[en] To evaluate the structural integrity using acoustic emission (AE) techniques, the peak amplitude distribution is one of the most effective and useful AE parameters because of its plenty of quantitative information from the distribution spectrum and the derivative quantities such as event counts and energy. Several methods of data analysis and signal processing with or without a multi-channel pulse height analyser are discussed, and typical examples of the peak amplitude distributions are presented, which are measured in tension or compression tests of steel, Al-alloy, plaster, rock and wood. (auth.)