X-ray tomography system to investigate granular materials during mechanical loading

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Mechanical Engineering
• Imaging Technology

Background:

• Characterizing granular materials under mechanical load requires advanced imaging techniques.
• In situ, non-invasive methods are crucial for understanding material behavior during deformation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate an integrated system for in situ, non-invasive imaging of granular materials under mechanical stress.
• To enable 3D computed tomography and reconstruction of granular packings during mechanical testing.

Main Methods:

• Integration of a portable orthopedic C-arm x-ray device with mechanical testing equipment.
• Design and implementation of a custom rotation stage for sample manipulation under compressive stress.
• System calibration for 3D computed tomography and image reconstruction.

Main Results:

• Successful reconstruction of 3D-printed particle packings with 0.52 mm resolution within a 60 mm³ field of view.
• Demonstration of the system's capability for in situ, non-invasive mechanical loading analysis.
• Analysis indicating moderate noise levels in the reconstructed images.

Conclusions:

• The developed integrated system provides a novel approach for in situ, non-invasive characterization of granular materials.
• The system enables detailed analysis of packing structures and material responses under mechanical load.
• The achieved resolution and noise levels are suitable for various granular material research applications.