Lecture 2 Cement Contd.

Lecture –II
Cement (cont.)
STRUCTURE
III
Content
Setting time of cement
Tests on cement
ER. AMANPREET SINGH SIDHU/ GCAD, SONIPAT

INTENT
This lecture will help in understanding various tests
conducted on cement and to know about the setting time of
cement.

RECAP
 Cement is a hydraulic binder, which, when mixed with water,
forms a paste which sets by means of hydration reactions and
retains its strength and stability.
 Raw material for cement are Calcareous materials(Lime) and
Argillaceous materials(Alumina).
 OPC, Rapid hardening cement, White cement, Oil well cement
and Portland pozzolana cement are some types of cement.
 The water causes the hardening of cement through a process
called hydration.

SETTING TIME OF CEMENT
Cement paste setting time is affected by a number of items
including: cement fineness, water-cement ratio, chemical
content(gypsum etc)and mixtures.
Tests are used to characterize how a particular cement paste sets.
For construction purposes, the initial set must not be too soon and
the final set must not be too late.

Normally, two setting times are defined
Initial setting time
Occurs when the cement paste begins to stiffen considerably.
Final setting time
Occurs when the cement has hardened to the point at which it
can sustain some load.

TESTS ON CEMENT
FINENESS TEST
SOUNDNESS
CONSISTENCY TEST TEST
COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH
SETTING TIME TEST TEST

Fineness test
To determine the fineness of cement by dry sieving as per IS:
4031 (Part 1) – 1996. The principle of this is that we
determine the proportion of cement whose grain size is larger
then specified mesh size.

The apparatus used are 90µm IS Sieve, Balance capable of
weighing 10g to the nearest 10mg, A nylon or pure bristle
brush, preferably with 25 to 40mm, bristle, for cleaning the
sieve.

IS Standard Sieves

Procedure
Weigh approximately 100g of cement and place it on the sieve.
Shake the sieve by linear movements, until no more fine material
passes through it.
Weigh the residue and express its mass as a percentage R1,of the
quantity first placed on the sieve to the nearest 0.1 percent.

Gently brush all the fine material off the base of the sieve.
Repeat the whole procedure using a fresh 100g sample to obtain R2.
Then calculate R as the mean of R1 and R2 as a percentage, expressed
to the nearest 0.1 percent. When the results differ by more than 1 percent
absolute, carry out a third sieving and calculate the mean of the three
values.

RECOMMENDATIONS
Cement retained on 90µm IS sieve should be less than 10% for OPC
and should be less than 5% for Rapid hardening cement.

CONSISTENCY TEST
The basic aim is to find out the water content required to produce a
cement paste of standard consistency as specified by the IS: 4031
(Part 4) – 1988.
The standard consistency of cement is that consistency at which the
Vicat plunger penetrates to a point 5-7mm from the bottom of Vicat
mould.

Apparatus – Vicat apparatus conforming to IS: 5513 – 1976,
Balance, whose permissible variation at a load of 1000g
should be +1.0g, Gauging trowel conforming to IS: 10086 –
1982.

PROCEDURE
 Weigh approximately 500g of cement and mix it with a
weighed quantity of water.
 The time of mixing should be between 3 to 5 minutes.
 Fill the Vicat mould with paste and level it with a trowel.

 Lower the plunger gently till it touches the cement surface.
 Release the plunger allowing it to sink into the paste.
 Note the reading on the gauge.
 Repeat the above procedure taking fresh samples of cement and

different quantities of water until the reading on the gauge is 5 to 7mm.
Reporting of result
 Express the amount of water (P) as a percentage of the weight of dry

cement to the first place of decimal.

TEST FOR SETTING TIME OF CEMENT
We need to calculate the initial and final setting time as
per IS: 4031 (Part 5) – 1988. To do so we need Vicat
apparatus conforming to IS: 5513 – 1976, Balance, whose
permissible variation at a load of 1000g should be +1.0g,
Gauging trowel conforming to IS: 10086 – 1982.

PROCEDURE
Prepare a cement paste by gauging the 400g cement with 0.85
times the water required to give a paste of standard consistency
i.e. 0.85P.
Start a stop-watch, the moment water is added to the cement.
Fill the Vicat mould completely with the cement paste gauged as
above, the mould resting on a non-porous plate and smooth off
the surface of the paste making it level with the top of the mould.
The cement block thus prepared in the mould is the test block.

