Application of digital image processing to mortar crack analysis

Image analysis techniques can be used to detect and interpret the degradation processes that a material undergoes and to help identify the causes and mechanisms of degradation. Structures and morphological changes are also analysed to establish hypotheses about physical changes. Together with complementary analytical techniques, chemical and mineralogical changes can be evaluated.

The methodological process consists of a sequential simplification of the initial micrograph: segmentation of the image, cleaning and isolation of the crack from associated elements, and crack skeletonisation. This method allows the previous image to be processed, thus successfully isolating the microcracks. It is also valid for their quantification.