ATTAR have conducted Acoustic Emission (AE) since 1986 using Physical Acoustics Corporation (PAC) equipment. AE monitoring has been carried out on steel acid storage tanks, LPG bullets, steel and titanium storage tanks, buried pipeline, fibre composite chemical storage tanks, flues and fibre composite booms in elevating work platform vehicles.

All testing is conducted to ASTM, ASME or Australian Standards which indicate the procedures to follow and the method of assessment. AE testing is usually carried out during a controlled increase in pressure, load or corrosion activity. Only active defects and deterioration result in AE - when detected, these are confirmed by conventional NDT, so that no time is wasted on inactive discontinuities which are not threatening structural integrity.

On insulated plant only, small holes in the insulation are required for sensor mounting - avoiding full insulation removal normally required for conventional NDT. High temperature vessels may be monitored using sensors mounted on wave guides attached to the wall and passing through the insulation.

AE permits global monitoring of large vessels in a relatively short time at a considerably reduced cost when compared with 100% inspection by other NDT techniques. All test information is stored on computer disc and may be re-analysed at a later date.