Acoustic-emission testing of the structural integrity of multicore cable

Cables are widely used in the marine environment as mechanical, electrical and occasionally optical links in offshore drilling, ocean thermal energy projects, towing, salvage and remote control of equipment. In heavy seas the mechanical loads imposed on such cables can be significant in terms of the strength of the cable. Failure of the cable in such applications can be catastrophic in terms of loss of equipment and/or life. This paper will review the application of acoustic emission monitoring to rope, wire and cable, and will then report the results of experimental tests on multicore cables loaded in tension and monitored by acoustic emission techniques.