Shape and structure challenges from users of the 3D micron-scale imaging beamline at the Advanced Light Source

Beamline 8.3.2 at the Advanced Light Source is an instrument for Hard X-ray Micro-Tomography, providing its users with micron-resolution 3D images, which they analyze by measurement and modeling of the imaged structures. I will present examples of the types of challenges faced during this analysis, and the questions that can be answered in areas including including earth science (why does "flexible sandstone" bend? can shape predict CO2 flow in sandstone?), biology (what is the path of CO2 and H2O through a leaf? why did spiders evolve different head shapes?), and materials science (why do cracks form in the shape they do during processing and then loading of ceramic matrix composites?).