Advances in Mechanical Engineering (Aug 2024)

Optimum analysis of inclined angle of mixing blades in planetary mixer based on discrete element method

  • Wenmin Lu,
  • Shumei Chen,
  • Jinan Zheng,
  • Xinyuan Fu,
  • Guohua Fu,
  • Jia Zhong,
  • Qingyang Li,
  • Zhuangbin Zhen

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/16878132241269238
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 16

Abstract

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Based on production practice, it is known that the mixing scraper is an important mechanical part that the planetary mixer directly contacts with the concrete. Its structural shape will directly affect the mixing effect of the mixer, and the inclination angle of the mixing scraper is one of the most important factors affecting the mixing efficiency of the mixer. In this paper, based on the discrete element numerical analysis method, a three-dimensional simulation model of the vertical axis planetary concrete mixer is established, and the concrete mixing process is simulated, and the inclination angle of the mixing scraper is optimized based on the simulation results. An automatic precast concrete mixing experiment platform was built, and the simulation results were verified experimentally. The research results show that the experimental data and the simulation results are very consistent, which verifies the accuracy of the discrete element dynamics simulation model. It can be seen from the simulation and experimental results that the mixing efficiency of the mixer is the highest when the inclination angle of the mixing blade is 45°, and the number of collisions between different types of material particles in the mixing tank is the highest.