Localization and identification of gas infrastructure defects by acoustic emission

Abstract

Durability, reliability and usability are three foundations of reliable construction, crucial in economic and social context. Because localization and monitor of potential defect and assessment of its impact on condition of the construction are part of the durability assessment, we should develop appropriate methods, which would detect the beginning of technical condition process getting worse and could allow monitoring its progress during exploitation of the construction, not only at areas chosen subjectively or based on unverifiable computer models. One of this NDT methods complied with user expectations is acoustic emission method based on analysis of active destruction processes. The article presents results of AE applications to locate, monitor and identify destruction processes caused by exploitation burdens made to assessment the technical condition of gas infrastructure made from cast iron, steel and plastic.