Requested research

Device design: Develop a portable and manually operated stone crusher to produce correctly sized aggregates for concrete, including devices that separate stones both at input and output stages.

 Energy independence: Ensure the crusher functions without electricity or petrol, and is easy to clean, maintain, and repair.

Field usability: Create a design that is 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, maintenance, calibration, and operation of the crusher and all related tools and processes.

Background: overall construction quality

A major reason why buildings collapse during earthquakes is the inferior quality of concrete. In masonry walls, horizontal concrete bands can play a crucial role in resisting seismic forces. Producing strong concrete depends on the correct materials, mixed in proper ratios, and applied in the right way. Otherwise, it results in what we refer to as low-strength concrete.

In many rural and remote areas, stones and aggregates are hacked directly from the mountains or taken from rivers. To be suitable for concrete mixing, large stones must be broken into smaller pieces. Due to lack of electricity, gas, or petrol, this is often done manually. Using oversized aggregates leads to poorly mixed, low-strength concrete, which increases seismic vulnerability.

In rural and remote contexts such as Nepal, reliable access to electricity and petrol is often limited. Therefore, manually operated solutions are vital. Designs must prioritize ease of transport, simple maintenance, and minimal moving parts to avoid difficult repairs.

Further action

This project is part of a broader effort to improve local construction quality, which also includes the development of a manually operated concrete mixer and manually operated field testing devices.

Interested?
If you would 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.