.png){kind=icon}
.png){kind=icon}
Return
A comparative assessment of static mixers for twin-pipe 3D concrete printing using X-ray CT and CFD
.png){kind=icon}
PRE
AI
Y
L
A
J
G
K
DOI：10.1016/j.cemconres.2026.108337.png)
.png){kind=icon}
Original request for help.png){kind=icon}
Share.png){kind=icon}
Save
Abstract
En 中文
Twin-pipe 3D concrete printing enables a rapid transition of concrete from a pumpable state to a buildable state through inline material mixing. However, optimization of the static mixer remains challenging due to the complex rheology and opaque nature of cement-based materials. In this study, magnetite was used as a density-contrasted tracer by replacing quartz aggregate in one constituent stream, enabling post-mixing visualization using X-ray computed tomography (CT). A geometry-consistent image analysis method based on equal-area segmentation of circular cross-sections was developed to quantify mixing homogeneity. Five static mixer geometries were experimentally evaluated using this CT-based approach. To complement the experiments, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations with particle tracing were performed to investigate flow development and mixing evolution. The CFD predictions were validated against CT-derived mixing indices. Based on this combined CT-CFD framework, the five mixer types were comparatively assessed in terms of mixing performance, pressure drop, energy dissipation, and velocity distribution. The results reveal clear trade-offs between mixing efficiency and hydraulic resistance among different mixer geometries. The proposed methodology provides a quantitative framework for linking mixer geometry to flow and mixing behavior in twin-pipe 3D concrete printing and offers practical guidance for static mixer design.
Journal
IF:
13.1
Papers:
6.9K
Citations:
7.5W
Organization
Cited Papers