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Week 3 Standard Consistency, Setting Time & Fineness of Cement
Week 3 Standard Consistency, Setting Time & Fineness of Cement
Week 3 Standard Consistency, Setting Time & Fineness of Cement
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CATEGORY TRADITIONAL
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Objective
1. Find out the standard consistency and setting time of cement paste.
The initial set is a stage in the process of hardening after which and crack
that may appear will not re-unite. The concrete is said to be finally set when
it has obtained sufficient strength and hardness. Therefore certain limits for
initial and final setting time have to be specified.
The group must carry out the test following the procedures outline and
subsequently analyse the data and present it in a proper technical format.
3.1 Apparatus
4 90µm sieve
5 Tray
8 Trowel
9 Measuring cylinder
Automatic vicat apparatus, vicat mould, vicat needle for initial setting time
is having a cross sectional area of 1.13 mm2, vicat needle for final setting
time is having a cross sectional area of 1.00 mm2, plunger for standard
consistency,
3.2 Procedures
1. Take 400 g of cement and prepare a cement paste by mixing with water
at several water-cement ratios (24-32%) measured by weight. The time
2. Fill the vicat mould with this paste resting upon a non-porous plate.
After completely filled the mould in 1 layer, the surface of the paste was
smoothen off by single movement palm, making it level with the top of
the mould. The mould was mainly slightly shaken to expel air present in
the paste.
3. Attach the plunger (10 mm diameter and 50 mm length) under the rod
and lower gently until it touch the surface of the block, it then released
quickly to allow it to sunk into the paste.
2. Fill the vicat mould resting on a non-porous plate and smoothen off
the surface of the paste making it level with the top of the mould. The
cement prepared is known as the test block.
3. For the determination of initial setting time, place the test block under
the rod bearing the needle (1 mm diameter).
4. Lower the needle gently to make contact with the surface of the
cement paste and release quickly allowing it to penetrate the test
block.
5. Repeat the procedure until the needle failed to pierce the block for
about 5 mm measured from the bottom of the mould. The time period
elapsing between the time water is added to the cement and the time
the needle fails to pierce the test block by 5 mm measured from the
bottom of the mould is the initial setting time.
6. For the determination of final setting time, the needle of the vicat
apparatus should be replaced with a needle with an annular
attachment. The cement is considered as finally set when upon
applying the needle gently to the surface of the test block, the needle
make an impression therein while the attachment fails to do so.
7. The final setting time is the time period elapsing between the time
water is added to the cement and the time the needle make an
impression on the surface of the test block while the attachment fails
to do so.
All data collected from the tests may be recorded into the following tables:
Calculations
The group is required to submit the technical report of the laboratory results
highlighting the fineness of cement, standard consistency of cement, the
RESULTS
initial setting time and the final setting time of cement paste.
The format of the report is left to the creativity and discretion of the group.
The report must be submitted 7 days after the completion of the test.