• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
• /
• v.9 no.3 s.32
• /
• pp.287-300
• /
• 1997

In this study, an effective application method of AE technique for the detection of fatigue crack in multi-girder steel bridges has been proposed. The applicability has been examined through the laboratory works with bridge model. The proposed analytical method which evaluates the remaining fatigue lives of structural members may improve the rational determination of the priority of inspection for structural members assuming to have fatigue cracks. Laboratory tests for the application of AE technique to steel girder bridges show that the frequency bands of traffic noise are in the range between 10 show that the frequency bands of traffic noise are in the range between 100~200 kHz and the AE signal raised from fatigue cracks is concentrated around 400~500 kHz. Therefore. R30 sensor is proved to be the most suitable for the detection of cracks in steel girder bridges. A linear proportionality between the crack propagation and the frequency of AE signals has been obtained. In addition, an economic and effective source location method for steel girder bridges was studied through experiments.