INFLUENCE OF VIBRATION PARAMETERS ON THE MANUFACTURE OF MICROCONCRETE ROOFING TILES

Abstract

 “Vibrated Tiles” (TEVI) is a technology based on J.P.M. Parry & Associates equipment, whose essential component is a small vibrating table on which a 3 kg mass and 10 mm thickness roman-type concrete tile, is manufactured. TEVI technology was developed by the Center for Tropical Construction and Architecture Studies (CECAT) of the Technological University of Havana “José Antonio Echeverría” (CUJAE). Practical experience in tiles production and transference of the mentioned technology, allowed us to suspect that it was possible to improve the working regime of the vibrating table. The objective of this research was to determine how some vibration parameters influence the quality of the micro-concrete tiles manufactured with TEVI machines. An experiment was made, varying the set of values of operating frequency, vibration time and static mass moment of the centrifugal vibrator, keeping the energy necessary to manufacture a tile approximately constant. In an experimental production, variables associated with tiles quality and manufacturing process were measured and evaluated, such as the maximum diameter of the pores, permeability, and flexural resistance. The results lead us to the conclusion that it is possible, as the frequency increases from 3000 rpm (314 rad/s) to 12000 rpm (1257 rad/s), to duplicate tiles breaking load, to reduce the maximum pore size by 72 %, to diminish the tiles permeability by 57 % and to reduce by 55 % the vibration time, without increasing energy consumption.