these statistical approaches, the correlation patterns between both signals are expected to give a meaningful baseline to predict and monitor crack initiation of a metallic specimen.