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Numerical Study on the Effect of Coarse Aggregate Shape during Concrete Mixing Process
Jianjun Shen1, Binqiang Wang1, Jingru Hou1
1Key Laboratory of Road Construction Technology and Equipment, Ministry of Education, Chang'an University, Xi'an 710064, China.
Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
|April 13, 2024
Summary
Coarse aggregate shape significantly impacts concrete performance and mixing. Spherical aggregates yield the best mortar mix, while ellipsoidal ones perform the worst, influencing concrete production strategies.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Civil Engineering
- Computational Mechanics
Background:
- Coarse aggregate shape is a critical factor influencing concrete performance and the mixing process.
- Understanding aggregate motion is key to optimizing concrete production.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of coarse aggregate shape on the mixing behavior with mortar.
- To analyze the motion dynamics of different aggregate shapes within a dual horizontal axis mixer.
Main Methods:
- Utilized discrete element software (EDEM) to simulate the motion of four typical coarse aggregates and mortar.
- Analyzed mixing dynamics using indicators such as average velocity, contact rate, and dispersion coefficient.
Main Results:
- Spherical coarse aggregates exhibited the highest average speed during mixing.
- Flat aggregates showed the highest vertical velocity, while ellipsoidal aggregates had the lowest.
- Spherical aggregates demonstrated the most effective mixing with mortar, whereas ellipsoidal aggregates mixed the least effectively.
Conclusions:
- Aggregate shape demonstrably affects mixing efficiency and mortar interaction.
- Simulation results provide insights for developing strategies to optimize concrete mixing processes based on aggregate characteristics.
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