Proposing a New Method Based on Image Analysis to Estimate the Segregation Index of Lightweight Aggregate Concretes

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Civil Engineering
• Construction Materials

Background:

• Lightweight aggregate concrete (LWAC) offers design flexibility, cost savings, and energy efficiency in buildings.
• LWAC is prone to aggregate segregation, leading to uneven distribution of lightweight aggregates and potentially impacting concrete properties.
• Quantifying segregation is crucial for ensuring the quality and performance of LWAC.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present and compare five methods for quantifying segregation in LWAC.
• To introduce a novel image analysis method for segregation assessment.
• To evaluate the accuracy and applicability of different segregation measurement techniques.

Main Methods:

• Comparison of five segregation quantification methods in LWAC.
• Implementation of a new image analysis-based segregation measurement technique.
• Evaluation against established methods: density measurement and ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) testing.

Main Results:

• The ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) method demonstrated lower accuracy compared to other techniques.
• The novel image analysis method showed a strong correlation with established methods.
• The image analysis approach considers the entire sample section without requiring specimen cuts or material characterization.

Conclusions:

• The proposed image analysis method provides a reliable and comprehensive approach to quantifying segregation in LWAC.
• Established methods like density measurement are effective, but the new image analysis offers advantages in data acquisition.
• The UPV method, while non-destructive and easy to perform, is less accurate for segregation quantification in LWAC.