Industrial application of acoustic emission monitoring – general concept and selected practical example

Abstract

Acoustic emission monitoring (AEM) is a method for verifying the structural integrity of heavily stressed parts or key components while the plant is in operation. The condition of the monitored component can be determined by repeated short- or continuous long-term AEM. The selection of damage-relevant measurement data and the resulting evaluation serves to determine the actual condition of the test object. Unlike for conventional acoustic emission testing, no shutdown of the plant is required for the measurements. The results can then be used as a quality assurance measure according to maintenance requirements of the owner/operator or as a supplement to the testing and inspection program. This contribution describes the general monitoring concept developed and established by the TÜV AUSTRIA Group as well as two selected industrial use cases.