Abstract
This is a study on the distribution of acoustic emission parameters during a burst test for a type-II CNG vehicle fuel tank. A resonant AE sensor with a central frequency of 150 kHz was attached to the composite materials in the center of the fuel tank. The pressure was increased from 30 to 100% of the expected burst pressure and was maintained for 10 minutes at each level. Damage at 70% of expected burst pressure occurred by various damage mechanisms including fiber breakage and delamination, while that of below 60% only occurred by matrix crack initiation and growth. The count, duration and rise time of the AE signal at 60% of the expected burst pressure are distributed below 500, 5000 ${\mu}s$ and 300 ${\mu}s$, respectively. Then, at above 70% they increased with pressure by superimposing of individual AE signal generated at a nearby place. These results confirmed that the analysis of the distribution of AE parameters is an effective tool for estimating damage of a CNG fuel tank.
