Development of a new concrete pipe molding machine using topology optimization

Sulfur polymer concrete (SPC) is a relatively new material used to replace Portland cement for manufacturing sewer pipes. The objective of this work is to develop an efficient molding machine with an inner rotating die to mix, compress and shape the SPC pipe. First, the alternative concepts were generated based on the TRIZ principles to overcome the drawbacks of existing machines. Then, the concept scoring technique was used to identify the best design in terms of machine structure and product quality. Finally, topology optimization was applied with the support of the density method to reduce mass and to displace the inner die. Results showed that the die volume can be reduced by approximately 9% and the displacement can be decreased by approximately 3% when compared with the initial design. This work is expected to improve the manufacturing efficiency of the concrete pipe molding machine.