A weighted region-based level set method for image segmentation with intensity inhomogeneity

Image segmentation is a fundamental task in image processing and is still a challenging problem when processing images with high noise, low resolution and intensity inhomogeneity. In this paper, a weighted region-based level set method, which is based on the techniques of local statistical theory, level set theory and curve evolution, is proposed. Specifically, a new weighted pressure force function (WPF) is first presented to flexibly drive the closed contour to shrink or expand outside and inside of the object. Second, a faster and smoother regularization term is added to ensure the stability of the curve evolution and that there is no need for initialization in curve evolution. Third, the WPF is integrated into the region-based level set framework to accelerate the speed of the curve evolution and improve the accuracy of image segmentation. Experimental results on medical and natural images demonstrate that the proposed segmentation model is more efficient and robust to noise than other state-of-the-art models.

Generation and homogenization of foamed polymer RVEs: microstructure-mechanical properties relationship

The main purpose of this study is to better understand the relationship between the microstructure of foamed polymer and mechanical properties. X-Ray tomography was performed on polypropylene foam specimens machined from injected plates. These plates were obtained for different thicknesses and exhibit different microstructure morphologies. The tomography scans were first digitalized and meshed. Then, numerical simulations were performed on representative volume elements (RVEs) to get homogeneous mechanical property of the material using a parallel C++ library Cimlib developed at CEMEF. Numerical methods described in this study focused on immerged or body-fitted strategy (FE context - level set framework - meshing adaptation) for exact and statistical RVEs generation. The numerical results were compared to experimental testing performed under tension and compression at different strain rates using image correlation. Good agreement was observed between simulations performed at the mesoscale and experimental tests carried out at the macroscale for both real and statistical RVEs. This methodology opens a way for the development of digital materials designed for specific mechanical properties.

On the role of solute drag in reconciling laboratory and natural constraints on olivine grain growth kinetics

SUMMARY We investigate the effect of solute drag on the grain growth (GG) kinetics in olivine-rich rocks through full field and mean field modelling. Considering a drag force exerted by impurities on grain boundary migration allows reconciling laboratory and natural constraints on olivine GG kinetics. Solute drag is implemented in a full field level-set framework and in a mean field model that explicitly accounts for a grain size distribution. After calibration of the mean field model on full field results, both models are able to both reproduce laboratory GG kinetics and predict grain sizes consistent with observations in peridotite xenoliths from different geological contexts.

Level set band method: A combination of density-based and level set methods for the topology optimization of continuums

The level set method (LSM), which is transplanted from the computer graphics field, has been successfully introduced into the structural topology optimization field for about two decades, but it still has not been widely applied to practical engineering problems as density-based methods do. One of the reasons is that it acts as a boundary evolution algorithm, which is not as flexible as density-based methods at controlling topology changes. In this study, a level set band method is proposed to overcome this drawback in handling topology changes in the level set framework. This scheme is proposed to improve the continuity of objective and constraint functions by incorporating one parameter, namely, level set band, to seamlessly combine LSM and density-based method to utilize their advantages. The proposed method demonstrates a flexible topology change by applying a certain size of the level set band and can converge to a clear boundary representation methodology. The method is easy to implement for improving existing LSMs and does not require the introduction of penalization or filtering factors that are prone to numerical issues. Several 2D and 3D numerical examples of compliance minimization problems are studied to illustrate the effects of the proposed method.