FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

PASIR GUDANG

LABORATORY MANUAL

COURSE

CIVIL ENGINEERING MATERIALS

COURSE CODE

ECS256

LEVEL OF OPENNESS

CATEGORY

PARTIALLY OPEN ENDED

DEGREE OF OPEN-ENDED (%)

33

PERIOD OF ACTIVITY

1 WEEK

TITLE

STANDARD CONSISTENCY, SETTING TIME, AND FINENESS OF

CEMENT
1.1 Introd
duction
Level 1 lab
boratory activity refers to condition where the problem
prob
and ways &
means are
e guided and given to the students. However tthe answers to the
assignmen
nt are left to the students to solve using the grroup creativity and
innovativen
ness. The activity is designed to slowly introd
duce and inculcate
independent
nt learning amongst students and prepare them
m for a much harder
task of ope
en-ended laboratory activities.
In this labor
oratory activity students will be exposed to the
he a
apparatus and the
procedures
es to carry out experiment on standard consistency, setti
setting time,
and fineness of cement.

1.2 Objecttive
The objectiive of the test is:

1.0 PREAMBLE

- To dete
ermine the standard consistency, initial and final setting time,
and fineness of cement

1.3 Learniing Outcomes

At the end of the laboratory activities, students would be abl
ble to:
1. Identi
ntify the correct apparatus to carry out experim
ment on standard
consistency, setting
setti time and fineness of cement.
2. Collllect and analyze the data correctly.
3. Work
ork in a group to produce the technical report.

FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
PASIR GUDANG

LABORATORY MANUAL

1.4 Theoretical Background

1.4.1 Standard Consistency and Setting Time
Standard consistency determines the state of fluidity of the cement paste.
This test is to find out the amount of water need to be added to the
cement to get a paste of normal consistency. The paste of a certain
standard fluidity will be used to determine the water content of the paste
for setting time and soundness test.
The initial set is a stage in the process of hardening after which any crack
that may appear will not re
re-unite.
unite. The concrete is said to be finally set
when
hen it has obtained sufficient strength and hardness. Therefore certain
limits for initial and final setting time have to be specified.

1.4.2 Fineness of Cement

The fineness of cement has an important bearing on the rate of hydration
and hence on the rate of gain of strength and also on the rate of evolution
of heat. Finer cement offers a greater surface area for hydration and
hence the faster and greater the development
development of strength. Increase in
fineness of cement is also found to increase the drying shrinkage of
concrete. Fineness of cement is tested either by sieving or by
determination of specific surface by air permeability apparatus. Specific
surface is the total
to surface area of all the particles in one gram of cement.

2.1 Probl
roblem Statement
2.0 PROBLEM
STATEMENT

The group is required to carry out the standard consistency, initial and final
setting
ng time, and fineness of cement following the procedures outline and
subsequently analyse the data and present it in a proper technical format.

FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
PASIR GUDANG

LABORATORY MANUAL

3.1 Apparatus & Procedures

3.1.1

Standard Consistency and Setting Time

Vicat apparatus with vicat plunger 10 mm in diameter, vicat needles and

vicat mould, gauging trowel, measuring jar (100 to 200 ml), weighing
balance, stop watch, steel plate, rubber glove and glass plate.

3.0 WAYS AND MEANS

Procedure:
a) Standard Consistency
The standard consistency of a cement paste (the amount of water
expressed as percentage by weight of the dry cement) which permits
the vicat plunger to penetrate to a point 5 to 7 mm from the bottom of
the vicat mould when the cement paste is tested as descri
described below.
i.

For preparing one mould, take 400 gm of cement and prepare a

paste of cement with a weighed quantity of water 30% by
weight (100ml) taking care the time of gauging is between 3 to 5
minutes. The gauging time is counted from the time of adding
water
water to the dry cement until commencing to fill the mould.

ii.

Fill the vicat mould resting upon non

non-porous
porous plate with this
paste. After completely filled the mould in one layer smoothen
off the surface of the paste by single movement of palm making
it level with the top of the mould. The mould may be slightly
shaken to expel air present in the paste.

iii.

