Study on structural characteristics of shipping iron ore concentrate before and after liquefaction using CT scanning and 3D reconstruction methods

Iron ore concentrate is highly prone to liquefaction during sea transport by its own physical properties and external loads. This would cause serious property losses and casualties. Therefore, an in-depth study on the liquefaction mechanism of iron ore concentrate is needed. The fundamental reason for liquefaction is that the microscopic structure of iron ore concentrates changes, and its ability to resist external loads is continuously weakened. To investigate the structure characteristics of iron ore concentrate before and after liquefaction, an indoor six-degree-of-freedom shaking table test and CT scanning are used to conduct a detailed study. The shaking table test simulates the dynamic loads experienced during sea transport, while CT scanning provides detailed images of the internal structure of the iron ore concentrate. Then Avizo software is used to reconstruct pore structure and the parameters of iron ore concentrate before and after liquefaction are analyzed. The results show that the porosity of iron ore concentrate decreases, and the number of small pores increases. Pore water migration conditions will be somewhat improved. However, it is difficult for the pore water to drain completely from the cargo. The liquefaction of iron ore concentrate becomes a mixture of solid-liquid phases. The surface of the cargo appears fluidized.