Universal Educational and Research Facility for the Study of the Processes of Generation and Propagation of Acoustic Emission Waves

The design and the algorithm for the use of an approved universal educational and research facility is described. The facility is designed to simulate a wide range of model controlled objects (vessels, pipelines, tube furnaces, reservoirs, etc.) and the main acoustic emission (AE) sources: cracks, leaks, corrosion damage, sites damaged by an aggressive medium, etc. The AE simulators installed at the facility are equipped with waveguides to provide the acoustic connection and protect the main elements of the facility in case of fracture of the simulators. The AE simulators are controlled using a loading device to preset the fracture initiation point and the simulator fracture rate. The facility is designed so as to provide low-cost repeated simulation of diverse situations that occur during the operation and examination of dangerous industrial objects. The facility can be used for research, education, and certification of personnel, techniques, and AE hardware; thus, it is useful for nondestructive testing laboratories.