Identification of fracture mechanisms in cementitious composites using wavelet transform of acoustic emission signals

Abstract

The effect of fiber volume fraction on the flexural and acoustic emission behaviors of steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) using three-point bending test was investigated. Hooked-end steel fibers with a profiled surface and three volume fractions of 1.5%, 2% and 2.5% were selected. The flexural behavior of SFRC in terms of load-deflection curve and ultimate flexural load was studied. The parameters of the continuous wavelet transform and energy distribution of the discrete wavelet transform of acoustic emission signals were used to describe the fracture process and identification of fracture type of SFRC.