Quantitative characterization of fracture apertures using microfocus computed tomography

Abstract Microfocus X-ray computed tomography (μCT) was used as a tool to determine the apertures of a fracture in a cylindrical sample of crinoidal limestone. After scanning, artefacts were removed from the images. Phantom objects were used to establish a calibration relationship between real fracture apertures and fracture aperture measurements on the μCT images. The performance of different procedures for quantitative fracture determination was examined. The calibration relationship was then used to determine the fracture apertures in a naturally fractured sample. A comparison of the μCT technique and a microscope technique shows a good agreement between their results.

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