TY - JOUR A1 - Oesch, Tyler A1 - Weise, Frank A1 - Bruno, Giovanni T1 - Detection and quantification of cracking in concrete aggregate through virtual data fusion of X-ray computed tomography images JF - Materials N2 - In this work, which is part of a larger research program, a framework called "virtual data fusion" was developed to provide an automated and consistent crack detection method that allows for the cross-comparison of results from large quantities of X-ray computed tomography (CT) data. A partial implementation of this method in a custom program was developed for use in research focused on crack quantification in alkali-silica reaction (ASR)-sensitive concrete aggregates. During the CT image processing, a series of image analyses tailored for detecting specific, individual crack-like characteristics were completed. The results of these analyses were then "fused" in order to identify crack-like objects within the images with much higher accuracy than that yielded by any individual image analysis procedure. The results of this strategy demonstrated the success of the program in effectively identifying crack-like structures and quantifying characteristics, such as surface area and volume. The results demonstrated that the source of aggregate has a very significant impact on the amount of internal cracking, even when the mineralogical characteristics remain very similar. River gravels, for instance, were found to contain significantly higher levels of internal cracking than quarried stone aggregates of the same mineralogical type. KW - X-ray computed tomography (CT) KW - concrete KW - alkali-silica reaction (ASR) KW - ASR-sensitive aggregate KW - solubility test KW - specific surface area KW - crack KW - detection KW - automated image processing KW - damage quantification Y1 - 2020 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13183921 SN - 1996-1944 VL - 13 IS - 18 PB - MDPI CY - Basel ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Dettmann, Sophie A1 - Huittinen, Nina Maria A1 - Nicolas, Jahn A1 - Kretzschmar, Jerome A1 - Kumke, Michael A1 - Kutyma, Tamara A1 - Lohmann, Janik A1 - Reich, Tobias A1 - Schmeide, Katja A1 - Azzam, Salim Shams Aldin A1 - Spittler, Leon A1 - Stietz, Janina T1 - Influence of gluconate on the retention of Eu(III), Am(III), Th(IV), Pu(IV), and U(VI) by C-S-H (C/S = 0.8) JF - Frontiers in Nuclear Engineering N2 - The retention of actinides in different oxidation states (An(X), X = III, IV, VI) by a calcium-silicate-hydrate (C-S-H) phase with a Ca/Si (C/S) ratio of 0.8 was investigated in the presence of gluconate (GLU). The actinides considered were Am(III), Th(IV), Pu(IV), and U(VI). Eu(III) was investigated as chemical analogue for Am(III) and Cm(III). In addition to the ternary systems An(X)/GLU/C-S-H, also binary systems An(X)/C-S-H, GLU/C-S-H, and An(X)/GLU were studied. Complementary analytical techniques were applied to address the different specific aspects of the binary and ternary systems. Time-resolved laser-induced luminescence spectroscopy (TRLFS) was applied in combination with parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) to identify retained species and to monitor species-selective sorption kinetics. ¹³C and ²⁹Si magic-angle-spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were applied to determine the bulk structure and the composition of the C-S-H surface, respectively, in the absence and presence of GLU. The interaction of Th(IV) with GLU in different electrolytes was studied by capillary electrophoresis-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (CE-ICP-MS). The influence of GLU on An(X) retention was investigated for a large concentration range up to 10⁻² M. The results showed that GLU had little to no effect on the overall An(X) retention by C-S-H with C/S of 0.8, regardless of the oxidation state of the actinides. For Eu(III), the TRLFS investigations additionally implied the formation of a Eu(III)-bearing precipitate with dissolved constituents of the C-S-H phase, which becomes structurally altered by the presence of GLU. For U(VI) sorption on the C-S-H phase, only a small influence of GLU could be established in the luminescence spectroscopic investigations, and no precipitation of U(VI)-containing secondary phases could be identified. KW - actinide KW - organic ligand KW - sorption KW - cementitious material KW - concrete KW - luminescence Y1 - 2023 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3389/fnuen.2023.1124856 SN - 2813-3412 VL - 2 PB - Frontiers Media CY - Lausanne ER -