Representative Elementary Volume plugin

Introduction

The Representative Elementary Volume (REV) represents the smallest volume over which a measured property can be considered statistically representative of the whole volume or material.

At small observation scales, measured properties such as phase fraction or porosity strongly depend on local heterogeneities. As the observation window increases, these properties progressively stabilize and converge toward a mean value. The REV is reached when the variability of the measured quantity becomes sufficiently small compared to its mean, indicating that the selected volume is representative of the overall structure.

The REV Estimator plugin provides a practical and visual tool to estimate this characteristic scale from binary images by analyzing how a target statistical quantity evolves with increasing block sizes.

Why use REV estimation ?

• To avoid high computational cost when working with huge datasets, while getting acceptable results,
• When working with materials involving random structures such as :
  • Heterogeneous materials :
    • Unidirectional fiber reinforced composite,
    • Particle reinforced metal or polymer matrices,
    • Crystalline materials,
  • Porous materials :
    • Foams,
    • Lattice structures.

Plugin window

This plugin is free and is accessible in the IPSDK Explorer toolbar. If the plugin isn't visible, it is possible to enable it by clicking the Tools -> Plugins menu.

Enable the REV plugin if not already enabled inside IPSDK Explorer

Once enabled, the plugin should be accessible inside the software at the top right.

REV plugin button inside IPSDK Explorer

When clicking the REV plugin button, a new window opens where it is possible to configure parameters, run estimation process, and visualize results.

REV plugin button inside IPSDK Explorer

Overview

Volume selection

At the top of the window, a drop-down list allows to select an input image.

Input volume drop-down list

Note

The plugin only works with binary volumes as inputs.

Parameters settings

On the left side of the window, the following parameters can be adjusted:

• Scale in micron,
  • Defines the physical size of a pixel in micron.
  • Default value: 6 µm.
• Smallest block size (in pixels),
  • The minimum block size used to initiate the REV analysis.
  • Default value: 100 pixels.
• Biggest block size (in pixels),
  • The maximum block size considered during the analysis.
  • Default value: 1000 pixels.
• Step block (in pixels),
  • The increment between successive block sizes during the analysis.
  • Default value: 100 pixels.
• Target (standard deviation < % of mean).
  • Convergence criterion used to estimate the REV. The REV is considered reached when the standard deviation of the measured quantity becomes smaller than a given percentage of its mean value.
  • Default value: 10%.

REV plugin input parameters

Start process

A Play button is located at the bottom of the window, to the left of the graph. Clicking this button starts the REV estimation process.

The computation runs interactively, and the graph is progressively drawn live.

Button to start the process

Graphical Visualization

On the right side of the window, a graph displays the evolution of the measured quantity relative to the block size.

As the computation progresses, the graph is updated in real time, allowing to visually assess convergence behavior and identify the REV.

Generated graph for the REV

Settings Management

The plugin includes a complete system for managing parameter configurations, allowing to save, reload, export, import, and delete settings.

Saving parameters

In the bottom-left corner of the window, a text field allows to enter a project or preset name. By entering a name and clicking the save button, the current parameter configuration is stored for later reuse.

Fibers plugin button inside IPSDK Explorer

Reapply saved settings

Previously saved settings can be reapplied from the top-right section of the window. It is possible to select a configuration from the drop-down list to restore all associated parameters.

Input images selection via dropdown lists

Exporting and Importing settings

Parameter sets can be exported using the Export button located at the bottom-left of the window, next to the save button.

Export settings button

Parameter sets can be imported using the Import button located in the top-right section of the window, next to the settings selection list.

Import settings button

Deleting parameters

Saved parameter configurations can be removed using the dedicated delete button located in the top-right area, next to the configuration import functionality.

Delete button for the settings

Plugin page : https://www.reactivip.com/project/rev-estimator/

Wikipedia source : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Representative_elementary_volume