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2025 Vol.38, Issue 5 Preview Page

Research Paper

Development of Optimized Segmentation Algorithm for Micro-CT Image Analysis of Lightweight Aggregate Concrete

경량 골재 콘크리트 Micro-CT 이미지 분석을 위한 개선된 분할 알고리즘 개발

Seo-Eun Oh1
,
Sang-Yeop Chung2*
오 서은1
,
정 상엽2*
1Graduate Student, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Korea
2Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Korea
1연세대학교 건설환경공학과 박사과정
2연세대학교 건설환경공학과 부교수
*Corresponding Author
31 October 2025. pp. 347-354
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Abstract

Lightweight aggregate concrete (LWAC) is produced using aggregates characterized by high porosity, which significantly influences its mechanical properties and durability. Micro-computed tomography(micro-CT) has recently emerged as a powerful non-destructive technique for investigating internal pore structures in concrete. This imaging method is particularly effective in capturing the complex pore network of LWAC. However, the heterogeneous density and internal porosity of lightweight aggregates present significant challenges for accurate image segmentation. Specifically, aggregates are frequently misclassified as voids, and their boundaries may be poorly delineated. To address these limitations, this study proposes an enhanced segmentation algorithm designed for accurate identification of aggregates in micro-CT images of LWAC. The performance of the algorithm was evaluated via comparative analysis. Additionally, thermal conductivity and permeability simulations were conducted utilizing 3D micro-CT datasets generated from both conventional and proposed segmentation approaches. The results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm substantially improves segmentation accuracy, highlighting its potential to enhance microstructural characterization and predictive modeling of LWAC performance.

Keywords
lightweight aggregate concrete
micro-CT
segmentation
thermal properties

경량 골재 콘크리트는 높은 다공성을 지닌 골재를 사용하여 제작되며, 이는 재료의 역학적 성질 및 내구성에 중대한 영향을 미친다. 최근 콘크리트 분야에서는 내부 공극 구조를 비파괴적으로 분석할 수 있는 기술로서 micro-computed tomography(micro-CT)의 활용이 활발히 이루어지고 있으며, 특히 경량 골재 콘크리트의 공극 구조를 정밀하게 포착하는 데 효과적인 것으로 나타났다. 그러나 경량골재는 이질적인 밀도 분포와 내부 다공성으로 인해 영상 내 분할 과정에서 어려움을 유발하며, 이로 인해 골재가 공극으로 잘못 인식되거나 경계가 명확히 구분되지 않는 문제가 발생할 수 있다. 이러한 한계를 극복하기 위해 본 연구에서는 경량 골재 콘크리트의 micro-CT 영상에서 골재를 정밀하게 식별할 수 있도록 고안된 향상된 분할 알고리즘을 제안하였다. 제안된 알고리즘의 성능은 기존의 세분화 방법과의 비교 분석을 통해 평가되었으며, 더불어 제안 방식과 기존 방식 각각으로 생성된 3차원 micro-CT 데이터를 활용하여 열전도도 시뮬레이션을 수행하였다. 그 결과, 제안된 알고리즘은 공극 및 골재 경계의 정확한 식별에 있어 기존 기법보다 향상된 정확도를 보였으며, 이는 LWAC의 미세구조 분석 및 거동 예측 모델링의 정밀도를 높이는 데 기여할 수 있는 가능성을 보여준다.

키워드
경량 골재 콘크리트
micro-CT
분할
열전도도
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Information
  • Publisher :Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국전산구조공학회
  • Journal Title :Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
  • Journal Title(Ko) :한국전산구조공학회 논문집
  • Volume : 38
  • No :5
  • Pages :347-354
  • Received Date : 2025-07-10
  • Revised Date : 2025-08-18
  • Accepted Date : 2025-08-19
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7734/COSEIK.2025.38.5.347
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