Acquiring, Analyzing, and Using Complete Three-Dimensional Aggregate Shape Information.
Acquiring, Analyzing, and Using Complete
Three-Dimensional Aggregate Shape Information.
(460 K)
Garboczi, E. J.; Martys, N. S.; Saleh, H. H.;
Livingston, R. A.
AGGREGATES, Concrete, Bases, and Fines, 9th Annual
Symposium. Proceedings. Center for Aggregates
Research. April 22-25, 2001, Austin, TX, 1-13 pp, 2001.
Keywords:
aggregates; rheology; x ray computed tomography;
spherical harmonic; shape; suspensions; concretes
Abstract:
The shape of aggregates, from whatever source, plays a
crucial role in determining the properties of the
composite material in which they are embedded, for
example asphaltic concrete or portland cement concrete.
To properly characterize this three-dimensional shape,
three-dimensional information is needed. We show how
this kind of information can be acquired via x-ray
computed tomography (CT). Mathematical "burning"
algorithms can be applied to a multi-aggregate image to
extract individual particles of various sizes. A
spherical harmonic mathematical analysis can then be
used to completely characterize the three-dimensional
shape of each extracted aggregate. This real shape
information can then be incorporated into algorithms for
simulating the rheology of suspensions (fresh concrete
or other materials) and into algorithms for simulating
the structure of portland cement concrete.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899