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The article deals with the field of use of acoustic emission (AE) measurement in engineering structures. The research particularly focuses on the assessment of acoustic emission during an experimental test of the load-carrying capacity of concrete slabs on the ground. A wider field of research includes structural and material optimization of advanced engineering structures. The tests of concrete slabs are then carried out in an alternate solution which differs in the used concrete or steel fibre reinforced concrete (FRC). The experimental program then includes typical measurement methods using displacement sensors and strain gauges. Non-destructive methods of measurement including acoustic emission have been used with an eye to the configuration of the experiment and deeper understanding of the actual behaviour and damage to the structure allowing for subsequent optimization and non-linear simulation of slab computation. The aim of the submitted article is to present and assess the acoustic emission as a non-destructive method which can be used to detect damage and determine the load-bearing capacity of the selected type of a FRC structure.

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Cement-based composites belong among the basic building materials used in civil engineering. Their properties are given not only by their composition but also by their behaviour after mixing, as well as by the methods of curing. Monitoring the processes and phenomena during the early stages of setting is vital for determining the resulting properties and durability. The acoustic emission method is a unique non-destructive method that can detect structural changes as a cement-based composite is setting. It can also detect the onset and growth of cracks during the service life of a cement-based composite since the moment it has been mixed. The paper discusses the use of the acoustic emission method with a focus on the early stage of the lifespan of a cement-based composite including the measures necessary for its use and description of the parameters of acoustic emission signals.

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