This article presents the results of a study involving the assessment of the structural destruction of fibre cement boards taken from a large-scale model subjected to fire. These were subjected to a three-point bending test using the acoustic emission method. The analysis of the obtained results took into account the course of bending stresses σm, the modulus of rupture (MOR), the number of acoustic emission events Nzd and the sum of EA events ∑Nzd. The conducted tests showed that the samples subjected to fire exhibited a clear decrease, up to 72%, in the recorded sum of EA events compared to a reference board (not subjected to fire). The analysis of the obtained modulus of rupture (MOR) values showed a similar trend-the reduction of the modulus of rupture for the degraded samples was in the range of 66-96%. In order to illustrate the changes taking place in the structure of the tested plates more precisely, analyses were carried out using the optical method and a digital microscope. This method may be sufficient for the final evaluation of degraded samples.
Keywords: acoustic emission method; fibre cement boards; fire exposure; large-scale model; ventilated facades.