Calculation of defects in pressurised cylindrical shells instrumented by acoustic emission and strain gauges

This research based on fracture mechanic, associated with numerical computation by finite element method, aims to characterize and to better understand the harmfulness of an existing defect in a structure under pressure. Thus mini-structures have been manufactured, which have defects with different locations and orientations. Instrumentation by strain gauges around the defects was carried out. A grid by sensors of acoustic emission was also used to detect any irreversible deformation in the material (plastic deformation, initiation and evolution of defect). A correlation between numerical calculation and the experimental results is shown.