The lime cement matrix modified with microsilica was evaluated under a two-phase thermal load.  For quantitative detection and analysis of thermal cracks, an image-processing method was applied.  Among other things, the fractal analysis was used to describe the morphology and the thermal evolution of the cracking patterns.  This allows high-quality estimation of the mechanical properties of the lime cement matrix to be carried out on the basis of measurement and evaluation of morphology of the thermal cracking patterns. 
THERM