International Journal of Scientific Research in Knowledge (IJSRK), 1(3), pp. 44-50, 2013 Available online at http://www.ijsrpub.

com/ijsrk ISSN: 2322-4541, 2013 IJSRPUB

Full Length Research Paper Damage Evaluation Assessment of Reinforced Concrete Structure using b-value and Damage Parameter Analysis of Acoustic Emission Signals
Alilireza Panjsetooni, Norazura Muhamad Bunnori
School of Civil Engineering, Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Seri Ampangan, Seberang Perai Selatan, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia *Corresponding Author: E-mail:Alireza5civil@yahoo.com
Received 18 February 2013; Accepted 12 March 2013

Abstract. Acoustic emission (AE) method is a passive non-destructive technique that can be applicable for structural health monitoring. This technique have been used in the field of reinforced concrete (RC) structure for investigation process of damage in both case local and global monitoring. In this study AE technique was employed to investigate the process of fracture formation in reinforced concrete (RC) structure. Five RC frames were tested under loading cycle and were simultaneously monitored using AE. The AE test data using the b-value method and Damage parameter were analyzed. The the trend of Minimum b-value and Maximum Damage parameter in stages of failure showed that these method are able to indicate the levels of damage in RC frame. With respects to the results obtained, a new chart is proposed by cross plotting Load and b-value. Three levels (heavy, moderate and low) of damage in concrete structure can be identified using this chart. Key words: Reinforced concrete frame; Acoustic emission; b-value; nondestructive technique

1. INTRODUCTION AE method is a passive non-destructive technique that can be applicable in structural health monitoring (Proverbio, 2011). This method is a useful technique for real time examination of the behaviour of materials deforming under stress (Nair et al., 2010). The main goal of AE monitoring in structures is to detect, source, and assess the intensity of damage (Holford et al., 2005).The primarily sources of AE are micro-cracking, macro-cracking, yielding, fracture (Muravin, 2009). AE technique is already used in civil engineering for evaluation of structural integrity because of its possibility for location and detection of developing damage (Ramadan et al., 2008). This technique have been used in the field of reinforced concrete (RC) structure for investigation process of damage in both case local and global monitoring. The b-value is a significant method for analysis of AE signals. This method has been used for structure damage evaluation by several researchers. A number works was found that b-value has been used for evaluation of RC beam such as Shiotani et al. (2001), Colombo et al. (2003), Kurz et al. (2006), Ko and Yu (2009), Proverbio (2011) and Schumacher et al. (2011). Also, damage parameter is a method for analysis of AE signals that was derived by the study of Cox and Meredith (1993) on the micro-crack formation in rock. A few works was found that damage parameter

has been used for evaluation of RC beam such as Colombo et al. (2003) and Proverbio (2011). In main objective of this current study was damage evaluation assessment of RC frame using Damage parameter and b-value analysis of acoustic emission signals with a new approach. Commonly, previous works using b-value method has been focused on local evaluation of RC beams. However in this research, suitably of this method for global evaluation of RC frame was investigated. 2. METHODOLOGY 2.1. b-value analysis In earthquake seismology, events of larger magnitude occur less frequently than events of smaller magnitude (Schumacher et al., 2011). The relationship was first established by Gutenberg and Richter in 1949(Gutenberg and Richter, 1954). GutenbergRichter relation is defined as: Log [N] = a b M (1) Where M =the magnitude of earthquake; N = earthquake number with finite magnitude interval (larger than M); and a & b are empirical constants (Ko and Yu, 2009). Gutenberg-Richter relation was applied to AE method and was found a statistical correlation between the number of AE events and signal amplitude. According to Colombo et al. (2003), in term of AE technique, b-value is defined as:

44

Panjsetooni and Bunnori Damage Evaluation Assessment of Reinforced Concrete Structure using b-value and Damage Parameter Analysis of Acoustic Emission Signals

