Deconvoluting Acoustic Emission

Acoustic emission techniques are part of the non-destructive testing and have been developed since the 1950s for several industrial applications, ranging from cracks detection in materials to corrosion monitoring. Defined also as “the material science stethoscope”, this technique is based on the principle that a sudden release of energy within a solid is dissipated in the form of elastic waves and can be capture by sensors. In the field of cultural heritage Acoustic Emission was already introduced for certain applications, but it is still largely underexploited.

This talk will introduce you to the mysteries of Acoustic Emission, exploring the theoretical aspects, the specific applications to cultural heritage materials with a focus on metal artifacts. Advantages and limits will be highlighted, addressing specifically the thorny issue of data treatment.