The porous size distribution obtained and analyzed by free access software

Abstract

This paper presents the description of methods for using in the analysis of the pore size distribution of complex porous media as, for instance, soils. The sequence of analyses presented here can be implemented in classes of post-graduation in physics applied to earth, soil, and environmental sciences. The objective was to present the use, by students and/or researchers, of free access software to analyze images for obtaining some morphological aspects of porous systems. Two methods of obtaining the pore size distribution are presented: the first one is based on ImageJ internal routines, and the second in the study presented in Yang [1]. The results obtained permitted a detailed analysis of three-dimensional(3D) images of porous systems and also obtaining the pore size distribution of the investigated medium. The procedures here introduced can easily be extended for educational purposes in courses related to the investigation of systems with complex internal structures.

Keywords:
X-ray computed tomography; ImageJ; Soil; Maximum ball; Computed simulation