Parameter Extraction of Geometric Features of Gravel Material Based on Artificial Intelligence Analysis of CT Images

Sand and gravel mixture is a widely used fill material for earth and rock dams, with its mechanical properties significantly influenced by particle geometric characteristics such as gradation, shape, and spatial arrangement. Accurately obtaining these characteristics is crucial for studying the mechanical properties of gravel, which is vital for the design and construction of earth and rock dams. This study proposes a novel CT image segmentation method for gravel based on a deep learning model, integrating CT image three-dimensional reconstruction and topology principles to create a comprehensive method for extracting geometric feature parameters of gravel. A corresponding program was developed to provide algorithmic flow and parameter settings. Results show that this method achieves a segmentation accuracy of over 95%, allowing precise extraction of geometric parameters such as center of mass coordinates, grain size, aspect ratio, and sphericity. The study reveals that gravel specimens exhibit a spatial distribution where sand grains settle at the bottom and gravel grains are uniformly distributed. Additionally, the aspect ratio and sphericity display a skewed distribution in the predicted probability densities. This study is expected to provide new technical means for investigating the mechanical properties of gravel, thereby offering new insights for optimizing the design and construction of earth and rock dams.