INITIAL SETTING TIME
Place the test block under the rod bearing the needle.
Lower the needle gently in order to make contact with the surface
of the cement paste and release quickly, allowing it to penetrate the
test block.
Repeat the procedure till the needle fails to pierce the test block to a
point 5.0 ± 0.5mm measured from the bottom of the mould.

The time period elapsing between the time, water is added to the
cement and the time, the needle fails to pierce the test block by 5.0
± 0.5mm measured from the bottom of the mould, is the initial
setting time.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Initial setting time should not be less than 30 minutes for

OPC.

FINAL SETTING TIME
Replace the above needle by the one with an annular

attachment.
The cement should be considered as finally set when, upon
applying the needle gently to the surface of the test block, the
needle makes an impression therein, while the attachment fails
to do so.

 The period elapsing between the time, water is added to the
cement and the time, the needle makes an impression on the
surface of the test block, while the attachment fails to do so, is
the final setting time.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Final setting time should not be more than 10 hours

for OPC.

SOUNDNESS TEST
This test is performed to determine the presence of
uncombined lime in cement.
If uncombined lime is present in cement, during the setting
action it might slake causing increase in volume and will cause
the development of cracks.
In structure, cracks are objectionable as they deteriorate the
structure.

Soundness of cement is determined by Le-Chatelier
method as per IS: 4031 (Part 3) – 1988.
Apparatus – The apparatus for conducting the Le-
Chatelier test should conform to IS: 5514 – 1969, Balance,
whose permissible variation at a load of 1000g should be
+1.0g and Water bath.

Le-Chateliers Apparatus

PROCEDURE
Place the mould on a glass sheet and fill it with the cement paste
formed by gauging cement with 0.78 times the water required to
give a paste of standard consistency i.e. 0.78P.
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 27 ± 2 oC and keep it
there for 24hrs.

Take out the mould from water and measure the distance separating the
indicator points to the nearest 0.5mm (say d1 ).
Submerge the mould again in water at the temperature prescribed above.
Bring the water to boiling point in 25 to 30 minutes and keep it boiling
for 3hrs.
Remove the mould from the water, allow it to cool and measure the
distance between the indicator points (say d2 ).
(d2 – d1 ) represents the expansion of cement or soundness value of

cement.

RECOMMENDATIONS
Soundness value of a given cement should not be more than
10mm for good OPC as per IS specifications.

COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH TEST
It is the most important of all the properties.
Cement is always tested for its compressive strength at the laboratory

before being used in important works.
Apparatus Required-
1. Non porous enamel tray

4. Platform vibrator (or)
2. Trowel
Equipment for hand compaction
3. Cube mould of size 7.06cm 5. Compression testing machine
6.Balance to measure weight

Strength test are not done on neat cement paste because of
difficulties of excessive shrinkage and subsequent cracking of
neat cement.
Strength of cement is indirectly found on cement – sand mortar
in specific proportion.
The cubes are prepared for this purpose.
The cubes are then tested in compression testing machine at the
end of three days and seven days.
Testing of cubes is carried out on their three sides without
packing.
Thus the cubes are tested at each time.
PROCEDURE
PREPARATION OF CEMENT MORTAR CUBES:

Take 555 gms of standard sand, 185gms of cement (i.e. ratio of
cement to sand is 1:3) in a non porous enamel tray and mix them with a
trowel for one minute.
Add water quantity (P/4 + 3.0) % of combined weight of cement and
sand and mix the three ingredients thoroughly until the mixture is of
uniform colour. The time of mixing should not be less than three
minutes and not more than four minutes.

Immediately after mixing fill the mortar into a cube mould which is
thoroughly cleaned and oiled (on interior surface).
Compact the mortar either by hand compaction in a standard specified
manner or on the vibrating table.
Place the moulds in cabin at a temperature of 27º ± 2º C for 24 hours
Remove the specimen from the moulds and submerge them in clean
water for curing.

TESTING OF CEMENT MORTAR CUBES:
Take the cube out of water at the end of three days and clean with a
dry cloth. Measure the dimensions of the surface in which the load is
to be applied. Let be ‘L’ and ‘B’ respectively.
Place the cube in compressive testing machine and apply the load
uniformly at the rate of 35N/mm2/minute
Note the load at which the cube fails. Let it be ‘P’.

