Surface evaluation during the grinding process using acoustic emission signal

The hereby article presents results of experimental tests which prove the possibility of indirect evaluation of the grinded object's quality with the application of monitoring and analysis of selected acoustic emission signal (AE) registered during the machining process. As the grinding process is carried out and the grinding wheel wear progresses, the acoustic emission signal value is shaped adequately to the workpiece surface quality changes. The binding descriptor of changes of roughness profile and material residual stresses is the RMS value of the acoustic emission signal and in particular the statistical features that characterize the distribution of values contained in the signal sample in relation to the average value. The analysis results indicate that the acoustic emission signal is a convenient indicator for evaluation of stresses cumulated in the surface layer of the material and in selected surface geometrical structure parameters.