Some fields of applications of automatic image analysis in civil engineering

This paper illustrates the use of automatic image analysis technique to investigate the morphology of cement, concrete and fibre-reinforced concrete. First the methods to be used for powders and secondly for mortar and concrete are introduced. The dispersed phases are characterized by classical morphological parameters: these also enable to accede to the hydration process. The covariances give quantitative information on the homogeneity and dispersion of the different components: gravel, air-voids and cement paste. Air-voids are characterized by granulometric distributions acid their mean free paths. Rose of directions gives information on feature orientation: fibres, microcracks for fibre-reinforced concrete, etc. Finally probabilistic models can be used to simulate the microstructure of such materials. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.