Grain and pore shape analysis and generation of digital twins from digital images

Abstract

The properties of granular or sintered manufactured materials or natural materials depend on their microstructure. Obtaining meaningful insights on the microstructure of these materials often relies on the correct identification of individual grains and pores. Their direct identification on 3D digital images is challenging but opens the possibility to detailed simulations and accurate predition of material behavior, such as mechanical simulations that depend on the grain orientation. Such simulations give vital information to figure out the most promising designs of manufactured materials such as electrodes or to reach decisions based on reservoir rock properties and determined by Digital Rock Physics. With this motivation, several new algorithms have been integrated into the GeoDict® [1] software. GeoDict’s capabilities to segment 3D scans, e.g. CT or FIB-SEM scans have been expanded to identify also individual grains and pores through the new modules GrainFind and PoreFind that are presented here, together with the option to use the results of GrainFind for the creation of digital twins of granular materials.