Requested research

Device design: Develop a portable, manually operated mortar and concrete mixer for field use, especially in rural and remote areas.

Mixing tools: Design a full set of accessories and training materials for measuring, mixing, and applying any type of cement- or earth-based mortar or concrete mixture.

Energy independence: Ensure all solutions run without electricity or petrol, and are easy to clean, maintain, and repair.

Field usability: Create tools that are easily transportable, and simple to assemble or dismantle in rural and remote conditions.

Technical documentation: Produce detailed drawings and do-it-yourself guidelines for correct assembly, mixing, maintenance, and calibration of the mixer and all related tools and processes.

Background: overall construction quality

A major reason why buildings collapse during earthquakes is the inferior quality of mortars and concretes, as seen in Haiti, Nepal, Turkey, and Morocco. Producing strong mixes requires the right materials, combined in proper ratios, and applied in the correct way.

In developing countries, mortars and concretes are often mixed by hand, since it is cheaper than investing in powered equipment. This practice is common not only in rural and remote areas, but also in towns and cities. Hand-mixing is heavy and time-consuming, and the consistency and quality of each batch depend strongly on the local workmanship.

This assignment aims to improve the entire sequence: preparing, measuring, loading, watering, and mixing the ingredients with a manually operated mixer, as well as unloading, transporting, applying, and curing good-quality mortars and concretes directly on site.

Further action

This assignment is part of the broader effort to improve local construction quality. Related projects include the development of a manually operated stone crusher and manually operated field testing devices.

Interested?
If you’d like to work on this assignment, such as for your final-year thesis, send us an email to receive more information or to schedule a meeting.