Acoustic emission technology for quantitative monitoring stress corrosion cracking in materials

The kinetics of zirconium tubes stress corrosion cracking (SCC) under corrosion environment local influence was studied by the acoustic emission methods (AE). AE measurements directly near corrosion area and digital processing of signals make it possible to detect two SCC stages of zirconium tubes in a period of the first hours of the test. There has been worked out computerised acoustic-emission devices with principally new dimension of signals, coming from time-to-time acts of fracture made by a non-resonating piezosensor. Measuring amplitude of the electrical signal of the sensor level being in proportion to power of radiation source one can easily measure cracks from 10x10 mu m and analyse mechanism and kinetics of fracture in real time.