A comparative study of shear crack growth mechanisms in concrete through acoustic emission analysis

Abstract The shear failure of concrete is a sudden brittle failure, which is difficult to be forewarned. To investigate the shear crack mechanisms in concrete, this study first systematic compared acoustic emission (AE) behavior during direct shear tests, compression shear tests (Z-shaped specimens)...

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Main Authors: Lian Huang, Junjie Deng, Duo Hu, Xiaolong Li, Yun Liu, Weihua Zhu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-01409-0
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author Lian Huang
Junjie Deng
Duo Hu
Xiaolong Li
Yun Liu
Weihua Zhu
author_facet Lian Huang
Junjie Deng
Duo Hu
Xiaolong Li
Yun Liu
Weihua Zhu
author_sort Lian Huang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The shear failure of concrete is a sudden brittle failure, which is difficult to be forewarned. To investigate the shear crack mechanisms in concrete, this study first systematic compared acoustic emission (AE) behavior during direct shear tests, compression shear tests (Z-shaped specimens), and three point bending shear tests. AE parameters (amplitude, cumulative count and energy), average frequency (AF)-rise time/amplitude (RA) analysis, K-means clustering, and b-value analysis were integrated to classify cracks and characterize damage progression. The correlation between the shear crack propagation mechanism of concrete and AE parameters was revealed. The AE activity during concrete shear failure was successfully characterized, providing valuable insights into the damage development and evolution processes. The research findings establish a quantitative framework for using AE technology to detect shear cracks and monitor real-time damage evolution in concrete structures.
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publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
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spelling doaj-art-e46f60b8ba24419cac35018c429916002025-08-20T01:53:22ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-05-0115111810.1038/s41598-025-01409-0A comparative study of shear crack growth mechanisms in concrete through acoustic emission analysisLian Huang0Junjie Deng1Duo Hu2Xiaolong Li3Yun Liu4Weihua Zhu5School of Architecture Engineering, Guangxi Minzu UniversityGuanxi Jiaotou Technology Co., Ltd.Department of Municipal Engineering and Road & Bridge Engineering, Hunan Urban Construction CollegeSchool of Architecture Engineering, Guangxi Minzu UniversitySchool of Road and Bridge Engineering, Hunan Communication PolytechnicSchool of Civil Engineering, Hunan City UniversityAbstract The shear failure of concrete is a sudden brittle failure, which is difficult to be forewarned. To investigate the shear crack mechanisms in concrete, this study first systematic compared acoustic emission (AE) behavior during direct shear tests, compression shear tests (Z-shaped specimens), and three point bending shear tests. AE parameters (amplitude, cumulative count and energy), average frequency (AF)-rise time/amplitude (RA) analysis, K-means clustering, and b-value analysis were integrated to classify cracks and characterize damage progression. The correlation between the shear crack propagation mechanism of concrete and AE parameters was revealed. The AE activity during concrete shear failure was successfully characterized, providing valuable insights into the damage development and evolution processes. The research findings establish a quantitative framework for using AE technology to detect shear cracks and monitor real-time damage evolution in concrete structures.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-01409-0ConcreteShear cracksAcoustic emissionParameter analysisb-value
spellingShingle Lian Huang
Junjie Deng
Duo Hu
Xiaolong Li
Yun Liu
Weihua Zhu
A comparative study of shear crack growth mechanisms in concrete through acoustic emission analysis
Scientific Reports
Concrete
Shear cracks
Acoustic emission
Parameter analysis
b-value
title A comparative study of shear crack growth mechanisms in concrete through acoustic emission analysis
title_full A comparative study of shear crack growth mechanisms in concrete through acoustic emission analysis
title_fullStr A comparative study of shear crack growth mechanisms in concrete through acoustic emission analysis
title_full_unstemmed A comparative study of shear crack growth mechanisms in concrete through acoustic emission analysis
title_short A comparative study of shear crack growth mechanisms in concrete through acoustic emission analysis
title_sort comparative study of shear crack growth mechanisms in concrete through acoustic emission analysis
topic Concrete
Shear cracks
Acoustic emission
Parameter analysis
b-value
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-01409-0
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