SOUNDNESS TEST OF

PORTLAND CEMENT

Engr. Nald Ruzle Esmeralda, CE152P-2

Construction Materials and Method of Testing
OBJECTIVES
At the end of today’s lecture, you will:

● Learn the soundness test of cement and its significance to our course
and in construction
● Learn what are the causes of the unsoundness of cement
● Differentiate cracking, distortion, and disintegration
What is Soundness of Cement?

● Various properties of cement mainly influence the properties of hardened

concrete or mortar

● Once the concrete or mortar gets hardened, they do not go under expansion
or contraction. (i.e. the volume of concrete or mortar does not change, once
they are set.)
What is Soundness of Cement?

● Soundness of Cement refers to the ability of cement to retain its volume after
it has hardened.

● After the drying of cement mortar or concrete, it should not undergo any
appreciable change in volume.

● If there is a change in the volume, it will cause the cement to expand or

contract.
Causes of Unsoundness of Cement

01. Excess Lime

● Excess lime hydrates very slowly and forms slaked lime that occupies
a larger volume than the original free calcium oxide. The slow
hydration process affects the properties of hardened concrete.
Causes of Unsoundness of Cement

02. Excess Magnesia

● Cement can also be unsound due to the presence of magnesium

oxide (MgO), which reacts with water in a manner similar to the lime
and affects the rate of hydration
Causes of Unsoundness of Cement

03. Inadequate Burning

● During the manufacturing process of cement, raw materials are fed

into the kiln.

● If burning and cooling processes are not done satisfactorily, then

excess lime will remain in a free condition. It will lead to the unsound
cement.
Causes of Unsoundness of Cement

04. Excess Calcium Sulphate

● Gypsum is added to cement clinker to prevent flash setting of

cement. But if gypsum is present in an excess amount it will react
with C3A during setting and forms calcium sulfoaluminate. This
sulfoaluminate leads to the expansion in hardened concrete.
SOUNDNESS TEST OF CEMENT APPARATUS

Weighing Balance of 1000g

with 1g Accuracy Oven
SOUNDNESS TEST OF CEMENT APPARATUS

Measuring Cylinder 200 mL

Glass Plate

Hand Towel
CRACKING VS DISTORTION VS DISINTEGRATION

Cracking is the process of

breaking down certain
Distortion is the act of Disintegration is the
twisting or altering breaking down of something
hydrocarbons into simpler ones
something out of its true, into small particles or into its
of lower boiling points by means
natural, or original state constituent elements
of excess heat, distillation under
pressure, etc.,
KEY TAKEAWAYS
● Before using cement in construction, the soundness of cement must be checked.

● In Indian standards, Le Chatelier apparatus test is given, which is used to determine the
soundness of cement.

● The manufacturers of cement must also do the quality control, to produce sound
cement.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
● UNIT WEIGHT OF FINE AND COARSE AGGREGATES (NOVEMBER 29,
MONDAY)

● LABORATORY REPORT 2: NORMAL CONSISTENCY OF PORTLAND

CEMENT (DECEMBER 1, WEDNESDAY)

● LABORATORY REPORT 3: TIME SETTING OF PORTLAND CEMENT

(DECEMBER 3, FRIDAY)

● MODULE EXAM 1: PROPERTIES OF CEMENT (DECEMBER 1,

WEDNESDAY)