Differentiation of artificial rocks in mechanical cutting using acoustics emission (AE) towards selective mining

ABSTRACT In this paper, acoustic emission (AE) method was used to differentiate three concretes having different strengths in laboratory. Cutting tests under different conditions in full-scale cutting testing rig coupled with AE measurements were realised. AE measurements were evaluated by means of magnitude. Afterwards, moving maximum algorithm was utilised to process AE signals, and processed plots were employed to create surface contour plots. It was clearly seen that AE measurements can be used to differentiate materials being cut in terms of strength differences, such that higher strength concrete yielded higher magnitudes of AE signals where lower strength concrete showed lower magnitudes.