Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP) pipes are extensively used in many industries thanks to their high strength, good corrosion resistance, low weight and many other advantages. However growing use of FRP pipes and pressure equipment brings new challenges. One of them is in-time detection of flaws developing in FRP structure. Many non-destructive tests methods are not effective or inapplicable for examination of fiber reinforced plastic including fiber glass structures.
Diagnostic Acoustic Emission is an ideal technology for assessment of integrity of FRP piping and other pressure equipment. It allows detection of delamination growth, matrix cracking, fiber breakage during normal operation. DAE detects internal or surface breaking flaws with no limitation and effectively locates flaws along the piping. Periodic or continuous monitoring of revealed flaws is used to alert when repair or replacement is required.
Thanks to the fact that DAE examinations performed during operation, operational issues causing flaw initiation and development are often identified.