CE5090 CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS LAB

TESTS ON CEMENT

Submitted by
AISHWARYA SIDDHA
CE18M025
GROUP 4
Date of Experiment: 09/02/2019
 CE5090 CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS LAB

TESTS ON CEMENT

To determine the normal consistency, initial setting time, final setting time, compressive
strength, soundness and density of the cement.
.
RELEVANT IS CODES
 IS 4031 – 1999 – PART 2
 IS 4031 – 1988 – PART 3 to 6

1. NORMAL CONSISTENCY

1.1 AIM: Determination of consistency of standard cement paste.

1.2 APPARATUS REQUIRED:

 Vicat Apparatus
 Balance
 Gauging Trowel

1.3 MATERIALS REQUIRED:

 Cement
 Distilled water

1.4 PROCEDURE:
 Prepare a paste of 400g of cement with a weighted quantity of potable water.
 The gauging time for the same should be between 3 to 5 min
 Fill to vicat’s mould with the paste and smoothen the surface.
 Place the mould under the rod bearing the plunger, lower the plunger gently to touch the
surface of the test block and quickly release allowing it to sink into the paste. Note the depth
of penetration
 Continue the test with varying percentage of water and note the water content when the depth
of penetration lies between 5 to 7mm from the bottom.

1.5 OBSERVATIONS

Vol of water Percentage of

S.No Penetration (mm)
(ml) water added
1 116 29 20
2 120 30 15
3 124 31 6
 CE5090 CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS LAB

1.6 RESULTS

S.No Parameter Experimental Value Acceptable value

1. Normal consistency 31% 26 to 33%

1.7 INFERENCES:

The consistency of the sample is coming within the acceptable value hence the sample fulfils
the requirement.

2. INITIAL & FINAL SETTING TIME

2.1 AIM: Determination of initial and final setting time of standard cement paste.
2.2 APPARATUS REQUIRED:
 Vicat Apparatus
 Balance
 Gauging Trowel

2.3 MATERIALS REQUIRED:

 Cement
 Distilled water

2.4 PROCEDURE:
 Prepare a neat cement paste by gauging the cement paste with 0.85 time the water
required to create a paste of standard consistency.
 The paste shall be gauged for about 3 to 5 minutes
 Start the stop watch when the water is added to the mix.
 Fill the mould completely and smooth off the surface of the paste making it level at the
top.
 For initial setting time place the test block confined in the mould under the rod bearing
needle lower the needle gently until it comes in contact with the surface and quickly
release.
 Repeat the experiment until the fails to pierce the block beyond 5mm measured from the
bottom of the mould.
 For final setting time replace the needle by the needle with annular attachment.
 The sample is said to have been finally set when the attachment fails to make any
impression on the sample. The total time for this to happen should be noted. That is the
final setting time
 CE5090 CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS LAB

2.5 OBSERVATIONS:
Volume of water added = 0.85*31%*400 =105.4 ml

Cumulative Time
S.No Time Penetration (mm)
(Min)
1 12.00 0 0
2 12:45 45 0
3 1.15 75 0
4 1.45 105 0
5 2.15 135 0
6 3:00 180 5

2.6 RESULTS:

S.No Parameter Experimental Value

1. Initial Setting time 180 mins

2 Final Setting Time 220 min

2.7 INFERENCES :

S.No Parameter Acceptable value

1. Initial Setting time Min 30 min

2 Final Setting Time Max 600 min

The experimental value of the result is coming within the acceptable range hence the sample
is satisfactory.
 CE5090 CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS LAB

3. DENSITY OF CEMENT

3.1 AIM: Determination of Density of cement.

3.2 APPARATUS REQUIRED:
 Le Chaterlier’s flask
 Weighing balance
 Constant temperature water bath
3.3 MATERIALS REQUIRED:
 Kerosene
 Cement

3.4 PROCEDURE:

 Le chaterlier’s flask shall be filled with kerosene till zero point on the stem.
 A weighted quantity of cement about 64g shall be introduced in small amount in the
flask.
 After the cement has been added a stopper should be placed in the flask.
 The flask shall be immersed in a constant temperature water bath maintained at room
temperature
 Then the final reading shall be taken.

