Quantitative evaluation of microstructure of clays

摘要

In order to understand essential mechanism of behavior of clays consisting of clay particles and pore space, it is necessary to evaluate the microstructure of clays quantitatively. An evaluation method using computer image processing was developed in this study. Density distributions of Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) photographs taken for horizontal and vertical cross-sections of clay samples were measured by using a computer image processing, and then the power spectrum for the measured density distributions were analyzed in this method. It was found that the density distribution of the SEM photographs and their power spectrum could be adopted quantitative parameters to express the microstructure of clays. A difference of the microstructure of clay samples consolidated at a high temperature and the room temperature was quantitatively discussed by using the developed method.