Acoustic Emission and Numerical Analysis of Pine Beams Retrofitted with FRP and Poplar Wood

Acoustic emission (AE) released by pine beams retrofitted with fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) and poplar planks in bending is analyzed. Basalt fabric (FB), carbon fabric (FC), and carbon pultruded laminate (LC) have been used as FRP. Experimental results and AE behavior are discussed based on an elastoplastic finite-element numerical model. The model demonstrates a strong strain concentration at the end of poplar planks, which causes high AE activity in these areas and acts as a precursor of the delamination of the poplar plank. Based on the experimental results, some AE criteria for predicting the onset of the delamination are tentatively proposed.