Predictive approach to failure prevention

The abstract refers to approaches for failure prevention in structures under impact loading as well as fatigue. The progress of a crack is monitored by nondestructive testing techniques, among which acoustic emission is used due to its passive nature in detecting activities occurring on the structure as a response to loading conditions. The predictive approach relies on identifying features in the monitoreal signal and following changes in these features which correspond linearly with the advance of a crack and consequently, a decrease in fatigue life. Following the change in features with time or with extent of loading, allows development of a dynamic pattern recognition algorithm which is directly correlated with physical parameters in the system.