Mini Symposium Details

01: 3D Imaging and Segmentation Methods for Computational Modeling of Heterogeneous Materials

• Pietro Carrara, Institute of Applied Mechanics, Technische Universität Braunschweig
• Michele Griffa, Concrete and Construction Chemistry Laboratory and Center for X-Ray Analytics, EMPA - Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology

Non-destructive 3D imaging techniques, such as X-ray, neutron and magnetic resonance computer tomography, are nowadays increasingly used for the identification of the 3D geometry of complex, spatially highly heterogeneous multi-phase materials. These techniques potentially permit to track changes in the structure of samples during mechanical tests or in-situ experiments. Recently, the adoption of 3D imaging techniques in different fields, e.g. to support or supply realistic data in computational models, increased thanks to significant technological improvements leading, in particular, to a reduced measurement time and higher spatial/temporal resolutions. Temporal resolution is especially important to obtain, during experimental tests, 3D images with any type of radiation (e.g., in tomography).

Although 3D imaging permits a significant leap forward into the material characterization, it also opens different challenges such as development of new imaging systems and image processing/analysis algorithms and the application of 3D imaging during experimental tests. As also evinced by the recent activation of the GAMM Activity Group on 'Data-driven modeling and numerical simulation of microstructured materials', such approaches are very actual and promising, especially when dealing with complex micro- and meso-structure arrangements. However, different issues still prevent their large diffusion, such as the efficient and statistically robust segmentation of targeted material phases out of the overall heterogeneous material structure. This mini-symposium aims at gathering new contributions in the field of 3D imaging/image analysis of highly heterogeneous materials.

The topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• 3D imaging techniques and systems
• Numerical analysis using 3D imaging data
• Segmentation, geometry reconstruction and mesh generation
• Validation of simulated systems via 3D imaging
• Applications to multi-scale modeling
• 3D imaging during in-situ mechanical tests