Improvement of the acousto-ultrasonic method using model anchor bases with controlled defects

Cables in engineering structures are essential to the integrity of the structure.However, they are subject to damage in specific areas, particularly at the cable entry into the anchor base.Currently, there are no non-destructive testing techniques available for examining this area.The aim of this work is to study the feasibility of defect detection using acoustoultrasounds.These combine ultrasound and acoustic emission.Tests on suspension bridges have shown that the technique is sensitive to the state of health of the bases.However, in order to quantify the nature of the defect and determine its severity, a study is being carried out on "model" anchor bases, manufactured on a real scale: two bases without defects and four reproducing defects observed during inspections of bridges (mechanical failure and corrosion of the cable's external wires, presence of a void in the fusible material).The first step was to optimise the choice of sensors for transmission and reception and their position.Then, a detailed analysis of the descriptors extracted from the signals is carried out to determine the presence of a defect and assess its severity.