The use of the acoustic emission method for the monitoring of changes in the internal structure of polymer-cement mortars when testing the static compressive modulus of elasticity

Abstract

The paper focuses on the experimental determination of the dynamic and static compressive modulus of elasticity of selected polymer-cement mortars and their comparison. The dynamic modulus of elasticity was determined by means of the ultrasonic pulse velocity test and the resonance method. The static compressive modulus of elasticity test was accompanied by a measurement of the material’s behaviour using the acoustic emission method, the principle of which is the detection of mechanical dilation waves produced by changes and microscopic faults in the structure of the material. The advantage of the acoustic emission method is the possibility of detecting a crack before it can be found e.g. using a microscope. The outcome of the experiment is a detailed evaluation of the behaviour of polymer-cement mortars made using the values of the elastic modulus and acoustic response of the material during loading.