Abstract
This paper presents a 3-D visualization and quantification of granular packing structure using a micro x-ray CT at SPring-8. SPring-8 is the world's largest third-generation synchrotron radiation facility where a high-resolution x-ray CT system is available. Specimens of Toyoura sand and Glass beads for dense and loose packings are used in the study. A newly-developed image analysis procedure enables to automatically identify each grain in the specimen. The accuracy of the identification reaches around 80% or more even in the dense packing of irregularly-shaped grains. The obtained grain information is further processed to quantify 3-D grain shape and contact point statistics.
