Acoustic emission signal conditioning and analysis

using digital storage oscilloscope

Chandan K. Bhagat Nilangshu K. Das C. K. Mukhopadhyay B. Purna Chandra Rao

Non Destructive Non Destructive Non Destructive Non Destructive
Evaluation Division Evaluation Division Evaluation Division Evaluation Division
IGCAR, HBNI, IGCAR, HBNI, IGCAR, HBNI, IGCAR, HBNI,
Kalpakkam Kalpakkam Kalpakkam Kalpakkam
T.N, India 603102 T.N, India 603102 T.N, India 603102 T.N, India 603102
chandan@igcar.gov.in nkdas@igcar.gov.in ckm@igcar.gov.in bpcrao@igcar.gov.in

Abstract—One of the salient features of acoustic emission

technique (AET) is the dynamic non-destructive detection of
defects in structures. In this paper, development of acoustic
emission (AE) signal conditioning module and analysis of AE
signals through digital oscilloscope is reported. Resonant type
piezoelectric transducer has been used to acquire the data by
pencil lead break on a concrete beam. The output signal from the
transducer is in the range of mV. This is further amplified (in
volts) for processing of AE signals. The amplified signal is filtered
using linear filtering. The signals obtained are analyzed by FFT
to characterize the frequency response of the AE signal generated
from the concrete and validate the signal conditioning module.

Keywords— acoustic emission; sensor; preamplifier; filter;

signal processing

I. INTRODUCTION
Acoustic emission (AE) technique is a widely used non-
destructive technique for structure integrity assessment. AE is
the class of phenomenon whereby transient elastic waves are
generated by the rapid release of energy from localized sources
in a material like places of transient relaxation of stress and
strain fields [1]. The acoustic emission signals generated lie
within 20 kHz to 1 MHz of the frequency range of. AE
technique is used for health monitoring of pressure vessels,
pipelines, reactor vessels, concrete structures etc. [2]. An AE
sensor coupled to a sample undergoing dynamic changes
detects a part of the elastic energy emitted in the form of elastic
waves and provides the information about the nature of
dynamic changes taking place in the sample. A typical burst
type AE signal is shown in Fig. 1. In an acoustic emission
signal, threshold voltage is set to discriminate the signal from
background noise [3]. There are different parameters of AE
burst signals which are used for the analysis. These are peak
amplitude (maximum voltage of the signal waveform from an
emission event), rise time (time difference between first
crossing of the threshold to maximum peak of the signal),
RMS (root mean square), ring down count (number of times
the signal crosses the threshold), and event duration (time
difference between first crossing threshold to last crossing
threshold from an emission event) [4-5].
Fig. 1. Acoustic emission burst signal and its different parameters
Different parameters of AE signal are measured and used
for studying the difference in materials behavior [6].
Importance and design of signal conditioning circuitry in AE
signal analysis are explained [7]. Noise is one of the major
issues in the field of acoustic emission testing [8].
This paper presents the development of a signal
conditioning module for AE signal extraction and analysis. An
appropriate cut-off frequency of filter has been selected to
remove noise from the signal for the concrete structure health
monitoring applications. Since in most of the applications of
concrete structure health monitoring the frequency lies in the
range of 20 kHz to 100 kHz [9], a suitable low power resonant
sensor has been selected. The sensor resonates at the frequency
around 55 kHz and operates in the frequency range from 35
kHz to 65 kHz.
 II. DATA ACQUISITION SYSTEM
The block diagram of data acquisition (DAQ) system is
shown in fig. 2 and the details are discussed below.

Fig. 2. Block diagram of the data acquisition system.

A. Piezoelectric transducer
A piezoelectric transducer is used to detect the acoustic
emissions generated from the surface of the object under test.
Fig. 3. Prototype signal conditioning board.
Commonly used transducers are the resonant type and the AE
signal is in the range of μVolts. Hence, a pre-amplifier with a III. EXPERIMENTL METHODOLOGY
fixed gain of 26 dB is used to increase the signal level to the
range of millivolt. This pre-amplifier is a charge coupled When a material deforms under loading, then energy is
amplifier having moderate gain, high bandwidth, high CMRR released and the amplitude of resulting stress wave depends on
and excellent signal to noise ratio capability. Another unique the size of the specimen and nature of the event. A stronger
feature of the preamplifier is to match high impedance of event generates higher strength signal compared to a weak
sensors to low impedance of the signal cable. event.

