Image analysis applications on assessing static stability and flowability of self-consolidating concrete

A digital image processing (DIP) method associated with a MATLAB algorithm is used to evaluate cross sectional images of self-consolidating concrete (SCC). Two new parameters, such as inter-particle spacing of coarse aggregate and average mortar-to-coarse aggregate ratio, defined as average mortar thickness index (MTI), were proposed to quantitatively evaluate the static stability of SCC. Statistical models were developed to predict flowability of SCC mixtures. Test results revealed that the proposed DIP method and MATLAB algorithm can be successfully used to derive inter-particle spacing and MTI and quantitatively evaluate the static stability on hardened SCC samples. A probability density of 60% from histogram analysis appears to be a reasonable threshold for indicating a uniformly distributed SCC mixture. For a given mortar yield stress, a critical mortar viscosity of 1.30 Pa s tends to significantly affect the trend of slump flow changing with MTI. The investigated relationship between parameters measured from DIP method and existing theoretical frames is well correlated. The outcome of this study can be of practical value for providing an efficient and useful tool in designing mixture proportions of SCC.