/20) (2) Where = AE amplitude; N = the number of AE events with an amplitude higher than with . The b-value is defined as the log-linear slope of the frequency magnitude distribution of AE (Rao and Lakshmi, 2005). 2.2. Damage parameter analysis Damage parameter is a method for evaluation of damage in a material in terms of acoustic emission Damage parameter was analytical defined as (Cox and Meredith, 1993): (3) Where = AE amplitude; N = the total number of AE amplitudes in each groups

3. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES 3.1. Material details A series of experiments was conducted on reinforced concrete (RC) frame. A total of five RC frame specimens were built. Figure 1 shows the detail and dimension of RC frame specimens. The dimension of RC frames, were length of 2000mm, height of 1000mm and crocs section of 250x250 mm as shown in Figure 1. The water to cement ratio was 0.5 and the material proportions were 1:3:4:0.6 by weight of cement, sand, aggregate and water respectively. The average compressive strength of concrete at 28 days was 240Mpa.

D 10

3.AdB 20

Fig. 1: Detail and dimension of RC frame specimen

3.2. Test monitoring using AE technique A total of five RC frame specimens described earlier were tested under loading cycle. In order to perform acoustic emission monitoring, an eight channel AE system (DISP-8PCI) manufactured by Physical Acoustics Corporation (PAC) was employed. Four R6I sensors with the resonance frequency of approximately 60 kHz were used. The AE systems hardware was set up was threshold level of 45dB for all channels in order to avoid the possibility of noise effect. The cyclic load pattern was determined as shown in Figure 2. The load was applied in 10kN steps at mid span of RC frame. The load was applied from 0.5kN to maximum of each loading cycle (10kN increment) and held constant for one minute. Then, the load was unloaded from maximum of 45

each loading cycle to 0.5kN and was held for 2 minutes. The test was monitored by AE throughout the test. The measurement include load, mid span deflection and AE data were recorded continuously during the three point bending test.
4. RESULTS ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION 4.1. Responses of test RC frame to cyclic loading The RC frames described early were tested under loading cycle. The RC frame was failed in loading cycle 12 (120kN). The behaviour of all RC frames under loading cycle can be divided into seven stages of failure namely:(I)Micro-cracking at the mid span of RC frame during, (II) First flexural cracks at mid span of RC frame, (III) distributed flexural cracks at the mid span of RC frame, (IV) first cracks at the beam-column connection zones, (V)Distributed

International Journal of Scientific Research in Knowledge (IJSRK), 1(3), pp. 44-50, 2013

cracks at beam-column connection zones, (VI) Damage localization at the beam-column connection

zone, (VII) Failure at beam-column connection zone .

120

Load (kN)

80

40

0 0 700 1400 Time (second) 2100 2800

Fig 2: The loading cyclic pattern

4.2. b-value analysis The AE data obtained in test was used in order to carry out b-value analysis. The range of AE amplitude was in steps of 5 dB and b-value was calculated for each group during each loading cycle. The Minimum of b-value during each loading cycle was calculated. Figure 3 (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) shows the trend of Minimum b-value against cycle number for all RC frame specimens. In addition, Figure 4 shows the trend of Minimum b-value against stage of failure for all RC frame specimens. Data points represent that from loading cycle 1 to loading cycle 12 that load from 10 to 120kN is increased the Minimum b-value from 3.0 to 0.5 is decreased. The results of the Minimum b-value analysis are summarized in Table 1.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

Fig. 3: Minimum b-value against cycle number for all RC frame specimens

46

Panjsetooni and Bunnori Damage Evaluation Assessment of Reinforced Concrete Structure using b-value and Damage Parameter Analysis of Acoustic Emission Signals

3
I

2.5 Minimum b-Value 2

II

III

IV

VI

VII

1.5
1 0.5 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Cycle no. 8 9 10 11 12

