CEMENT CONSISTENCY

C O N S T R U C T I O N M A T E R I A L S & T E S T I N G

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CEMENT CONSISTENCY
The normal consistency of cement refers to the consistency
that allows the Vicat plunger (with a 10 mm diameter) to
penetrate to a point 5 mm to 7 mm from the bottom of the
Vicat mold during testing.
In other words, it’s the point at which the cement paste has the
right flowability for various applications like concreting,
plastering, or tiling.
The normal consistency value varies depending on the type of
cement.
Consistency test of cement is a test to measure the minimum
water requirement to start the chemical reaction between
water and cement. The test helps to identify the water-cement
ratio for making the cement paste.
"The construction
of a building
requires a solid
construction."

IMPORTANCE 1. Ease of Mixing: Proper consistency ensures that the cement paste is
neither too dry nor too wet, making it easier to mix uniformly with
other components like aggregates and water.
OF CEMENT 2. Application: A cement paste with the right consistency is easier to

CONSISTENCY spread, pour, and shape, which is essential for achieving smooth surfaces
and detailed finishes.

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 IMPORTANCE OF CEMENT
CONSISTENCY

5. Uniform Coverage: Proper consistency ensures

3. Water-to-Cement Ratio: Consistency that the cement paste can adequately cover all
directly affects the water-to-cement ratio. surfaces, filling voids and gaps to prevent weak
Too much water can weaken the cement spots.
paste, leading to lower strength and
durability. Conversely, too little water can
make the mix too stiff, leading to poor 6. Uniform Coverage: Proper consistency ensures
compaction and increased porosity. that the cement paste can adequately cover all
surfaces, filling voids and gaps to prevent weak
spots.
4. Avoiding Cracks: Consistency affects
the rate of hydration and drying. If the
mix is too wet, it can lead to excessive 7. Long-Term Performance: Ensuring proper
shrinkage and cracking. If too dry, it might consistency contributes to the long-term
not hydrate properly, affecting the final performance and sustainability of the structure,
strength.
reducing maintenance costs and extending its service
life.

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STANDARD CONSISTENCY
OF CEMENT
The standard consistency of cement is that consistency, which
permit the Vicat plunger to penetrate to a point 5 to 7mm from
the bottom of the Vicat Mould when tested. Procedure to
determine the quantity of water required to produce a cement
paste of standard consistency is described below.

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 PROCEDURE
1. Mix 650g with 200-250ml of water.
2. Form cement paste into ball, toss 6 times
between hands maintaining 6 inches
distance.
3. Press ball into larger and of conical ring,
remove excess by palm hand.
4. Place ring on the base plate with larger and
resting then slide off excess by towel w/o
compressing the paste.
5. Using Vicat Appratus set indicator at zero
then release for 30s. Paste at NC if rod settles
at 10(+-)1mm.
6. Repeat w/ varrying percentage of water until
NC is obtained. Page
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 APPARATUS

VICAT APPARATUS CEMENT STOP WATCH Mixing Tray

WEIGHING SCALE WATER TROWEL Measuring Cylinder

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 PASS OR FAIL

Whether the obtained consistency value falls

within the standard range will determine the
suitability for use in construction.

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THANK YOU
C O N S T R U C T I O N M A T E R I A L & T E S T I N G

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