ISO 12716:2001

Overview

ISO 12716:2001 - "Non‑destructive testing - Acoustic emission inspection - Vocabulary" is an International Standard that defines the terminology used in acoustic emission (AE) inspection. Published as the first edition on 2001‑06‑15 and prepared by ISO/TC 135 (Non‑destructive testing), Subcommittee SC 3 (Acoustical methods), this standard establishes a common lexical basis for standards development, technical reports, education and industrial use of AE technology.

Key topics

The standard provides precise terms and definitions covering AE measurement, signal types and analysis, instrumentation, and location methods. Representative entries include:

• Fundamental concepts: acoustic emission (AE), acousto‑ultrasonics (AU), AE event, AE signal, AE signal duration, rise time, start/end.
• Instrumentation and channels: AE sensors/transducers, channels (sensor + preamplifier + filters), couplant, waveguide, dynamic range, signal overload level/point, dead time, overload recovery time.
• Signal metrics and scales: signal amplitude (peak voltage), dB reference scale (dBAE referenced to 1 µV at preamplifier input), average signal level, energy of AE events.
• Counting and rates: counts, event counts, count rate, processing capacity and processing speed.
• Distributions and analysis: cumulative and differential amplitude distributions, logarithmic amplitude distribution, threshold‑crossing distributions.
• Location methods: zone, computed (linear, planar, 3‑D, adaptive), continuous‑signal location (attenuation‑based, correlation‑based), location accuracy, cluster location.
• Material/behavioural effects: Kaiser effect, Felicity effect and Felicity ratio.
• Operational terms: evaluation threshold vs system examination threshold, floating thresholds, hits, signatures, stimulation.

Practical applications and users

ISO 12716:2001 is primarily a vocabulary standard; its practical value is to ensure consistent interpretation and communication when using acoustic emission inspection methods. Typical uses include:

• Writing and harmonizing AE test procedures, inspection reports and technical specifications.
• Training and education of NDT technicians, engineers and researchers in AE principles.
• Procuring or specifying AE instruments and sensors with clear performance/terminology references.
• Supporting development of related standards, software, and data analysis methods by providing agreed definitions.

Primary users: NDT professionals, quality managers, inspection laboratories, AE equipment manufacturers, research institutions and standards committees.

Related standards

ISO 12716 forms a terminological foundation for other AE‑related NDT standards and technical documents. For consistent application, pair vocabulary from ISO 12716 with procedure or method standards specific to acoustic emission testing, instrumentation performance and sector‑specific inspection requirements.

Keywords: ISO 12716, acoustic emission, AE vocabulary, non‑destructive testing, NDT, acousto‑ultrasonics, Kaiser effect, Felicity ratio, AE sensor, AE location.