Acoustic emission testing of repaired storage tank

• Published in: The International journal of pressure vessels and piping Vol. 78; no. 5; pp. 373 - 378
• Main Authors: Kwon, Jeong-Rock, Lyu, Geun-Jun, Lee, Tae-Hee, Kim, Jee-Yoon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2001; Elsevier
• Subjects: Acoustic emission; Acoustic emission testing; Acoustic emissions; Activity; Applied sciences; Continuous cycle engines: steam and gas turbines, jet engines; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Defects; Engines and turbines; Exact sciences and technology; Materials science; Materials testing; Mechanical engineering. Machine design; Nondestructive testing: ultrasonic testing, photoacoustic testing; Physics; Storage (materials); Storage tank; Structural analysis; Weld-like defects; Welds; Acoustic emission; Activity; Storage tank; Weld-like defects; Acoustic emission testing; Cracks; Pulse noise; Acoustic measurements; Weld defect; Experimental study; Structural analysis; Operating conditions; Defect detection
• ISSN: 0308-0161; 1879-3541
• DOI: 10.1016/S0308-0161(01)00038-2

In order to check the structural defects of a repaired storage tank, acoustic emission (AE) signals were monitored during a load sequence of 90–110% maximum operating load range. Then, based on the AE activity indications, subsequent radiographic testing (RT) was conducted. The field AE test results showed the active emissions of weld-like defects and the inordinate emission bursts of mechanical noise signals. The mechanical noise resulting from valve shut-off was characterized by the high-density emissions of high-count events compared with the genuine emissions. Some activity indications were confirmed to be correlated with significant weld-like defects by the follow-up RT, but other emissions appeared to be unrelated to any detected defects. The observed weld-like defects were a through-wall weld crack of 1.5 cm length and a round individual porosity of 0.5 cm diameter, respectively. Under the 110% maximum operating load conditions of the repaired storage tank, the detected defect emissions were active but not characteristic of defect growth.