Experiment 2: Test for Standard Consistency and Setting Times of Cement

Aim:

To determine the standard consistency, initial setting time, and final setting time of cement using Vicat’s
apparatus.

Apparatus and Materials:

Vicat’s apparatus, bowl, small trowel, measuring jar (50ml capacity), table clock, balance, cement

Significance/Theory:

Strength of cement depends upon the quantity of water mixed with cement. More water reduces the strength of
cement while less water incomplete the chemical reactions. Hence, requisite quantity of water should be added
to get the complete strength of cement, which can be determined by consistency test (Standard Consistency
Test). In another aspect, ‘cement consistency’ is the easiness with which cement can flow when mixed with
water. Directly, the consistency of cement will be a measure for this aspect. The consistency is determined by
using Vicat’s apparatus. So, if the cement has required consistency, then the concrete made with it should be
easily workable thus requiring less effort to mix it and also for producing dense concrete.

The term ‘setting’ is used to describe the stiffening of the cement paste. In other words, the setting refers to a
change of state from fluid to a rigid one. In practice, mixing of ingredients, transportation and placing of
properly mixed concrete will take certain time and these processes
should be completed before the setting process starts. After stiffening of
cement, the cement starts gaining the strength. Since setting is
continuous process and the difficulties in determination of the actual
instants of setting actions, in practice, the terms initial and final set are
used to describe arbitrarily fixed stages of setting. Due to these reasons,
in practice, the initial and final setting times are defined with reference
to Vicat’s apparatus as shown in Figure.

The normal consistency of the cement is the ‘percentage water’ added to

the cement such that the depth of penetration of plunger is in between
33mm-35mm from the top of the Vicat’s mould. The initial setting time
is the period which elapses between the time when water is added to the
cement and the thin needle does not penetrate beyond a point of 5mm
from the bottom of the mould. The final setting time is the period
between the moment water added to the cement and the needle ‘F’
makes an impression on the block while the circular attachment of the
needle fails to do so.

Figure: Vicat’s apparatus

For most of the commonly used cements, the initial setting time should not be less than 30minutes and the final
setting time should not be more than 600minutes.
Test Procedure:

The Vicat’s apparatus is shown in Figure consists of:

1. A frame and a cap fixed over the top of the vertical rod. The rod weighing 300g carries an indicator
which moves on a graduated scale fixed to it and have a hole at its bottom to fix the different needles.
2. One plunger 10mm diameter and 50mm long, needle ‘C’ with 1 square mm area and 50mm long and
needle ‘F’ with circular attachment as shown in Figure (as shown). All these will have projection at the
top to fix into the rod hole.
3. A conical mould for cement paste consists of a split ring (diameter 80mm bottom and height 40mm)
rests on a non-porous plate generally a glass plate.

1. For Standard Consistency of Cement

1. Take 300g of cement sample in a tray.
2. Add 25% of water by weight of cement to the cement and mix the cement and water thoroughly with
hand to become a paste.
3. Place the Vicat’s mould with large end on the non-porous plate and fill the mould with the above
kneaded cement paste and press till the mould is completely filled. Remove the excess paste from the
smaller end of the mould with the help a trowel in single stroke.
4. Put this mould with glass plate under the frame of the Vicat’s apparatus (with smaller end of the mould
at the top).
5. Attach the plunger to the rod. Then the rod is brought in contact with the top surface of the paste and
note down the initial reading on the scale.
6. The rod is gently released without any jerk and the penetration is noted. If the rod penetrates by 33 to
35mm from top, then the paste is said to be of normal consistency.
7. Repeat the steps from 2 to 6, till the depth of penetration of plunger is between 33 to 35mm from top by
varying the percentage of water by weight (by an increment 1-2% at a time).
8. When the desired penetration is obtained note down the corresponding percentage of water by weight of
cement added to the cement. This will be the Normal Consistency of Cement (P in %).
9. During the test, temperature of room and water should be about 27±2 C. the needle should be cleaned
every time thoroughly.
2. Setting Times of Cement
1. Take a 300g of cement in a tray.
2. Add water equal to 0.85 times of the water required to make paste of normal consistency (i.e., 0.85P)
and mix the water and cement thoroughly.
3. Note down the time when water is added to the cement (say T1).
4. Place this paste into the conical mould in the same manner as explained in the case of normal
consistency test.
5. The needle for initial set is fixed to rod and brought in contact with the top surface of paste in the
conical mould and note down the initial reading.
6. The needle is then released gently and the penetration of the needle is noted. (In general the needle
touches the glass plate at this point of time).
7. At regular intervals of time, release the needle find the depth of penetration of needle from the bottom of
the mould. Note down the time (T2) when the needle ceases to pass a point 5mm from the bottom of the
mould or 5mm above the glass plate.
8. The initial setting time of cement is equal to T2 – T1 minutes.
 9. Remove needle for initial set and fix the final set needle having the circular attachment to the rod. Bring
this needle in contact with paste surface and release gently. (At this time the needle and circular
attachment will make impression on the paste surface).
10. At regular intervals of time, release the needle and observe the impressions on the surface. Continue this
process till the first instance when the needle makes an impression on the surface while the circular
attachment fails to make an impression on the surface. Note down this time, say T3.
11. The final setting time of cement is equal to T3 – T1 minutes.

Observations and Calculations:

Weight of water added to Depth of penetration in

Sl. No. Weight of cement in ‘g’ Remarks
cement in ‘g’ and in % ‘mm’
1.
2.
3.
4.

Results and Discussions:

Conclusions:

Precautions:

1. Mix the cement with water consistently.

Applications/uses: