ABSTRACT
Preliminary results of an acoustic emission (AE) study of fatigue cracks in A–36 steel specimens are presented. The fatigue propagation of cracks in three steel beams were monitored with the use of a six channel acoustic emissions system. Each specimen was subjected to three-point bending with cyclic loading. Based on these experimental results, plots were established of crack growth rate and acoustic counts versus change in stress intensity factor. Preliminary field monitorings of fatigue cracks in an actual bridge girder have been conducted. The field monitorings results have shown that the location method being used is effective.
