Imaging for Multi-scale Multi-modal and Multi-disciplinary Analysis for EnGineering and Environmental Sustainability (IM3AGES)

如果我们要制定可持续和负责任的方式来利用我们的关键资源，减轻气候变化的影响，并实现我们的NetZero 2050目标，我们将面临许多工程和物理科学挑战。无论是在原材料、食品、水、能源还是基础设施方面，可持续的解决方案都需要更好地了解、控制和利用材料、工艺和结构如何与其环境相互作用，以及这些相互作用如何改变材料的性质和性能。这一点变得更加困难，因为样本历史很重要，而且实验必须模拟许多长度尺度(从单个微生物相互作用或晶体生长到二氧化碳或氢气的地下流动)和时间尺度(从S到KYR；从单一裂缝的生长到放射性废物的储存)的演化。当我们在4D(3D+时间)中工作，并将来自材料的微观结构和成分数据与它们相互作用的流体、气体和生物物质的数据整合在一起时，最好的理解来了：并在实验过程中重复这些测量。X射线计算机层析成像(XCT)是这类实验的有力工具，但由于全国范围内的技术能力差距，材料-工程-环境界面的工作人员仍然没有充分利用它。多尺度、多模式和多学科的工程和环境可持续性分析成像“工具(IM3AGES)的主要目标是填补这一空白。在咨询过程中，为解决时间尺度、空间尺度和共同定位的多模式数据获取的三重挑战而开发(与&gt；120学者的投入)。IM3AGES将提供第一个-lt；1分钟/扫描断层成像系统，其中样品在成像过程中保持静止(对于成像流体流动、植物、复杂的实验设备至关重要)，以及高分辨率(&lt；0.5微米)断层成像系统，该系统也可以执行衍射对比成像)，并具有高成分灵敏度(对于测量复杂和细晶材料的细微变化至关重要)。IM3AGES随后利用这一独特的组合，提供了一套完全集成的环境单元，用于短期和长期的过程量化；这些单元可以控制样品的温度、负载、压力、湿度或饱和度，流动一系列流体，或结合这些条件。IM3AGES还结合了X射线兼容流动/流变池和厘米-米尺度的3D粒子图像测速系统，能够对多孔介质中的多相和反应流进行4D分析。作为区域枢纽并补充现有基础设施，IM3AGES将成为全国卓越的原位3D和4D成像中心：虽然我们的核心重点是快速扩展的可持续发展领域，但尖端的技术能力可以并将被用于EPSRC、UKRI和工业的许多其他领域。我们的目标是从项目开始到最终产出为所有用户提供支持，最大限度地发挥IM3AGES所做工作的影响，在社区中开发新的技能集。IM3AGES将在关键使能技术对研究社区变得至关重要的时刻提供这些技术。因此，我们的愿景是提供一个基础设施，支持用户产生创新和世界领先的研究，并朝着可持续的未来产生变革性的影响

We face many engineering and physical science challenges if we are to develop sustainable and responsible ways to use our critical resources, mitigate the impacts of climate change, and meet our NetZero 2050 targets. Whether it is in raw materials, food, water, energy or infrastructure, sustainable solutions require better understanding, control and exploitation of how materials, processes and structures interact with their environments; and of how those interactions change the material properties and performance.For the EPSRC community, understanding the properties and behaviour of materials in the natural environment requires observation and quantification of mechanical, thermal, chemical and biological processes. This is made harder because sample history matters, and experiments must simulate evolution over many length scales (µm-m; from individual microbe interactions or crystal growth to sub-surface flow of CO2 or H2) and time scales (s to kyr; from growth of a single fracture to storage of radioactive waste). The best understanding comes when we work in 4D (3D +time) and integrate microstructural and compositional data from the materials, with that from the fluids, gases and biological matter they are interacting with: and repeating those measurement over the course of the experiment. X-ray computed tomography (XCT) is a powerful tool for these kinds of experiments, but it remains under exploited by those working at the materials-engineering-environment interface because of a nationwide gap in technical capability. The main objective of the Imaging for Multi-scale Multi-modal and Multi-disciplinary Analysis for EnGineering and Environmental Sustainability" Facility (IM3AGES) is to fill that gap.Developed (with input from >120 academics) to address the triple challenge of time scale, spatial scale and co-located multi-modal data acquisition during the consultation process. IM3AGES will provide the first <1min/scan tomography system where samples remain stationary during imaging (critical for imaging fluid flow, plants, complex experimental equipment) and a high resolution (<0.5 micron) tomography system that can also perform diffraction contrast imaging) and has high compositional sensitivity (critical for measuring subtle changes in complex and fine grained materials). IM3AGES then exploits this unique combination, providing a fully integrated suite of environmental cells for short and long-term quantification of processes; with cells to control sample temperature, load, pressure, humidity or saturation, flow a range of fluids, or combine these conditions. IM3AGES also enables 4D analysis of multi-phase and reactive flow in porous media across length scales combining x-ray compatible flow/rheological cells and the cm-m scale 3D particle image velocimetry system.Acting as a regional hub and complimenting existing infrastructure IM3AGES will be a national centre of excellence for in situ 3D and 4D imaging: and while our core focus is in the rapidly expanding sustainability space, the cutting-edge technical capabilities can, and will be used across many other areas of EPSRC, UKRI, and industry. We aim to support all our users from project inception to final output, maximising the impact of work performed at IM3AGES, developing new skill-sets in the community.IM3AGES will deliver key enabling technologies at the very moment they become critical to the research community. Our vision is therefore to provide an infrastructure that supports users to generate innovative and world leading research and transformative impact towards a sustainable future