Abstract
Desirable properties of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) composites include their high strength, high rigidity, light weight, corrosion free, and fatigue resistance. CFRP composites are popularly applied in bridge engineering structures, but the causes of fatigue damage in CFRP bridges have not been thoroughly investigated. We adopt acoustic emission (AE) technology to monitor fatigue damage and failure of CFRP bridge cables. The relationship between AE signal characteristics and CFRP cable fatigue damage, as well as the pattern of AE signals during a fatigue test, is investigated. Results show that the failure models exhibit matrix and fiber-matrix interface failures at the initial stage of fatigue testing, followed by delamination and fiber rupture. The b value, Kurtosis index, and RA value based on AE characteristic parameters are proposed to describe the different damage stage failure modes. Finally, the failure types of AE waveform are extracted and analyzed using wavelet transformation. The AE technique proved to be a potential means for evaluating the fatigue damage characteristics of CFRP cables.
Highlights
The stay cable, a high-strength steel wire, is an important component of stayed bridge construction
The third acoustic emission (AE) transducer was installed in the middle of the specimen and was designed for receiving the signal generated by the cable fatigue damage of the cable
The entire fatigue damage process can be visually represented by the relationship of AE parameters
Summary
The stay cable, a high-strength steel wire, is an important component of stayed bridge construction. A large sample survey has shown that the corrosion of stayed cable steel wires is the main cause of failure mode. Many cables in China are prematurely replaced because of corrosion, even if the cables have only been in service for a period of ten years. The durability of stayed cable should be improved. There are currently two methods of enhancing the durability of a stay cable, namely, by applying protective measures to improve corrosion resistance and the use of corrosion-resistant materials. The latter has a wide range of applications based on theoretical analysis, experimentation, and results of field implementation [1]. Yi and Li proposed some optimal methods to identify and evaluate civil engineering structure [2,3,4]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
