New algorithms in 3D image analysis and their application to the measurement of a spatialized pore size distribution in soils

We introduce a skeletization method based on the Voronoi diagram to determi ne local pole sizes in any porous medium. Using the skeleton of the pore sp ace in a 3D image of the porous medium, a pole size value is assigned to ea ch voxel and a reconstructed image of a spatialized local pore size distrib ution is created. The reconstructed image provides a means for calculating the global volume versus size pore distribution. It is also used to carry o ut fluid invasion simulation which take into account the connectivity of an d constrictions in the pore network. As an example we simulate mercury intr usion in a 3D soil image. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserve d.