Acoustic emission testing is a non-destructive testing (NDT) technique used to detect, locate, and monitor structural defects such as cracks, leaks, and corrosion in real-time. Acoustic emission (AE) works by ‘listening’ to high-frequency stress waves (between 20 kHz and 1 MHz) that are released when materials deform or fracture.
When a component is stressed enough to create defects through factors such as pressure loading or heat, energy is released as transient elastic waves that travel to the surface. These waves can be passively detected by piezoelectric sensors. AE can detect and locate active defects, growing damage during operation, or provide proof tests in real time, allowing for immediate assessment before failure occurs.
Commonly used for applications including the inspection of pressure vessels, storage tanks, bridges, pipelines, or detecting fibre breakage in composites, AE can provide a full scan of complex structures.