Critical defect size distributions in concrete structures detected by the acoustic emission technique

Extensive research and studies on concrete fracture and failure have shown that concrete should be viewed as a quasi-brittle material having a size-dependent behavior. Numerous experimental techniques have been employed to evaluate fracture processes, and a number of modeling approaches have been developed to predict fracture behavior. A non-destructive method based on the Acoustic Emission (AE) technique has proved to be highly effective, especially to assess and measure the damage phenomena taking place inside a structure subjected to mechanical loading. In this paper, comparing AE frequency-magnitude statistics in solids subjected to damage processes with defect size distributions for disordered materials, critical parameters defining instability conditions for monitored structures are found. In addition, an experimental investigation conducted on concrete and RC structures by means of the AE technique is described. Experimental results confirm the described theories.