Integration of Modular Workability and Weight Measurement Units in Non-Tilting Drum Mixers

Concrete, an essential construction material, requires varying component proportions to meet specific workability requirements depending on its type and intended use. Different concrete mix design methods can result in varied workability even for mixes with the same required strength. Conventional workability test methods, relying on manual length and time measurements, are prone to human error. This study presents two modular devices designed for a non-tilting drum mixer to address these challenges. The first device, the Concrete Workability Monitoring Unit (CWMU), mounts on top of the mixer and utilizes an OpenMV H7 camera with machine learning techniques to measure concrete workability based on image analysis. The second device, the Material Weighing Unit (MWU), positions under the mixer’s hopper to measure the weight of materials before they enter the drum. The MWU incorporates a load cell and transmits data via an ESP32 to another ESP32 in the CWMU using the ESP-NOW protocol. The CWMU displays predicted slump, slump data, and load cell data on a Neopixel screen. The study determined that a minimum battery capacity of 200 mAh is sufficient to power the MWU, while a 120 Wh solar panel supply meets the CWMU’s energy requirement of 118.1Wh. This innovative approach aims to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of concrete workability monitoring in construction processes.