Abstract In this research, the design and implementation of a novel chopped fiber deposition system for the laser sintering (LS) process is discussed. The system allows deposition of chopped fibers with different lengths and of multiple fiber types in a commercial LS machine. A weight percentage of 5% (2 vol%) glass fibers can be implemented […]
Abstract Patient-tailored, 3D-printed surgical guides offer significant potential to improve precision and therapeutic efficacy in cardiac ablation surgery. However, reliable post-sterilization material performance presents a critical yet underexplored barrier to clinical adoption. This study investigates how disinfection and sterilization impact the mechanical and thermal properties of photopolymer resins. Specimens from two 3D-printing resins (Bioflex A80 MB™, 3Dresyns;
Abstract By control of their constituents, interfaces and architectures, composite materials can display a much broader suite of beneficial material properties than is possible for single-phase materials. Furthermore, advanced manufacturing techniques are increasing the freedom to operate of composite designers. While much can be achieved with idealised models of composites, models are needed that more
Multiscale image-based modelling of composite materials Read More »
A B S T R A C T Water-extractable (WE) cereal flour constituents significantly influence bread loaf volume. However, the underlying mechanisms and the contribution of different constituents remain unclear. Here, time-resolved X-ray microcomputed tomography ( µ CT) and confocal laser scanning microscopy were utilized to study the impact of wheat and oat flour water
Abstract The mechanical behaviour of fibre-reinforced composites under multiaxial loading is critical for their structural performance but remains challenging to characterise at the microscale. This study introduces a novel biaxial loading rig designed for in situ X-ray Computed Tomography (XCT) characterisation of fibre-reinforced composites. The rig enables controlled biaxial stress states while maintaining compatibility with
Abstract Metabolic processes in plant organs involving transport of water, metabolic gasses, and nutrients depend on the three-dimensional (3D) microscopic tissue morphology. However, imaging and quantifying this microstructure, including the spatial layout of parenchyma cells, pores, vascular bundles and special features such as stone cell clusters (brachysclereids), is challenging. To address this, a 3D deep
Dear all, We are excited to announce the 7th Symposium on X-ray Computed Tomography organized by the KU Leuven XCT Core Facility, to take place on May 6, 2025 at the Thermotechnical Institute in Heverlee (KU Leuven). The symposium, presents an attractive program and stimulates networking, connecting researchers and industrial collaborators in the field. The
Abstract Surgical revision options for failed trapeziometacarpal total joint replacement include implant replacement and trapeziectomy. However, discontinuation of older implants complicates revision with original components, particularly as removing a well-fixed metacarpal stem can be challenging. This study examined the feasibility of pairing discontinued stems (Arpe, Elektra and Ivory) with currently available necks (Maïa, Moovis and
Abstract Carbon fibre-reinforced thermoplastics sheet moulding compounds demonstrate significant potential for cost-effective, mass production applications in lightweight structures. However, the material’s complex internal morphology poses substantial challenges for mechanical property prediction. To elucidate the failure mechanisms of sheet moulding compounds, in-situ tensile X-ray computed tomography experiments were conducted in conjunction with digital volume correlation analysis,
Abstract The porous nature of a building material significantly influences its functional properties, with the pore structure being particularly crucial. Imaging techniques are widely used to characterize pore structures, typically involving image acquisition, image denoising, and image segmentation. This paper analyses the distinct impacts of these procedures on the resulting pore structure characterization, by application
