Prof Anton du Plessis

Fossil or rock?

In this interesting challenge we are asking you, the public, to help us. A private anonymous collector found what looks like a fossil, possibly the skull of an animal. Have a look at the videos below and let us know if you think you know what it is. rock-rotate clipping MicroCT scan done in 2 …

X-ray image quiz

The quiz for March is this one, can you guess what is X-rayed here: The last solution was: a tensile specimen, in this case 5.5 mm diameter round gauge 20 mm in length, with Ti64 alloy with internal pores visible in the X-ray image. The latest X-ray image solution: a venomous snake fang. Why was …

Image based simulations: fluid flow in wood microstructure

This example showcases the capability of high resolution 3D images combined with simulations. A nanoCT scan of wood microstructure was used as basis for a simulation of fluid flow, taking as input parameters water viscosity, sealed edges and a pressure difference from top to bottom through the wood. The simulation then provides visual and quantitative …

Reverse engineering of a shoe

This demonstration shows how a shoe can be scanned and internal dimensions extracted in the form of a STL file, suitable for CAD programs. Engineers could use this to test their designs and to compare how a new and worn shoe differ, or how different shoes differ in internal geometry, which is where it counts. …

3D imaging of a wasp hive

We scanned a wasp hive and found some interesting contents, which is a nice example of the non-destructive imaging capabilities of microCT. The 5 wasps are coloured for visual impression and all have been dead for a few months prior to the CT scan. Watch a 3D video of this example (link below the images). …

Head of the CT Lab

In this example, an indigenous South African chameleon species was scanned, which has three horns on its head making it quite unique. This example will be published as a part of a later scientific article but we show some selected images here as a sneak preview. A closeup scan of the head was done …

Nondestructive testing of welded steel cylinder

X-ray testing of metal parts is used widely to find flaws, defects, cracks, pores or even inclusions which all can have serious effects on the part’s mechanical properties. CT scanning provides an “X-rays on steroids” advantage. Much more detail is visible and full 3D data can be analyzed to create a colour coded thickness analysis …

Ostrich shell microstructure

Ostrich eggs are very strong, yet ostrich chicks are able to peck their way out from the inside with little force. Investigating the inside of a fragment of ostrich shell might shed some light on this interesting natural mechanical system. These preliminary results show a fragment scanned using the nanoCT scanner and analysed for porosity …

A view into Ancient Egypt through a mummy falcon

An ancient Egpytian falcon mummy was analyzed at high resolution in a “virtual autopsy” and it was found that it’s stomach contains a mass of bones and teeth of two or more mice as well as a small bird. This leads us to believe the ancient Egyptians kept birds of prey in captivity, since a …

Drill core analysis

Geological drill core analysis is useful for exploration purposes, and when you understand your sample CT data can provide quantitative ore grade information as shown in this case study, published in Computers & Geosciences. The results correlate well with industry standard methods, with a hugely improved turnaround time compared to traditional analysis laboratories plus additional …

Anton du Plessis

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