Characterization and Analysis of Porous, Brittle Solid Structures by Micro CT

C. L. Lin, A. R. Videla, Q. Yu and J. D. Miller

Department of Metallurgical Engineering, University of Utah, 135 South 1460 East, Room 412, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, Email: {cllin, avidel, jdmiller}@mines.utah.edu

ABSTRACT

The internal structure of porous, brittle solid structures, such as porous rock, foam metal and wallboard, is extremely complex. For example, in the case of wallboard, the air bubble size and the thickness/composition of the wall structure are spatial parameters that vary significantly and influence the mechanical, thermal, and acoustical properties. In this regard, the complex geometry and the internal texture of material, such as wallboard, is characterized and analyzed in 3D using cone beam X-ray microCT. Geometrical features of the porous brittle structure are quantitatively analyzed based on calibration of the x-ray linear attenuation coefficient, use of a 3D watershed algorithm and use of a 3D skeletonization procedure. Several examples of the 3D analysis for porous, wallboard structures are presented and the results discussed.

Keywords X-ray microtomography, porous brittle solid structures, 3D Watershed, 3D skeletonization