Computer-implemented method, computer-based product, and monitoring system for contactless assessment of rheological properties of fluid cement-based products

System for the contactless assessment of rheological properties of cement-based fluid products, comprising:

• a mixer drum configured to rotate about an inclined axis and mounted on a truck with an opening and including a set of helicoidal mixing blades attached to an interior of the mixer drum, and a device associated with the mixing blades and configured to obtain first data related to a displacement speed of a set of mixing blades contained in the mixer drum during at least one period of time;
• at least one image acquisition device focused towards the interior of the mixer drum and configured to obtain at least one image sequence of a fluid product contained within the mixer drum during the at least one period of time;
• and
• at least one computing unit that features at least one processor configured to:
• execute a first algorithm configured to perform a first analysis that comprises determining a plurality of first parameters related to variations of the displacement speed of the set of mixing blades over time;
• execute a second algorithm configured to perform a second analysis that comprises determining a second parameters related to a variation of a local displacement direction and speed of a surface of a fluid product contained in the mixer drum over time by analyzing the at least one image sequence identifying particles, and/or groups of particles of the surface of the fluid product and a displacement direction and speed thereof during the at least one period of time, indicative of a local displacement direction and speed of the surface of the fluid product, detecting variation in the local displacement direction and speed of the surface of the fluid product obtained from the analysis of the at least one image sequence;
• execute a second algorithm configured to perform a second analysis that comprises calculating at least one rheological property parameter of the fluid product by detecting and measuring a temporal correlation between each first parameter, representing a variation of the displacement speed of the set of mixing blades, and one of the second parameters, representing a variation of the local displacement direction and speed of the surface of the fluid product contained in the mixer drum, occurring following the corresponding first parameter;
• and
• calculating, based on the detected temporal correlations, at least one of the rheological property parameters of the fluid product.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing code instructions that, when executed by a computation device, cause the computer device to perform a method comprising:

• determining a plurality of first parameters, in a first analysis, related to variations of the displacement speed along time of the set of helicoidal mixing blades attached to the interior of a mixer drum rotative around an inclined axis and mounted on a truck, by implementing, in a computer processing unit, a first algorithm;
• determining a plurality of second parameters, in a second analysis, related to variations of a local displacement direction and speed along time of a surface of a fluid product contained in the mixer drum by implementing, in a computer processing unit, a second algorithm that:
• analyzes the at least one image sequence identifying particles, and/or groups of particles of the surface of the fluid product and a displacement direction and speed thereof during the at least one period of time, indicative of a local displacement direction and speed of the surface of the fluid product;
• detects variation in the local displacement direction and speed of the surface of the fluid product obtained from the analysis of the at least one image sequence;
• calculating, in a third analysis, at least one rheological property parameter of the fluid product by implementing, in a computer processing unit, a third algorithm that:
• detects and measures a temporal correlation existing between each first parameter, representing a variation of the displacement speed of the set of mixing blades, and one of the second parameters, representing a variation of the local displacement direction and speed of the surface of the fluid product, occurring following the corresponding first parameter;
• and
• calculates, based on the detected temporal correlations, at least one of the rheological property parameters of the fluid product.