On the crack tip propagation monitoring within wood material: Cluster analysis of acoustic emission data compared with numerical modelling

•DCB wood specimens with variable inertia were tested in opening mode configuration.•Good ability of AE combined with statistical tools to monitor the crack tip growth.•Good correlation between AE results and numerical predictions (fracture properties). In this study, crack length evolutions evaluated from both experimental analysis (cluster analysis of acoustic emission activity) and numerical modelling are compared. The highlight of the work presented herein is to show the good ability of acoustic emission technique (AET) combined with statistical tools to monitor the crack tip growth within wood material. At the current state of this work, findings put in evidence a good correlation between AE results and numerical predictions. Results also show a good correlation between energy release rate values evaluated from both compliance method and numerical modelling through integral invariant method and equivalent crack length approach.