3.5 OBSERVATIONS :

S.No Description Observation

1 Weight of Cement 64g
Initial Reading of Le
2 0
chatelrlier’s flask
Final Reading of Le
3 20.4
chaterlier’s Flask

3.6 RESULTS:
Density = Mass of cement(g) / Displaced volume in cm3
= 3.13 g/cc
S.No Parameter Experimental Value Acceptable value
1. Density 3.13g/cc 3.15g/cc
 CE5090 CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS LAB

3.7 INFERENCES:
The experimental value is very close to the acceptable value hence the specimen is
satisfactory.

4. SOUNDNESS
4.1 AIM: Determination of Soundness of cement.
4.2 APPARATUS REQUIRED:
 Balance
 Water Bath
4.3 MATERIALS REQUIRED:
 Cement
4.4 PROCEDURE:

 Place the lightly oiled mould on a highly oiled glass sheet and fill it with the cement
paste formed by gauging cement with 0.78 times the standard consistency.
 Cover the mould with another piece of lightly oiled glass sheet, place a small weight on
the covering and submerge the whole assembly in water for 24 hours.
 Measure the distance separating the indicator points. Submerge the mould again in the
water. Bring the water to boiling for 3 hours.
 Remove the mould from water allow it to cool and measure the distance between
indicator points. The difference between these two readings gives the expansion.

4.5 OBSERVATIONS:

Sample1 Sample 2 Sample 3

S.No Description
Initial Distance
1. 11 11 12
in mm
Final Reading in
2. 10 12 13
mm
3 Difference 1 1 1

4.6 RESULTS:

S.No Parameter Experimental Value

1. Soundness 1 mm
 CE5090 CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS LAB

4.7 INFERENCES :

S.No Parameter Acceptable value

1. Soundness Max 10mm

The Experimental value is coming within the acceptable limit hence the sample is
satisfactory.

5. COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH
5.1 AIM: Determination of compressive strength of cement.
5.2 APPARATUS REQUIRED:
 Vibration machine
 Poking rod
 Cube Mould
 Gauging Trowel
 Balance
 Graduated Glass cylinders
5.3 MATERIALS REQUIRED:

 Cement
 Standard sand
 Distilled water

5.4 PROCEDURE:

 Place on a nonporous plate a mixture of 200g of cement and 600g of standard sand
(200g of each type).
 Mix it with water and add water until the mixture is of uniform colour. The quantity of
water shall be taken as described in calculations.
 Time of mixing shall be at least 3 minutes and at max 4 minutes.
 In assembling the mould the joints between the halves of the mould shall be covered
with petroleum jelly between the contact surface and the bottom surface. Treat the
interior surface with oil.
 Place the assembled mould on the table of vibration machine.
 Immediately after mixing the mortar place the mortar in the cube mould and prod with
rod. The mould shall be prodded 20 times. Place the remaining quantity in the mould and
compact by vibration.
 After vibration finish the top surface and let the sample to dry for 24 hours. After that
keep the specimen in curing room for about 7 days.
 CE5090 CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS LAB

 Three test cubes shall be tested for compression test after 7 days of curing. The load
shall be steadily and uniformly applied at the rate of 35N/mm2/min.

5.5 OBSERVATIONS :

Compressive
S.No Cross section area Load (kN)
strength (MPa)
Sample 1 51.84 cm2 163.6 31.5
Sample 2 51.84 cm2 137.4 26.5
Sample 3 51.84 cm2 112.4 21.6

5.6 CALCULATIONS:

Water ={(P/4)+0.3}*800; P= 31%

Water = 86ml

Average compressive strength = 26.53MPa

5.7 INFERENCES :

The cubes fail in the required criteria of strength i.e 36 MPa. This can be due to the improper
compaction while filling the mould.