Abstract
X-ray computer tomography (CT) has been intensively applied to the research of cement-based materials, while most of the CT applications are qualitative. To have more quantitative applications, the arbitrary grayscale values and the specially defined CT numbers of the main cement constituents, including the cement clinkers, the hydrated products, and some durability products are calibrated on an industrial CT system in this study. The calibration results can deepen our understandings of the X-ray CT image of the cement-based materials. The universalities of the calibrated results and the calibration procedures are clarified. The potential applications are anticipated, such as segmentation of the individual phases, quantitative durability research, porosity determinations, and quantitative composition characterizations.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Hounsfield G N. Computerized transverse axial scanning (tomography), 1, description of system. Brit J Radiol, 1973, 46: 1016–1022
Cormack A M. Representation of a function by its line integrals with some radiological applications. J Appl Phys, 1963, 34: 2722–2727
Kalender W A. Computed Tomography: Fundamentals, System Technology, Image Quality, Applications. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH, 2000
Bentz D P, Quenard D A, Kunzel H M, et al. Microstructure and transport properties of porous building materials. II: Three-dimensional X-ray tomographic studies. Mater Struct, 2000, 33: 147–153
Bentz DP, Mizell S, Satterfield S, et al. The visible cement data set. J Res NIST, 2002, 107: 137–148
Gallucci E, Scrivener K, Groso A, et al. 3D experimental investigation of the microstructure of cement pastes using synchrotron X-ray microtomography (μCT). Cem Concr Res, 2007, 37: 360–368
Sugiyama T, Promentilla M B A, Hitomi T, et al. Application of synchrotron microtomography for pore structure characterization of deteriorated cementitious materials due to leaching. Cem Concr Res, 2010, 40: 1265–1270
Tekin I, Birgul R, Aruntas H Y. Determination of the effect of volcanic pumice replacement on macro void development for blended cement mortars by computerized tomography. Constr Build Mater, 2012, 35: 15–22
Wan K S, Xu Q. Local porosity distribution of cement paste characterized by X-ray micro-tomography. Sci China Tech Sci, 2014, 57: 953–961
Landis E N, Nagy E N, Keane D T. Microstructure and fracture in three dimensions. Eng Fract Mech, 2003, 70: 911–925
Landis E N, Zhang T, Nagy E N, et al. Cracking, damage and fracture in four dimensions. Mater Struct, 2007, 40: 357–364
Landis E N. X-ray microtomography. Mater Char, 2010, 61: 1305–1316
Wan K S, Xue X B. In situ compressive damage of cement paste characterized by lab source X-ray computer tomography. Mater Char, 2013, 82: 32–40
Burlion N, Bernard D, Chen D. X-ray microtomography: Application to microstructure analysis of a cementitious material during leaching process. Cem Concr Res, 2006, 36: 346–357
Wan K S, Li Y, Sun W. Application of tomography for solid calcium distributions in calcium leaching cement paste. Constr Build Materl, 2012, 36: 913–917
Wan K S, Li Y, Sun W. Experimental and modelling research of the accelerated calcium leaching of cement paste in ammonium nitrate solution. Constr Build Mater, 2013, 40: 832–846
Wan K S, Xu Q, Li L, et al. 3D porosity distribution of partly calcium leached cement paste. Constr Build Mater, 2013, 48: 11–15
Han J D, Sun W, Pan G H, et al. Application of X-ray computed tomography in characterization microstructure changes of cement pastes in carbonation process. J Wuhan Univ Technol Mater Sci Ed, 2012, 27: 358–363
Wan K S, Xu Q, Wang Y D, et al. 3D spatial distribution of the calcium carbonate caused by carbonation of cement paste. Cem Concr Comp, 2014, 45: 255–263
Huang H, Ye G, Damidot D. Characterization and quantification of self-healing behaviors of microcracks due to further hydration in cement paste. Cem Concr Res, 2013, 52: 71–81
Selman J. The Fundamentals of X-ray and Radium Physics. 7th ed. Charles C Thomas, Springfield, IL, 1985
Dyson N A. X-rays in Atomic and Nuclear Physics, 2nd ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1990
Bentz D P, Coveney P V, Garboczi E J, et al. Cellular automaton simulations of cement hydration and microstructure development. Modell Simul Mater Sci Eng, 1994, 2: 783–808
Justnes H, Elfgren L, Ronin V. Mechanism for performance of energetically modified cement versus corresponding blended cement. Cem Concr Res, 2005, 35: 315–323
Stutzman P. Scanning electron microscopy imaging of hydraulic cement microstructure. Cem Conc Comp, 2004, 26: 957–966
Defoe O K, Compton A H. The density of rock salt and calcite. Phys Rev, 1925, 25: 618–620
Bosscher H. Computerized tomography and skeletal density of coral skeletons. Coral Reefs, 1993, 12: 97–103
Tomas J, Geffen A J. Morphometry and composition of aragonite and vaterite otoliths of deformed laboratory reared juvenile herring from two populations. J Fish Biol, 2003, 63: 1383–1401
Tennis P D, Jennings H M. A model for two types of calcium silicate hydrate in the microstructure of Portland cement pastes. Cem Concr Res, 2000, 30: 855–863
Newman J, Choo B S. Advanced Concrete Technology Constituent Materials. Burlington, MA: Elsevier, 2003
Allen A J, Thomas J J, Jennings H M. Composition and density of nanoscale calcium-silicate-hydrate in cement. Nat Mater, 2007, 6: 311–316
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wan, K., Chen, L. & Xu, Q. Calibration of grayscale values of cement constituents using industrial X-ray tomography. Sci. China Technol. Sci. 58, 485–492 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11431-014-5751-6
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11431-014-5751-6