A method based on X-ray micro-CT was introduced to create realistic representative volume elements (RVE) for particulate-filled composite materials. The method is applicable to most composite systems, and can be utilized to improve artificial computer algorithms by presenting the number, the dimension, and the orientation of filler particles inside the RVEs. Three different shapes of glass fillers (spherical, flake, and fiber) and filler mass fractions (5%, 10%, and 15%) were introduced to epoxy resin to demonstrate the capability of micro-CT to create RVEs. Two kind of RVEs were created; voxel-based and geometry-based. Voxel-based RVEs were created from binary segmentation of images taken from micro-CT. Geometry-based RVEs were created after reconstruction of voxel-based RVEs to eliminate the stepped-like appearance of non-orthogonal interfaces. These RVE’s were then used in the finite element analysis to find the effective mechanical properties such as Young’s modulus, shear modulus, Poisson’s ratio of the samples. In order to assess the numerical findings, compression tests were performed according to ASTM D695. Also, spherical fillers were distributed inside a volume artificially using an algorithm and RVEs were created. The number and the dimension of the spherical fillers were supplied from X-ray micro-CT and optical microscopy, respectively. The elastic moduli found using RVEs created from the algorithm is close to the elastic moduli found using RVEs created from X-ray micro-CT.

引入了一种基于X射线微CT的方法来创建用于填充颗粒的复合材料的逼真的代表性体积元素（RVE）。该方法适用于大多数复合系统，并且可以通过显示RVE内部填充颗粒的数量，尺寸和方向来改进人工计算机算法。将三种不同形状的玻璃填料（球形，片状和纤维状）和填料质量分数（5％，10％和15％）引入环氧树脂中，以证明微CT产生RVE的能力。创建了两种RVE；基于体素和基于几何。基于体素的RVE是根据从微型CT拍摄的图像的二元分割创建的。在重建基于体素的RVE之后，可以创建基于几何的RVE，以消除非正交界面的阶梯状外观。然后将这些RVE用于有限元分析，以找到有效的机械性能，例如样品的杨氏模量，剪切模量，泊松比。为了评估数字结果，根据ASTM D695进行了压缩测试。此外，使用算法将球形填充物人工分配在体积内，并创建了RVE。球形填充物的数量和尺寸分别由X射线显微CT和光学显微镜提供。使用通过算法创建的RVE找到的弹性模量接近使用通过X射线微型CT创建的RVE找到的弹性模量。为了评估数字结果，根据ASTM D695进行了压缩测试。此外，使用算法将球形填充物人工分配在体积内，并创建了RVE。球形填充物的数量和尺寸分别由X射线显微CT和光学显微镜提供。使用通过算法创建的RVE找到的弹性模量接近使用通过X射线微型CT创建的RVE找到的弹性模量。为了评估数字结果，根据ASTM D695进行了压缩测试。此外，使用算法将球形填充物人工分配在体积内，并创建了RVE。球形填充物的数量和尺寸分别由X射线显微CT和光学显微镜提供。使用通过算法创建的RVE找到的弹性模量接近使用通过X射线微型CT创建的RVE找到的弹性模量。