Particle Size Distribution of Kalamazoo River Sediments by FieldSed
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 146, Issue 12
Abstract
The FieldSed is an inexpensive portable device for performing an image-based soil particle size analysis. The process, which includes the image analysis, is referred to as SedImaging (short for sediment imaging). The FieldSed was used for an investigation of Kalamazoo River sediments to generate over 100 particle size distributions (PSDs). Core samples taken from the river were tested in a nearby field lab. When necessary, samples were processed prior to testing in the FieldSed to remove particles greater than 2.0 mm and those finer than 0.075 mm. Doing so was necessary to ensure the efficiency of the current SedImaging method. A small number of specimens was selected for quality control testing to determine the reproducibility of SedImaging results. This testing also involved sieve analyses in ascertaining the agreement between SedImaging and sieving results. The control test results presented in this paper demonstrate that the FieldSed is a promising device that can rapidly, accurately, and repeatedly determine particle size distributions in field labs for geotechnical and geoenvironmental applications.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code generated or used during the study are proprietary or confidential in nature and may only be provided with restrictions (e.g., anonymized data). These items include the SedImaging code, the field and laboratory data, calculations, and the FieldSed images of the seven specimens presented in this study. Contact the authors for the applicability of a nondisclosure agreement/conflict-of-interest check.
Acknowledgments
This material is based upon work supported by the US National Science Foundation under Grant Nos. CMMI 1300010 and CMMI 1825189. ConeTec Investigations Ltd. and the ConeTec Education Foundation are acknowledged for their support to the Geotechnical Engineering Laboratories at the University of Michigan. Wood Environment and Infrastructure Solutions, Inc., is acknowledged for providing field samples and digital images using the FieldSed. The authors thank Steve Donajkowski for providing design suggestions and machining for the FieldSed.
References
Altuhafi, F., C. O’Sullivan, and I. Cavarretta. 2013. “Analysis of an image-based method to quantify the size and shape of sand particles.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 139 (8): 1290–1307. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000855.
ASTM. 2014a. Standard test method for sieve analysis of fine and coarse aggregates. ASTM C136/C136M-14. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM.
ASTM. 2014b. Standard test method for specific gravity of soil solids by water pycnometer. ASTM D854-14. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM.
Buscombe, D. 2008. “Estimation of grain-size distributions and associated parameters from digital images of sediment.” Sediment. Geol. 210 (1): 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sedgeo.2008.06.007.
Damadipour, M., M. Nazarpour, and M. T. Alami. 2019. “Evaluation of particle size distribution using and efficient approach based on image processing techniques.” Iran. J. Sci. Tech. Trans. Civ. Eng. 43 (1): 429–441. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40996-018-0175-3.
Graham, D. J., I. Reid, and S. P. Rice. 2005. “Automated sizing of coarse-grained sediments: Image-processing procedures.” Math. Geol. 37 (1): 1–28. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11004-005-8745-x.
Guida, G., F. Casini, and G. M. B. Viggiani. 2017. “Contour fractal analysis of grains.” EPJ Web of Conf.: Powders & Grains 140: 05008. https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/201714005008.
Hryciw, R. D., H.-S. Ohm, and J. Zhou. 2015. “Theeoretical basis for optical granulometry by wavelet transformation.” J. Comput. Civ. Eng. 29 (3): 04014050. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CP.1943-5487.0000345.
Kozakiewicz, J. 2018. “Image analysis algorithm for detection and measurement of Martian sand grains.” Earth Sci. Inf. 11 (2): 257–272. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12145-018-0333-y.
Kumara, J. J., K. Hayano, and K. Ogiwara. 2012. “Image analysis techniques on evaluation of particle size distribution of gravel.” Int. J. Geomate 3 (1): 290–297. https://doi.org/10.21660/2012.5.1261.
Kuo, C.-Y., and J. D. Frost. 1996. “Uniformity evaluation of cheesiness specimens using digital image analysis.” J. Geotech. Eng. 122 (5): 390–396. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9410(1996)122:5(390).
Maiti, A., D. Chakravarty, K. Biswas, and A. Halder. 2017. “Development of a mass model in estimating weight-wise particle size distribution using digital image processing.” Int. J. Min. Sci. Technol. 27 (3): 435–443. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmst.2017.03.015.
Masad, E., and J. W. Button. 2000. “Unified imaging approach for measuring aggregate angularity and texture.” Comp.-Aided Civ. Infrastruct. Eng. 15 (4): 273–280. https://doi.org/10.1111/0885-9507.00191.
Nie, R., H. Wang, K. Yang, and X. Liu. 2015. “Estimation of the grain-size distribution using semisupervised affinity propagation.” J. Hydrol. Eng. 20 (12): 04015040. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)HE.1943-5584.0001229.
Ohm, H.-S., and R. D. Hryciw. 2014. “Size distribution of coarse-grained soil by sedimaging.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 140 (4): 04013053. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0001075.
Shin, S., and R. D. Hryciw. 2004. “Wavelet analysis of soil mass images for particle size determination.” J. Comput. Civ. Eng. 18 (1): 19–27. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0887-3801(2004)18:1(19).
Tutumluer, E., C. Rao, and J. Stefanski. 2000. Video image analysis of aggregates. Urbana, IL: Univ. of Illinois Urbana-Champagne.
Ventola, A., and R. D. Hryciw. 2019. “On-site particle size distribution by FieldSed.” In Geo-Congress: Engineering Geology, Site Characterization, and Geophysics, edited by C. Meehan, S. Kumar, M. Pando, and J. Coe, 143–151. Reston, VA: ASCE.
Zhang, Z., J. Yang, L. Ding, and Y. Zhao. 2012. “An improved estimation of coal particle mass using image analysis.” Powder Technol. 229 (Oct): 178–184. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.powtec.2012.06.027.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 146 • Issue 12 • December 2020
Copyright
© 2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Mar 30, 2020
Accepted: Aug 4, 2020
Published online: Oct 15, 2020
Published in print: Dec 1, 2020
Discussion open until: Mar 15, 2021
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.