Acoustic emission sources of breakdown failure due to pulsed-electric discharge in concrete

Acoustic emission (AE) technique is applied to locate existing breakdown failure in concrete. Damage was generated in a concrete sample applying 6.4 kJ energy of pulsed-electric discharge. Both AE parameter analysis and waveform analysis were carried out. From results of AE parameter analysis, AE sources associated with existing breakdown failure were identified in the compression test. Prior to location analysis, AE waveforms detected were de-noised by employing the wavelet transform. The area of breakdown failure in concrete is identified by the source location analysis of these de-noised AE waveforms. Five locations of breakdown failure are found in the concrete sample. Micro-cracks occur starting from the lower part of concrete sample and then spread randomly in entire concrete body.

Research highlights
► Breakdown failures due to pulsed-electric discharge occur at transition zone.
► The concrete damages are regarded as micro-cracks.
► AE source locations of micro-cracks occur starting from lower part of concrete.
► Micro-cracks propagate randomly in entire concrete body.