Infrared thermal imaging cameras are usually used to detect the thermal distribution on the surface of objects, while the grading of soil and aggregate is usually done through sieving and grading. Although infrared thermal imaging cameras themselves cannot directly measure the grading of soil and aggregate, they can be used to assist in the detection and analysis of soil and aggregate in some cases.
The following are some methods that can be considered for combining the use of infrared thermal imaging cameras in soil and aggregate grading detection:
Different-sized particles may have differences in heat absorption and release. When scanning soil and aggregate samples with an infrared thermal imaging camera, differences in thermal characteristics of different-sized particles might be observed. Although this cannot directly measure the grading, it can serve as an indirect indication of potential differences in particle size.
The density and composition of particles may affect their thermal conductivity. Soil and aggregate with different gradings may exhibit different thermal conductive properties under an infrared thermal imaging camera, which may be related to their density and composition.
The moisture content in soil and aggregate may affect their thermal characteristics. By monitoring the temperature changes of soil and aggregate samples with an infrared thermal imaging camera, differences in moisture content can be indirectly inferred. Changes in moisture content may be related to particle size distribution.
Infrared thermal imaging cameras can be combined with other technologies such as laser particle size analyzers, optical microscopes, etc. By combining surface temperature information obtained from infrared thermal imaging cameras with data on particle size and shape obtained from other technologies, more comprehensive information on soil and aggregate grading may be provided.
It should be noted that infrared thermal imaging cameras can only provide limited information in soil and aggregate grading detection and are not direct tools for measuring the grading of soil and aggregate. Typically, grading detection of soil and aggregate still requires traditional laboratory methods or specially designed equipment, such as sieving and grading. Therefore, infrared thermal imaging cameras may serve as auxiliary tools to help interpret thermal characteristic differences present in soil and aggregate samples, but they are not the main tools used for grading detection.
