Effects of the Geometric Parameters of Mixer on the Mixing Process of Foam Concrete Mixture and Its Energy Efficiency

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

1-in general there is no units specified in terms of equations, I know they are simple but it is not correct.  Moreover maybe abbreviation shall include the main quantities used for discussion to be clear.  As an example equation as 2 must be rewritten, and please ckeck special character because they are often substituted by ????, as an example equation 2 or line 214
2-check also quantities name and units, as an example kni of figure 5 is different from kn of equation 2 and the units it is not stated, it is very difficult ot follow because there is a lack of units and the "name" are similar.

3- figures have difference backgroud colors, different resolution,... fig 1 is gray and the resolution is not good, other figure yellow.

4- please check for references errors, as an example [7] Logozzo and not Logozzoa

5 - In paragrap3 please give some more information on design of mixer, as an example volume or main dimension of mixer... or directly refers to the one of previuos sections. as an example in line 372 and 373, how many mixer was used in the experiments? one or more changing olny the blades?

Author Response

1-in general there is no units specified in terms of equations, I know they are simple but it is not correct.  Moreover, maybe abbreviation shall include the main quantities used for discussion to be clear.  As an example equation as 2 must be rewritten, and please check special character because they are often substituted by ????, as an example equation 2 or line 214

Corrections:

Added part with equations. There are decoding of symbols with units of measurement. The fixes are presented on lines 200-236.

 

2-check also quantities name and units, as an example kn of figure 5 is different from kn of equation 2 and the units it is not stated, it is very difficult of follow because there is a lack of units and the "name" are similar.

Corrections:

Lines 206-216 describe the kn parameter in more detail. We use the classical names of variables, such as Kn and kn, used in literature sources [19] and others. We have tried to share some variables with the same index names. For example:  and  on line 231.

 

3- figures have difference background colors, different resolution,... fig 1 is gray and the resolution is not good, other figure yellow.

Corrections: We have tried to correct your comments. All pictures are correct, the resolution is improved. All drawings have a white background. Measurement units corrected. Instead of ‘,’, ‘.’ Is used.

 

4- please check for references errors, as an example [7] Logozzo and not Logozzoa

Corrections:

Errors in the text have been corrected. Corrected literature is highlighted in color.

 

5 - In paragrap3 please give some more information on design of mixer, as an example volume or main dimension of mixer... or directly refers to the one of previous sections. As an example, in line 372 and 373, how many mixer was used in the experiments? one or more changing only the blades?

Corrections:

Corrected text. Lines 239-250 show the different studies in chapters 3.1-3.7.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

The authors present an interesting work on a
mixing process of foam concrete. In the reviewer's opinion, this is a relevant work, which provides interesting findings, that deserves to be shared with the scientific community. However, and in contrast to the extensive scientific efforts, the presentation of the manuscript does not comply with the standards of a publication such MDPI. Therefore, the reviewer suggests the authors to prepare a corrected version by carrying out an extensive edition based on the recommendations provided below. The following suggestions and comments should be taken into account before accepting the article for publication:

1. The quality of figures presentations should be significantly improved. The yellow background should be removed; x and y axis should be introduced; grids are not recommended; Font sizes should be increased; decimal points in all numbers should be indicated by point (e.g. 0.1) and not by comma (e.g. 0,1); visability (resolution) should be improved.
2. Please show the scatters of the experimental results (I expect that more than one specimen per tests have been considered: I suppose at least three). This applies to Figures (via error bars) and also in the related Tables (by adding the +/- variabilities).
3. Experimental data should be presented as data points and numerical/calculated model data as lines.
4. Please also add future research steps which will follow this work.
5. Many parameters names are indicated as '??' and should thus be revised.

 

Author Response

1. The quality of figures presentations should be significantly improved. The yellow background should be removed; x and y axis should be introduced; grids are not recommended; Font sizes should be increased; decimal points in all numbers should be indicated by point (e.g. 0.1) and not by comma (e.g. 0,1); vis ability (resolution) should be improved.

Corrections: We have tried to correct your comments. All pictures are correct, the resolution is improved. All drawings have a white background. Measurement units corrected. Instead of ‘,’, ‘.’ Is used.

 

2. Please show the scatters of the experimental results (I expect that more than one specimen per tests have been considered: I suppose at least three). This applies to Figures (via error bars) and also in the related Tables (by adding the +/- variabilities).

Corrections:

The figures partially show the spread of values using the deviation bars. Table 2 shows the range of readings. (Table 2, Lines 354- 355.) Changes are color coded.

 

3. Experimental data should be presented as data points and numerical/calculated model data as lines.

Corrections:

All graphs show experimental data. Graphic display corrected according to recommendations in the form of dotted or dashed lines.

 

4. Please also add future research steps which will follow this work.

Corrections:

Some corrections are presented in text and are color coded. This can make peer review easier.

 

5. Many parameters names are indicated as '??' and should thus be revised.

Corrections:

Some corrections are presented in text and are color coded. This can make peer review easier.

 

 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

-Please give units for power in equation 7-10 also because numerical quantities of equation 9 and 10 needs units (in some article W is used in other kW because of great power consumption).

-please rewrite density parameter of line 263 kchn

-in table 2 and in figure 4 and 5 dispersions of results were added, please give detailed information of how dispersions were calculated

 

 

Author Response

-Please give units for power in equation 7-10 also because numerical quantities of equation 9 and 10 needs units (in some article W is used in other kW because of great power consumption).

Corrections:

The corrections are given in the text on lines 213-232. There is also a table Description of all mathematical / geometrical parameters - lines 522-523

-please rewrite density parameter of line 263 kchn

Corrections:

Corrected. Also some parameters in the text have been corrected. Marked in yellow.

-in table 2 and in figure 4 and 5 dispersions of results were added, please give detailed information of how dispersions were calculated

Corrections:

The description is given on lines 354-372

Reviewer 2 Report

Authors have improved the manuscript according to the review comments.

One final remark:

please include a Table which lists the description of all mathematical/geometrical parameters used in the manuscript. This could be inserted after the Abrbieviation Table at the end of the manuscript.

Author Response

 

please include a Table which lists the description of all mathematical/geometrical parameters used in the manuscript. This could be inserted after the Abrbieviation Table at the end of the manuscript.

Corrections:

a table Description of all mathematical / geometrical parameters - lines 522-523