An Analytical Model for Force Estimation on Arms of Concrete Mixers

Abstract

The main task of our research is to achieve a proper analytical model to describe the forces exchanged between the mixing arms of a mechanical mixing machine and concrete during the whole mixing process. The model has been validated through experimental tests on a real type of mixer. The behavior of the sand-cement mix is very different in the three principal phases of a possible mixing operation: Phase 1: first mixing phase, sand and concrete are inserted in the mixer without water, “dry–phase”, Phase 2: a proper quantity of water is added to the dry mix for final mixing, “wet phase”, Phase 3: final mixing for complete homogenization of the mix. The electrical power necessary in the three phases is very different and in close relation to very different theoretical model that we will discuss later in the article. The main correlations between the geometrical shape of a so called omega mixer and the force exchanged is presented in the article. At the end of the article the coupling between the theoretical and the experimental data is presented.