SPRCF1

SPRCF2

SPRCF3

SPRCF4

SPRCF5

Fig. 4: Minimum b-value for all RC specimens against stage of failure

Table 1: The results of minimum b-value analysis
Cycle no. 1 to3 4 to 6 7 to 10 11 to 12 Load/ultimate load Stage of failure Minimum b-value 2~3 1~2 0.7~1 0.4~0.7

0~25% 25~50% 50 ~85% 85~100

Micro-cracking at the mid span of RC frame stage I initial and distribution of macro- cracks in mid span of RC framestages II and III initial and distribution of macro- cracks at beam-column connection zones - stages IV and V Damage localization and failure at beam the beam-column connection zone-stage VI and VII

The b-value derives from the amplitude distribution data of AE and is defined as the log-linear slope of the frequency magnitude distribution of AE. Micro-cracks generate a large number of small AE amplitude and macro-cracks generate AE amplitude higher than micro-cracks (Kurz and et al. 2006). Also, the low b-value represents faster or unstable crack growth due to high amplitude AE in large number (Rao et al., 2005). The fracture process moves from micro to macro cracking with increasing load. Also, with increasing load, AE signals with higher amplitude are generated. Thus, it should be expected that the minimum b-value decreased with increasing load. With respects to the results obtained from the minimum b-value analysis, it can be said that the Minimum b-value is dependent with loading levels and sensitive with cracks growth in RC frame specimens and was able to indicate the levels of damage.

4.3. Damage parameter analysis Also, The AE data obtained in test was used in order to carry out a Damage Parameter analysis. According to Colombo et al. (2003) and Proverbio (2011), the total number of AE events for each channel during a load cycle was divided in groups with interval of 100 events in each group. The damage parameters for all channels were calculated. Figure 5 shows the trend of Maximum of Damage parameter against cycle number for a sample. Data points show that during loading cycle 1 to 3 and in stage micro- cracks (stage I), the Maximum of Damage parameters is less than3E+13 and low level. Also, during loading cycle 4 to 6 and in stage initial and distribution of cracks in mad span of RC frame (stage II and III), the Maximum Damage parameters is between 3E+13 and 4E+14 and moderate level. In addition during loading cycle 7 to

47

International Journal of Scientific Research in Knowledge (IJSRK), 1(3), pp. 44-50, 2013

12 and in stage initial cracks at beam-column connection zones (stage IV to VII), the Maximum Damage parameters is between 3E+14 and 4E+15 and high level. Damage parameter is based AE amplitude. The results show that in stage micro cracks, AE is emitted with low level amplitude and in stage initial and

distribution of cracks at mad span of RC frame AE is emitted with moderate level amplitude. Also, stage initial and distribution of cracks at beam-column connection zones, AE is emitted with high level amplitude. Thus, the Maximum Damage parameter can indicate three levels of damage (low, moderate and heavy) in concrete structure.

3E+16 IV, V, VI, VII Damage parameter 3E+15 3E+14 3E+13 3E+12 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Cycle no. 8 9 10 11 12 I II &III

Fig. 5: Damage parameter versus loading cycle - SPRCF1 4.4. Propose a new b-value chart With respects to the results obtained from the Minimum b-value analysis and damage parameter, a new chart is proposed by cross plotting Load and Minimum b-value. Three levels (low, moderate and heavy) of damage in concrete structure can be identified using this chart. Figure 6 shows Minimum b-value versus Load chart. In the stage of micro-crack, no significant structural damage was observed and AE is emitted with low level amplitude. Thus, an appropriate limit for b-value can be identifying as 2. Also, there is high significant damage in stage initial cracks at beam column connection zone and AE is emitted with high level amplitude, thus, an appropriate limit for b-value can be identify as 1.

b-Value vs load
Minimum b-Value

Low damage
2

Moderate damage
1

High damage Load

Fig. 6: Load versus b-value chart

48

Panjsetooni and Bunnori Damage Evaluation Assessment of Reinforced Concrete Structure using b-value and Damage Parameter Analysis of Acoustic Emission Signals

