Subcritical crack monitoring in rocks using combined electromagnetic and acoustic emission analysis

This paper presents the use of a sensor fusion technique that combines acoustic emission (AE) and electric field (EME) sensors for the detection of cracking in rocks and man-made materials. The research focuses on subcritical cracking processes, which are often difficult to detect with traditional methods.AE and EME signals alone are often noisy and unreliable. Combining both sensors improves sensitivity and spatial resolution. Signal processing further enhances detection. Tests were performed on granite samples under controlled conditions. Results show consistent signal patterns during crack growth. The method shows promise for future outdoor field applications. • A novel method combining acoustic emission and electromagnetic emission is proposed. • Capable of detection of subcritical cracking in rock and man-made materials. • Focuses on hardware and signal processing techniques suitable for outdoor conditions. • Utilizes continuous wavelet transform for cracking identification. • Simultaneous AE and EME detection of subcritical fracturing is reported.