Chapter 50
Acoustic Emissions of Cathode Carbon
Block from Aluminum Electrolytic Cell
Under Deformation
Yu Luo, Shengxiang Li, Chao Li, Xiling Liu, and Xibing Li
Abstract In order to understand the propagation mechanism of microcrack developing into destructive penetrating cracks and the evolution process of that in cathode
carbon block, the acoustic emission (AE) characteristics of cathode carbon block in
the process of failure were studied under uniaxial compression loads. The experiment
results show that the failure process of cathode carbon block can be divided into four
stages. Based on the characteristic parameters of AE signal and its macroscopic fracture state, the causes and corresponding fracture modes of AE signals in each stage
are analyzed. In addition, AE signals in the failure process of cathode carbon block
can be divided into four types according to k-means clustering analysis. According to
the parameter characteristics, waveform characteristics, and time distribution of all
types of signals, it can be concluded that class A signals correspond to tensile failure
caused by the interaction of macro crack and the friction between aggregate particles
in post-peaking stage. Class B signals are considered as the noise generated by the
friction between the testing machine and the end face of the cathode carbon block. It is
considered that class C signals correspond to the shear slip cracking before the macro
cracking as well as the crack propagation and penetrating large-scale shear failure at
the peak stress that affects the overall stability of the cathode carbon block. Class D
signals are generated by the fracture of the connection between aggregate particles
and the compaction of pores between aggregate particles during the early stage of
loading. The results provide basic data and experimental basis for the detection of
electrolytic cell damage in electrolytic aluminum industry.
Y. Luo · S. Li · X. Liu (B) · X. Li
School of Resources and Safety Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
e-mail: lxlenglish@163.com
C. Li
Aluminum Branch Company, Chongqing Qineng Electrictity and Aluminum Co., LTD,
Chongqing 401420, China
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
G. Shen et al. (eds.), Advances in Acoustic Emission Technology, Springer Proceedings
in Physics 259, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-9837-1_50
561
Acoustic Emissions of Cathode Carbon
Block from Aluminum Electrolytic Cell
Under Deformation
Yu Luo, Shengxiang Li, Chao Li, Xiling Liu, and Xibing Li
Abstract In order to understand the propagation mechanism of microcrack developing into destructive penetrating cracks and the evolution process of that in cathode
carbon block, the acoustic emission (AE) characteristics of cathode carbon block in
the process of failure were studied under uniaxial compression loads. The experiment
results show that the failure process of cathode carbon block can be divided into four
stages. Based on the characteristic parameters of AE signal and its macroscopic fracture state, the causes and corresponding fracture modes of AE signals in each stage
are analyzed. In addition, AE signals in the failure process of cathode carbon block
can be divided into four types according to k-means clustering analysis. According to
the parameter characteristics, waveform characteristics, and time distribution of all
types of signals, it can be concluded that class A signals correspond to tensile failure
caused by the interaction of macro crack and the friction between aggregate particles
in post-peaking stage. Class B signals are considered as the noise generated by the
friction between the testing machine and the end face of the cathode carbon block. It is
considered that class C signals correspond to the shear slip cracking before the macro
cracking as well as the crack propagation and penetrating large-scale shear failure at
the peak stress that affects the overall stability of the cathode carbon block. Class D
signals are generated by the fracture of the connection between aggregate particles
and the compaction of pores between aggregate particles during the early stage of
loading. The results provide basic data and experimental basis for the detection of
electrolytic cell damage in electrolytic aluminum industry.
Y. Luo · S. Li · X. Liu (B) · X. Li
School of Resources and Safety Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
e-mail: lxlenglish@163.com
C. Li
Aluminum Branch Company, Chongqing Qineng Electrictity and Aluminum Co., LTD,
Chongqing 401420, China
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
G. Shen et al. (eds.), Advances in Acoustic Emission Technology, Springer Proceedings
in Physics 259, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-9837-1_50
561