Ae condition monitoring: Challenges and opportunities

Abstract

For those entering an engineering field for the first time, be it as a research student or industrial practitioner, it becomes quickly apparent that the plethora of academic and popular literature on a subject never paints a complete picture. This is especially true when a field is relatively new. Such is the case for acoustic emission monitoring, particularly when applied to incipient fault detection in rotating machinery. This imbalance causes the uninitiated to perceive AE as the holy grail of incipient fault detection. Conversely, those who in the past tried and failed, condemn AE forever. Whilst newcomers to research or consulting repeat the mistakes of the past as they struggle to make a contribution. This paper moves to restore the balance by discussing some of the problems facing acoustic emission users, as well as suggesting ways forward to overcome present challenges and obstacles.