Detecting deformation mechanisms of metals from acoustic emission signals through knowledge-driven unsupervised learning

Abstract Timely detection of deformation mechanisms in metallic structural materials is essential for early-warning alerts on potential damages and fractures. Acoustic emission (AE) technologies are commonly used for this purpose due to their non-destructive nature. However, traditional methods ofte...

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Main Authors: Boyuan Gou, Yan Chen, Songhua Xu, Jun Sun, Turab Lookman, Ekhard K. H. Salje, Xiangdong Ding
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61707-z
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author Boyuan Gou
Yan Chen
Songhua Xu
Jun Sun
Turab Lookman
Ekhard K. H. Salje
Xiangdong Ding
author_facet Boyuan Gou
Yan Chen
Songhua Xu
Jun Sun
Turab Lookman
Ekhard K. H. Salje
Xiangdong Ding
author_sort Boyuan Gou
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Timely detection of deformation mechanisms in metallic structural materials is essential for early-warning alerts on potential damages and fractures. Acoustic emission (AE) technologies are commonly used for this purpose due to their non-destructive nature. However, traditional methods often struggle with distinguishing AE signals associated with multiple co-existing deformation mechanisms. To address this challenge, we propose a knowledge-driven unsupervised learning approach. The novel method leverages a family of gradient-driven supervised base learners and integrates them with a knowledge-infused aggregate loss function, effectively transforming the approach into an unsupervised learning framework. Compared to existing methods, our approach excels in identifying co-existing deformation mechanisms associated with AE signals. Experiments on porous 316L stainless steel during tensile process show that the avalanche statistics of the identified dislocation and crack AE signals align closely with classical statistical methods and fracture theory. By integrating with the avalanche theory, our proposed approach can continuously monitor material deformation mechanisms in real-time and provide dynamic early failure warnings. Additionally, the framework demonstrates strong transferability in recognizing multiple co-existing deformation mechanisms in new materials, leveraging its unsupervised learning capability.
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issn 2041-1723
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spelling doaj-art-940c3d66a97c46fdb2d779ee2392baba2025-08-20T04:02:54ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-07-0116111110.1038/s41467-025-61707-zDetecting deformation mechanisms of metals from acoustic emission signals through knowledge-driven unsupervised learningBoyuan Gou0Yan Chen1Songhua Xu2Jun Sun3Turab Lookman4Ekhard K. H. Salje5Xiangdong Ding6State Key Laboratory for Mechanical Behavior of Materials, Xi’an Jiaotong UniversityState Key Laboratory for Mechanical Behavior of Materials, Xi’an Jiaotong UniversitySchool of Mathematics and Statistics, Xi’an Jiaotong UniversityState Key Laboratory for Mechanical Behavior of Materials, Xi’an Jiaotong UniversityState Key Laboratory for Mechanical Behavior of Materials, Xi’an Jiaotong UniversityState Key Laboratory for Mechanical Behavior of Materials, Xi’an Jiaotong UniversityState Key Laboratory for Mechanical Behavior of Materials, Xi’an Jiaotong UniversityAbstract Timely detection of deformation mechanisms in metallic structural materials is essential for early-warning alerts on potential damages and fractures. Acoustic emission (AE) technologies are commonly used for this purpose due to their non-destructive nature. However, traditional methods often struggle with distinguishing AE signals associated with multiple co-existing deformation mechanisms. To address this challenge, we propose a knowledge-driven unsupervised learning approach. The novel method leverages a family of gradient-driven supervised base learners and integrates them with a knowledge-infused aggregate loss function, effectively transforming the approach into an unsupervised learning framework. Compared to existing methods, our approach excels in identifying co-existing deformation mechanisms associated with AE signals. Experiments on porous 316L stainless steel during tensile process show that the avalanche statistics of the identified dislocation and crack AE signals align closely with classical statistical methods and fracture theory. By integrating with the avalanche theory, our proposed approach can continuously monitor material deformation mechanisms in real-time and provide dynamic early failure warnings. Additionally, the framework demonstrates strong transferability in recognizing multiple co-existing deformation mechanisms in new materials, leveraging its unsupervised learning capability.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61707-z
spellingShingle Boyuan Gou
Yan Chen
Songhua Xu
Jun Sun
Turab Lookman
Ekhard K. H. Salje
Xiangdong Ding
Detecting deformation mechanisms of metals from acoustic emission signals through knowledge-driven unsupervised learning
Nature Communications
title Detecting deformation mechanisms of metals from acoustic emission signals through knowledge-driven unsupervised learning
title_full Detecting deformation mechanisms of metals from acoustic emission signals through knowledge-driven unsupervised learning
title_fullStr Detecting deformation mechanisms of metals from acoustic emission signals through knowledge-driven unsupervised learning
title_full_unstemmed Detecting deformation mechanisms of metals from acoustic emission signals through knowledge-driven unsupervised learning
title_short Detecting deformation mechanisms of metals from acoustic emission signals through knowledge-driven unsupervised learning
title_sort detecting deformation mechanisms of metals from acoustic emission signals through knowledge driven unsupervised learning
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61707-z
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