<p>Piping is one of the main forms of seepage damage, which can pose a serious threat to hydraulic structures such as dams. The phenomenon of particle transport is a manifestation of piping. The migration of fine particles in pores will generate elastic waves due to collision, friction and other factors, which makes it possible to use acoustic emission signals to evaluate particle transport. Using AE technology as a means, considering the influence of flow rate, the filling proportion of small particles and skeleton particles, and the particle size of small particles, we simulated the transport phenomenon of small particles in the process of seepage in porous media, and analyzed the AE signal characteristics under various influencing factors. The phenomenon of small particle transport develops in stages with the change of particle quantity, and the change of AE signal characteristic parameters also conforms to this phased development. High flow rate makes small particles obtain larger initial velocity and energy, which increases the possibility of collision between particles, and it can be reflected in the change of AE signal. Through the test, it is found that the filling proportion of small particles and skeleton particles will have a great impact on the AE signal. Excessive filling of small particles will cause pore blockage, limited movement of small particles, reduced AE signal strength. On the other hand, too few small particles can reduce the likelihood of collision, which can also lead to a decrease in AE signals. When there is a particle transport phenomenon in the seepage process, the AE signal is significantly stronger than the blank control group, and the size of small particles will also have a certain impact on the AE signal. It is possible to use acoustic emission technology to predict and forecast the occurrence of piping.</p>