Analysis of autogenous shrinkage-induced microcracks in concrete from 3D images
File(s)3D analysis of microcracks - accepted.pdf (2.97 MB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Mac, Monika
Yio, MHN
Wong, Hong
Buenfeld, NR
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
A new image analysis procedure for quantifying microcracks from three-dimensional (3D) X-ray microCT images of concrete is presented. The method separates microcracks from air voids and aggregates by combining filtering and morphological operations. It was applied to study the effects of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) and curing age on autogenous shrinkage-induced microcracks in low w/b ratio concretes, and to determine the representative elementary volume (REV) for various properties of microcracks and air voids. Results showed that slag and silica fume significantly increased autogenous shrinkage and related microcracking. These SCMs increased volume fraction, width, length, dendritic density, anisotropy, and connectivity of microcracks, but decreased specific surface and tortuosity. Similar trends were observed with age. Comparison between 3D and 2D measurements was made. REV analysis showed that a sampling volume of ~20 × 20 × 25 mm3 is sufficient for characterising most parameters of autogenous shrinkage microcracks and air voids in concrete.
Date Issued
2021-06-01
Date Acceptance
2021-02-26
Citation
Cement and Concrete Research, 2021, 144 (1), pp.1-15
ISSN
0008-8846
Publisher
Elsevier
Start Page
1
End Page
15
Journal / Book Title
Cement and Concrete Research
Volume
144
Issue
1
Copyright Statement
© 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. This manuscript is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Licence http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Sponsor
Commission of the European Communities
Ecole Polytechnique Federation de Lausanne
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (E
Identifier
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000888462100065X
Grant Number
264448
PITN-GA-2010-264448
EP/R010161/1
Subjects
Building & Construction
0904 Chemical Engineering
0905 Civil Engineering
1202 Building
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
106416
Date Publish Online
2021-03-05