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Atmospheric corrosion of aluminum aircraft structures occurs due to a variety of reasons. A typical phenomenon leading to corrosion during aircraft operation is the deliquescence of salt contaminants due to changes in the ambient relative humidity (RH). Currently, the corrosion of aircraft is controlled through scheduled inspections. In contrast, the present contribution aims to continuously monitor atmospheric corrosion using the acoustic emission (AE) method, which could lead to a structural health monitoring application for aircraft. The AE method is frequently used for corrosion detection under immersion-like conditions or for corrosion where stress-induced cracking is involved. However, the applicability of the AE method to the detection of atmospheric corrosion in unloaded aluminum structures has not yet been demonstrated. To address this issue, the present investigation uses small droplets of a sodium chloride solution to induce atmospheric corrosion of uncladded aluminum alloy AA2024-T351. The operating conditions of an aircraft are simulated by controlled variations in the RH. The AE signals are measured while the corrosion site is visually observed through video recordings. A clear correlation between the formation and growth of pits, the AE and hydrogen bubble activity, and the RH is found. Thus, the findings demonstrate the applicability of the AE method to the monitoring of the atmospheric corrosion of aluminum aircraft structures using current measurement equipment. Numerous potential effects that can affect the measurable AE signals are discussed. Among these, bubble activity is considered to cause the most emissions.

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