5. CONCLUSIONS This paper provides the results from tests on RC frame under loading cycle and was monitored by AE throughout the test. On the basis of AE activities, the analysis of signal characteristics using the minimum b-value and Damage parameter, the conclusions are presented below: 1. The trend of minimum b-value and maximum damage parameter showed that these methods is strongly sensitive with cracks growth in RC frame specimens and was able to indicate the levels of damage. 2. Three levels of damage in concrete structure can be identified using this chart by cross plotting Load and b-value 3. Results showed that AE can be considered as a viable method to predict the remaining service life of reinforced concrete structure. Acknowledgment The authors would like to thank Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) for providing support through the short term Grant [304/PAWAM/6039047] REFERENCES Colombo IS, Main I, Forde M (2003). Assessing damage of reinforced concrete beam using bvalue analysis of acoustic emission signals. Journal of materials in civil engineering, 15(3): 280-286. Cox S, Meredith P (1993). In International journal of rock mechanics and mining sciences & geomechanics abstracts, Vol. 30 Elsevier, pp. 11-24. Gutenberg B, Richter CF (1954). Seismicity of the earth and related phenomena. Princeton (NJ).

Holford K, Lark R (2005). Acoustic Emission Testing Bridges. Ko W, Yu C (2009). Application of GutenbergRichter Relation in AE Data Processing. International Journal of Applied Science and Engineering, 7(1): 69-78. Kurz JH, Finck F, Grosse CU, Reinhardt HW (2006). Stress drop and stress redistribution in concrete quantified over time by the b-value analysis. Structural Health Monitoring, 5(1): 69-81. Muravin B (2009). Acoustic emission science and technology. Journal of Building and Infrastructure Engineering of the Israeli Association of Engineers and Architects, Israel. Nair A, Cai C (2010). Acoustic emission monitoring of bridges: Review and case studies. Engineering structures, 32(6): 1704-1714. Proverbio E (2011). Evaluation of deterioration in reinforced concrete structures by AE technique. Materials and corrosion, 62(2): 161-169. Ramadan S, Gaillet L, Tessier C, Idrissi H (2008). Detection of stress corrosion cracking of highstrength steel used in prestressed concrete structures by acoustic emission technique. Applied surface science, 254(8): 2255-2261. Rao M, Lakshmi KJP (2005). Analysis of b-value and improved b-value of acoustic emissions accompanying rock fracture. CURRENT SCIENCE-BANGALORE, 89(9): 1577. Schumacher T, Higgins CC, Lovejoy, S. C. (2011). Estimating operating load conditions on reinforced concrete highway bridges with bvalue analysis from acoustic emission monitoring. Structural Health Monitoring, 10(1), 17-32. Shiotani T, Yuyama S, Li Z, Ohtsu M (2001). Application of AE improved b-value to quantitative evaluation of fracture process in concrete materials. Journal of acoustic emission.

49

International Journal of Scientific Research in Knowledge (IJSRK), 1(3), pp. 44-50, 2013

Alireza Panjsetooni was born in Western area of Iran on 2rd January 1976. His first degree at University Tabriz in Bach of Civil Eng(Hons) 2000. Then he continued deeply in Master of earthquake Engineering (M.Struct) at Universiti Tehran in 2008 and currently his pursuing in PhD level at Universiti Sains Malaysia in Structural Health Monitoring.

Norazura Muhamad Bunnori (PhD) has been involved in Acoustic Emission (AE) technique since 2004 while she was pursuing her PhD study at Cardiff University, Wales, UK. She was graduated from Cardiff University in 2008 and continues with the AE research area in Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Malaysia. Currently she is working as a Senior Lecturer at School of Civil Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) since 2009. The research covered several topics of AE applications and analysis (quantitative and qualitive). The aim is to continue the AE study especially in Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) research area and to discover more in this potential area. The passion towards AE is deep and she believes that there are a great number of information can be studied and discovered with this tool.

50