Acoustic emission: some applications of Lamb’s problem

A method for obtaining the signatures (waveforms) of certain acoustic emission events has been developed. The waveform is that at the source, free of contamination by ringing of the specimen, apparatus, and transducer. The technique is based on the comparison of two signals at the transducer, one from the event in question and one from an artificial event of known waveform. The apparatus is also adapted to the calibration of transducers in a certain sense. The configurations of source (real or simulated acoustic−emission event) and receiving transducer correspond to those of some special cases of Lamb’s problem. As a byproduct, the results may be of some interest to seismologists. Subject Classification: 40.42; 35.54, 35.80, 35.68; 40.50; 85.44.