Holy Angel University

School of Engineering and Architecture

Department of Civil Engineering
Construction Materials and Testing

Chapter 12
Determination of Time Setting of
Portland Cement
After this chapter, the student should be able to
Objective  Solve the setting time of hydraulic cement

This chapter focuses on:

Content • Determination of Time Setting of Hydraulic Cement
• Understand the operation of Universal Testing Machine and
Compression Machine

Sivakugan, N., et al. (2018). Civil engineering materials. Australia:

References Cengage Learning

Henderson, P. (2019). Materials for construction: civil engineering

fundamentals. New York: Larsen & Keller

Kultermann, E. (2017). Construction materials, methods, and techniques:

building for a sustainable future (4th ed.). Australia: Cengage Learning
 Chapter 12
Determination of Time Setting of Portland Cement
DETERMINATION OF SETTING TIME OF HYDRAULIC CEMENT

Standard Testings:

1. AASHTO T 131 and ASTM C 191

- Time of Setting of Hydraulic Cement by Vicat Needle

2. AASHTO T 154 and ASTM C 266

- Time of Setting of Hydraulic Cement by Gillmore Needles

Setting Times of Cement to be Defined:

Describe the setting of the cement and are not tied to the setting time of concrete.

1. INITIAL SETTING TIME

- Occurs when the paste begins to stiffen considerably.

2. FINAL SETTING TIME

- Occurs when the cement has hardened to the point at which it can sustain some load.

Cement Paste Setting Time is Affected by:

1. Cement fineness
2. Water-cement ratio
3. Chemical content
4. Admixtures

Common Setting Time for Each Test Method

The Vicat needle test is more common and tends to give shorter times than the Gillmore needle test.

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 Chapter 12
Determination of Time Setting of Portland Cement
Time of Setting of Hydraulic Cement by Vicat Needle:

APPARATUS
1. Vicat Apparatus - with movable rod of mass 300 ± 0.5 grams. The end of the rod used for
measuring penetration shall have straight steel removable needle with diameter of 1.00 ± 0.05
mm and length no less than 50mm

2. Digital Balance - shall be evaluated for precision and accuracy at a total load of 1000 g.

3. Graduated Cylinders - 200 or 250-mL capacity.

4. Glass Plate - 100 ± 5 mm square of similar planeness, corrosivity, and absorptivity to that of
glass.

5. Flat Trowel - having a sharpened straight-edged steel blade 100 to 150 mm in length. The edges
when placed on a plane surface shall not depart from straightness by more than 1 mm.

6. Conical ring - made of a rigid, non-corroding, non-absorbent material and having a height of 40
± 1 mm, an inside diameter at the bottom of 70 ± 3 mm, and an inside diameter at the top of 60
± 3 mm

7. Mixing Tray

PROCEDURES
1. Prepare a new batch of paste by mixing 650 g of cement with the percentage of mixing water
required for normal consistency

2. Quickly form the cement paste, into a ball with gloved hands and toss six times from one hand
to the other, maintaining the hands about 150 mm (6 in.) apart.

3. Press the ball, resting in the palm of the hand, into the larger end of the conical ring, held in the
other hand, completely filling the ring with paste.

4. Remove the excess at the larger end by a single movement of the palm of the hand.

5. Place the ring on its larger end onto the non-absorptive plate and slice off the excess paste at the
smaller end at the top of the ring by a single oblique stroke of the trowel held at a slight angle
with the top of the ring.

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 Chapter 12
Determination of Time Setting of Portland Cement
6. Smooth the top of the specimen, if necessary, with one or two light touches of the pointed end
of the trowel. * During the operation of cutting and smoothing, take care not to compress the
paste. *

7. The specimen shall remain in the conical mold, supported by the non-absorptive plate
throughout the test period.
8. Allow the time of setting specimen to remain in the moist cabinet or moist room for 30 min
after molding without being disturbed.

9. Determine the penetration of the 1-mm needle at this time and every 15 min thereafter (every 10
min for Type III cements) until a penetration of 25 mm or less is obtained.

10. Perform the penetration test by lowering the needle of the rod until it rests on the surface of the
cement paste.

11. Tighten the setscrew, and set the indicator, at the upper end of the scale, or take an initial
reading.

12. Release the rod quickly by releasing the set screw, and allow the needle to settle for 30 s; then
take the reading to determine the penetration.

13. Make each penetration test at least 5 mm away from any previous penetration and at least 10
mm away from the inner side of the mold.

14. Record the results of all penetration tests and, by interpolation, determine the time when a
penetration of 25 mm is obtained.

15. The elapsed time between the initial contact of cement and water and the penetration of 25 mm
is the Vicat time of setting or Vicat initial time of setting.

16. Determine the Vicat final time of setting end point to be the first penetration measurement that
does not mark the specimen surface with a complete circular impression

17. Verify final set by performing two additional penetration measurements on different areas of the
specimen surface.

18. Obtain verification measurements within 90 s of the first “final set” measurement.

19. The elapsed time between the initial contact of cement and water and the end point
determination above is the Vicat final time of setting.

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 Chapter 12
Determination of Time Setting of Portland Cement
References:

http://sknlazoce.blogspot.com/2018/08/basic-concepts-in-construction.html
https://www.slideshare.net/engrnaveedhussain1/material-testing-lab-equipments?from_action=save
https://www.azom.com/materials-equipment.aspx?cat=116
https://theconstructor.org/practical-guide/universal-testing-machine-components-functions/2449/
https://www.pcte.com.au/automatic-compression-machine

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