B. Signal conditioning module

The signal conditioning module manipulates the analog
AE signal in such a way that it meets the requirements of the
next stage for further processing of the AE signal. Signal
conditioning circuit performs impedance matching,
amplification, and filtering to the sensor signal received from
the sensor which is suitable for the analog to digital conversion.
It includes a buffer, digitally control gain amplifier and a band
pass filter. The gain of the amplifier is varied digitally up to 45
dB in a 3 dB step. The upper and lower cutoff frequency for
the band-pass filter as 100 kHz and 20 kHz respectively has
been selected. The amplified output signal level is in the range
of 1 to 3 volts. Photograph of the developed signal
conditioning board is shown in Fig.3. Fig. 4. Experimental setup used for acoustic emission testing.

C. Storage system A. Material specification and sensor used

The AE signal is acquired by a pencil lead break test on a
concrete beam as shown on the oscilloscope screen in fig. 4.
The lead break test is considered to be a repeatable event that
produces a stress wave similar to the stress waves generated
during a dynamic event like crack growth [10]. The events of
AE signal at different locations on the concrete beam are
determined and data are stored in ASCII form by using a
Digital Storage Oscilloscope (DSO) for further analysis.
A concrete beam of dimension (length = 400 mm, breadth
= 100 mm, thickness = 100 mm) A concrete beam of
dimension (length = 400 mm, breadth = 100 mm, thickness =
100 mm) is used for the experiments. The sensor
manufactured by Physical Acoustic Corporation is used in the
system. The sensor requires 4 to 7 volt DC power supply. The
sensor is directly placed on the concrete beam using vacuum
grease as couplant, so that AE event can be easily sensed with
less noise.
 TABLE I shows the specifications of the sensor used. The
sensor gives a response to a particular frequency band. PK6I
sensor is having integral preamplifier of 26 dB gain.
TABLE I
SPECIFICATIONS OF THE SENSOR
Sensor(PK6I)

Type Integral

Operating
35 to 65 kHz
Frequency Range
Resonant ~55 kHz
Frequency
Input Power Range 4 to 7 Volt

B. Experimental procedure
The measured voltage level in the DSO is 20 mV without
pencil lead break test and the trigger was set in the channel to
capture the signal event on DSO. The event of AE signals is
captured when it crosses the particular threshold voltage. The
value of threshold voltage varies depending on the background
noise generated from the physical environmental condition. In
this test, 200 mV was fixed as a threshold voltage.
Pencil lead break test was done at different positions on
the concrete beam at a distance of 10 cm, 20 cm and 30 cm
from the PZT sensor to capture the single event of AE signal.
When the signal level crosses the particular threshold voltage,
one event is recorded. The event of AE signal generated by
pencil lead break test at different locations is stored in DSO
for further analysis. Origin software is used for scientific
graphing data analysis viz. statistics, signal processing, and
peak analysis.
IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The signals acquired by the pencil lead break test at
different locations on the concrete beam were used for finding
the resonant frequency and peak amplitude of the AE
signal. Fig. 5 shows the pencil lead break AE signal and its
Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) at a distance of 10 cm, 20 cm
and 30 cm from the piezoelectric transducer.
It can be seen that the resonant frequency of the event
occurring at different locations is approximately the same (51
kHz to 57 kHz) which varies around the sensor resonating
frequency (55 kHz). As the distance of the AE source
increases from the sensor, amplitude of the signal decreases.
This is due to attenuation of the AE signal.
This development is intended towards structural health
monitoring applications in real-time where miniature
embedded architecture is demanded [11-12]. This work can be
extended further for processing of AE signal for extraction of
various parameters like ring down counts (AE counts), peak,
RMS, event duration, rise time and event count from the AE
signal for structure health monitoring in real time.

Fig. 5. Acoustic emission signal and its FFT at 10cm, 20 cm and 30cm
V. CONCLUSION
This paper presents the development of a signal
conditioning module for acoustic emission signals. An
appropriate band pass filter has been implemented. To validate
the system, pencil lead break test has been done at different
locations of a concrete beam and data has been stored in a
DSO. The resonant frequency of the signal at different
locations is found to be almost the same as that of the resonant
frequency of the sensor designed. The maximum amplitude of
the signal decreases as the AE source moves away from the
sensor and this is due to attenuation of the signal. This work
will be further extended towards the development of a
processing module for the AE parameter extraction by using
dedicated embedded hardware system for concrete bridge
structure health monitoring application in real time.
Acknowledgment
Authors are thankful to Dr. A.K. Bhaduri, Director,
Metallurgy and Materials Group and Director, IGCAR,
Kalpakkam for support and encouragement. Authors thank Mr.
T.K. Haneef, Scientific Officer, Non-Destructive Evaluation
Division (NDED), IGCAR, for his help during this study.
Authors also thank Mr. V. Arjun and Dr. W. Sharatchandra
Singh, Scientific Officers, NDED, IGCAR for their help.
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