Presentation on

TESTS ON CEMENT

1
 Classification

• Testing of cement can be brought under two categories

1. Field testing
2. Laboratory testing

2
 Field testing

• There should not be any visible lumps in the cement.

• The colour of cement should normally be greenish grey.
• Thrust your hand into the cement bag. It must give cool feeling.
• Take a pinch of cement and feel between the fingers. It should give smooth
and not a gritty feeling.
• Take a handful of cement and throw it on a bucket full of water, the
particles should float for some time before they sink.

3
 Laboratory tests

 Fineness test.
 Setting time test.
 Strength test.
 Soundness test.
 Heat of hydration test.
 Chemical composition test.

4
 Soundness test
• It is very important that cement after setting shall not undergo any
appreciable change of volume.
• The unsoundness of cement is due to presence of excess of lime and
magnesium content.
• Apparatus: ‘Le-Chatelier’ apparatus, two glass plates, temperature
controlled water bath, scale, graduated cylinder, trowel and IS:850
micron sieve.

5
• Procedure :
1. Gauge 100 gm of cement with 0.78 times the water required to make a
paste of standard consistency(approximately 30%).
2. Place the Le-Chatelier apparatus on a glass plate and fill it with the paste,
and level the top surface.
3. Cover the mould with another piece of glass sheet, place a small weight on
this covering glass sheet and immediately submerge the whole assembly in
water at a temperature of 29 ͦ C±2 ͦ C and keep there for 24 hours.
4. Measure the distance D1 between the indicators points after 24 hours and
again submerge the mould in water at the temperature prescribed above .
5. Bring the water to boiling point in 25 to 30 minutes and keep it boiling for 3
hours.
6. Remove the mould from water , allow it to cool and measure distance D2
between indictor points.
6
Calculation and standard results recommended
The difference (D2-D ) between the two measurements gives the expansion
1
of cement and it should not be more than 10 mm according to IS
specification( IS :269-2013 )

7
THANK YOU