ANALYSIS OF ACOUSTIC-EMISSION SIGNALS GENERATED DURING THE FATIGUE TESTING OF GFRP

The acoustic emission AE generated during the fatigue testing of GFRP have been investigated. Four separate stage of AE activity were observ ed during a standard test. Each stage of AE activity was characterized by the AE event and energy late. Different AE sources have been sugge sted by the analysis of AE signal parameters. Three distinct fracture surfaces have been observed using a SEM. Result of this investigation strongly suggest that AE measurement can be used as an effective probe for the assessment of damage accumulation and to characterize mechani sms and types of crack growth in GFRP during fatigue loading.