Calculate the compressive strength of the cube by using
formula.
Compressive strength = P/A
 Repeat the same procedure (steps 1 to 4) for other two cubes.
Repeat the whole procedure (Step 1 to 5) to find the
compressive strength of the cube at the end of 7 days.

RECOMMENDATIONS

CONCLUSION
 Initial setting time of cement is that time when the cement
paste begins to stiffen considerably and should not be less

than 30 minutes.
 Final setting time is that time when the cement has hardened
to the point at which it can sustain some load and should not
be more than 10 hours
 Soundness test is performed to determine the presence of
uncombined lime in cement.

Assignment
What is the size of cubes in Compressive strength test ?
What do you understand by setting time of cement ?
Why fineness test is carried out ?
What is the name of apparatus used in soundness test ?

Lecture 2 Cement Contd.

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Lecture –II

ER. AMANPREET SINGH SIDHU/ GCAD, SONIPAT

conducted on cement and to know about the setting time of

ER. AMANPREET SINGH SIDHU/ GCAD, SONIPAT

ER. AMANPREET SINGH SIDHU/ GCAD, SONIPAT

including: cement fineness, water-cement ratio, chemical

content(gypsum etc)and mixtures.

Tests are used to characterize how a particular cement paste sets.

the final set must not be too late.

ER. AMANPREET SINGH SIDHU/ GCAD, SONIPAT

Initial setting time

Occurs when the cement paste begins to stiffen considerably.

Final setting time

Occurs when the cement has hardened to the point at which it

can sustain some load.

ER. AMANPREET SINGH SIDHU/ GCAD, SONIPAT

CONSISTENCY TEST TEST

SETTING TIME TEST TEST

ER. AMANPREET SINGH SIDHU/ GCAD, SONIPAT

To determine the fineness of cement by dry sieving as per IS:

4031 (Part 1) – 1996. The principle of this is that we

determine the proportion of cement whose grain size is larger

then specified mesh size.

weighing 10g to the nearest 10mg, A nylon or pure bristle

brush, preferably with 25 to 40mm, bristle, for cleaning the

ER. AMANPREET SINGH SIDHU/ GCAD, SONIPAT

ER. AMANPREET SINGH SIDHU/ GCAD, SONIPAT

Shake the sieve by linear movements, until no more fine material

passes through it.

quantity first placed on the sieve to the nearest 0.1 percent.

ER. AMANPREET SINGH SIDHU/ GCAD, SONIPAT

Then calculate R as the mean of R1 and R2 as a percentage, expressed

ER. AMANPREET SINGH SIDHU/ GCAD, SONIPAT

and should be less than 5% for Rapid hardening cement.

ER. AMANPREET SINGH SIDHU/ GCAD, SONIPAT

cement paste of standard consistency as specified by the IS: 4031

The standard consistency of cement is that consistency at which the

Vicat plunger penetrates to a point 5-7mm from the bottom of Vicat

ER. AMANPREET SINGH SIDHU/ GCAD, SONIPAT

Balance, whose permissible variation at a load of 1000g

should be +1.0g, Gauging trowel conforming to IS: 10086 –

ER. AMANPREET SINGH SIDHU/ GCAD, SONIPAT

weighed quantity of water.

 The time of mixing should be between 3 to 5 minutes.

ER. AMANPREET SINGH SIDHU/ GCAD, SONIPAT

 Release the plunger allowing it to sink into the paste.

 Note the reading on the gauge.

 Repeat the above procedure taking fresh samples of cement and

 Express the amount of water (P) as a percentage of the weight of dry

ER. AMANPREET SINGH SIDHU/ GCAD, SONIPAT

We need to calculate the initial and final setting time as

per IS: 4031 (Part 5) – 1988. To do so we need Vicat

apparatus conforming to IS: 5513 – 1976, Balance, whose

permissible variation at a load of 1000g should be +1.0g,

Gauging trowel conforming to IS: 10086 – 1982.

ER. AMANPREET SINGH SIDHU/ GCAD, SONIPAT

times the water required to give a paste of standard consistency

Start a stop-watch, the moment water is added to the cement.

above, the mould resting on a non-porous plate and smooth off

ER. AMANPREET SINGH SIDHU/ GCAD, SONIPAT

ER. AMANPREET SINGH SIDHU/ GCAD, SONIPAT

Initial setting time should not be less than 30 minutes for