Modal AE is a relatively new nondestructive testing (NDT) method which represents the latest development in the field of acoustic emission.

• NO FALSE POSITIVES!
  
• Highest location accuracy in industry (proved in testing at NASA, naval Shipyards, cylinder facilities, aerospace and airframe industries)
  
• Traditional Acoustic Emission (AE) techniques can not account for changes from one vessel type to another. Digital Wave's Modal Acoustic Emission technology can
  
• Signals can be positively identified as noise OR flaw growth. Traditional AE methods cannot
  
• ASTM standards in place for MAE
  
• Locates cracking in multi layer vessels(i.e. A.O. Smith vessels), structural components, pressure vessels, tube trailers, above ground storage tanks (AST’s), aircraft, spheroids, lab specimens and many other applications
  
• Detects fiber breaks and delaminations in composites
  
• Software performs waveform analysis automatically
  
• More precisely identifies crack location than traditional technology
  
• Modal AE is used by numerous governmental, manufacturing, engineering and educational facilities - See "Industry Links"

What is Modal Acoustic Emission (MAE)?

MAE determines the types of acoustic emission sources in plates, rods, shells, and other thin-walled (up to about 2 inches thick) materials using the shape of the wave mode rather than just counting "events" with traditional Acoustic Emission technology.

The basic concepts of MAE are easy to understand and use in practical applications. MAE has three basic objectives:

- Determining the nature of wave modes
- Accurate source location
- Verifying theoretical models to identify sources of emission

Analysis methods range from basic visual recognition of the wave modes to advanced computational wave propagation, signal processing and source location techniques. MAE technology is a highly accurate nondestructive technique that truly separates itself from the traditional AE industry and the "quality of results" mindset.

Please see the MAE brochure for more information on this technology. Please also see our 'Industry Links' page to see some of our customers that have chosen to utilize the benefits of MAE over AE techniques.