ASTM E976-15

3.1 Acoustic emission data is affected by several characteristics of the instrumentation. The most obvious of these is the system sensitivity. Of all the parameters and components contributing to the sensitivity, the acoustic emission sensor is the one most subject to variation. This variation can be a result of damage or aging, or there can be variations between nominally identical sensors. To detect such variations, it is desirable to have a method for measuring the response of a sensor to an acoustic wave. Specific purposes for checking sensors include: (3.2 It is not the intent of this guide to evaluate AE system performance. Refer to Practice E750 for characterizing acoustic instrumentation and refer to Guide E2374 for AE system performance verification.

3.3 The procedures given in this guide are designed to measure the response of an acoustic emission sensor to an arbitrary but repeatable acoustic wave. These procedures in 3.4 The fundamental requirement for comparing sensor responses is a source of repeatable acoustic waves. The characteristics of the wave do not need to be known as long as the wave can be reproduced at will. The sources and geometries given in this guide will produce primarily compressional waves. While the sensors will respond differently to different types of waves, changes in the response to one type of wave will imply changes in the responses to other types of waves.

3.5 These procedures use a test block or rod. Such a device provides a convenient mounting surface for the sensor and when appropriately marked, can ensure that the source and the sensor are always positioned identically with respect to each other. The device or rod also provides mechanical loading of the sensor similar to that experienced in actual use. Care must be taken when using these devices to minimize resonances so that the characteristics of the sensor are not masked by these resonances.

3.6 These procedures allow comparison of responses only on the same test setup. No attempt should be made to compare responses on different test setups, whether in the same or separate laboratories.

1.1 This guide defines simple economical procedures for testing or comparing the performance of acoustic emission sensors. These procedures allow the user to check for degradation of a sensor or to select sets of sensors with nearly identical performances. The procedures are not capable of providing an absolute calibration of the sensor nor do they assure transferability of data sets between organizations.

1.2 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.

1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.