Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Three-Dimensional Shape Analysis of Coarse Aggregates: Methodology and Preliminary Results on Several Different Coarse Aggregates

Published

Author(s)

S T. Erdogan, P N. Quiroga, D Fowler, H A. Saleh, Richard A. Livingston, Edward Garboczi, Peter M. Ketcham, John G. Hagedorn, Steven G. Satterfield

Abstract

The shape of aggregates used in concrete is an important parameter that helps determine many concrete properties. The mathematical technique of spherical harmonic analysis was recently demonstrated to be able to effectively analyze three dimensional information on aggregate shape. This present paper discusses how one obtains an aggregate particle image in 3-D, using x-ray computed tomography, which is suitable for spherical harmonic analysis via appropriate sample preparation and image analysis techniques. The shape of several reference rocks are analyzed for uncertainty determination, since these rocks can be directly compared to their reconstructed images, not being lost inside a concrete cylinder. A Virtual Reality Modeling Language technique is also demonstrated to give quick and accurate 3-D views of aggregates. These methods were then applied to several different kinds of coarse aggregates. Data on these different kinds of aggregates are compared, and used to illustrate possible mathematical shape analysis using the spherical harmonic information.
Citation
Cement and Concrete Research

Keywords

aggregates, computed tomgraphy, concrete, shape, spherical harmonic, VRML, x-ray

Citation

Erdogan, S. , Quiroga, P. , Fowler, D. , Saleh, H. , Livingston, R. , Garboczi, E. , Ketcham, P. , Hagedorn, J. and Satterfield, S. (2021), Three-Dimensional Shape Analysis of Coarse Aggregates: Methodology and Preliminary Results on Several Different Coarse Aggregates, Cement and Concrete Research (Accessed May 4, 2024)
Created October 12, 2021