Mixing Phase Study of a Concrete Truck Mixer via CFD Multiphase Approach
Publication: Journal of Engineering Mechanics
Volume 148, Issue 3
Abstract
This paper proposes a multiphase computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model to investigate the mixing process of an off-road self-loading concrete mixer drum. A multiphase Eulerian-Eulerian approach is used in a transient simulation for studying how sand and gravel move into the cement paste during the drum rotation. Inert materials were simulated as dispersed solid particles with various diameters and the cement paste as a continuum non-Newtonian-fluid. An experimental calibration of the separated materials was performed. For the solid–liquid interaction, a model found in the literature was used. The results describe motion of the mixture, accumulation areas of the aggregates, and calculated velocities of sand and gravel into the cement paste during the drum rotation. Furthermore, viscosity of the mixture as a function of the solid volume fractions has been analyzed. Validation was achieved by experimental numerical comparison of the drum torque curve at the start of mixing. This model can be used to design more efficient concrete mixers and to better understand some fluid dynamics aspects at the beginning of the concrete mixing process.
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Data Availability Statement
Some data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. These include experimental data used in the paper and spreadsheet used for processing all the data.
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Published In
Journal of Engineering Mechanics
Volume 148 • Issue 3 • March 2022
Copyright
© 2022 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: May 7, 2021
Accepted: Sep 10, 2021
Published online: Jan 5, 2022
Published in print: Mar 1, 2022
Discussion open until: Jun 5, 2022
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