Place the test block on the non

non-porous
porous resting plate. Under the
rod attached with the 10 mm plunger and lower the plunger
gently to touch the surface of the paste.
paste. Set the movable
indicator to the zero mark of the scale and quickly release
allowing it to sink into the paste.

FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
PASIR GUDANG

iv.

LABORATORY MANUAL

Prepare the trial pastes with varying percentage of water

(Example at an interval of 4%, from the 1st trial and then at interval
of 1% and 0.25% between the percentage range determined by
the previous test) and tested as described above until the amount
of water necessary for making up the standard consistency as
defined is obtained.

b) Setting Time
i.

Prepare a neat cement paste by gauging the cement with 0.85P

water, where P is a standard consistency as determined earlier.
The gauging time is to be kept between 3 to 5 minutes. Start the
stop watch at the instant when water is added to the cement. Fill the
vicat mould. Slice and smooth off the surface of the paste with
trowel making it level with the top of mould.

ii.

For the determination of initial setting time, place the paste confined
in the mould and resting it on non-porous
non porous plate. Under the rod
attached with the needle 1.13 mm in diameter and lower the needle
attached
gently in contact with the surface of the paste and quickly release,
allowing it to penetrate into the paste.

iii.

Repeat this procedure until the needle fails to pierce the paste for 5
+ 1 mm measured
measured from the bottom of the mould. The period
elapsing between the time when water is added to the cement and
the time at which the needle fail to pierce the paste by 5 + 1 mm is
the initial setting time.

iv.

For the determination of final setting time, replace the needle of the
vicat apparatus by the needle with an annular attachment. The
cement paste is considered finally set when upon applying the
needle gently to the surface of the paste, the needle penetrates to a
dept of 0.5 mm but the circular edge fails tto
o make an imprint on the
surface of the paste. In the event of scum forming on the surface of
the cement paste, use the underside of the cement paste for the
determination of final setting time.

v.

Draw a graph between the percentage of water and penetration in

millimeters.

Notes:
For Portland cement, the initial setting time should not be less than 45
minutes and final setting should not be more than 10 hours. For rapid
hardening Portland cement, initial setting time should not be less than 5
minutes and final setting time should not exceed 30 minutes. The setting
time is influenced by temperature, humidity of air, kneading of paste and
quantity of gypsum in cement.

FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
PASIR GUDANG

LABORATORY MANUAL

3.1.2 Fineness of Cement

BS-90 m
m sieve, weighing balance and bristle brush.

Procedure:
i.

Weigh accurately 100 g of cement and place it on a standard 90 m

BS sieve. Break down any air-set
air set lumps in the cement sample with
fingers.

ii.

While holding the sieve and pan in both hands,

hands, sieve with gentle
wrist motion until most of the fine material has passed through and
the residue looks fairly clean. This requires 3 to 4 minutes.

iii.

Empty the pan and wipe clean with a cloth. Replace the sieve in the
pan and remove the cover carefully. Return any coarse material
that had been caught in cover during tapping to the sieve.

iv.

Continuously sieve the sample in circular and vertical motion for a

period of 15 minutes.

v.

Weigh the residue left on the sieve. As per BS code, the percentage
residue should not exceed 10%.

Precautions:
i.

Any air set lump in the sample should be broken down with fingers,
but do not rub on the sieve. It may lead to clogging of the sieve
opening.

ii.

The sieve must be cleaned thoroughly before starting the

experimen
experiment.

iii.

Care should be taken to ensure that no cement is spilled. After

sieving all residue must be taken out carefully and weighed.

FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
PASIR GUDANG

LABORATORY MANUAL

4.1 Results, Analysis & Conclusion

The group is required to submit the technical report of the laboratory results
highlighting the data acquisition process, analysis carried out
out, discussion
and conclusion in order to achieve the objective of the experiment.
experiment
4.1.1 Standard Consistency and Setting Time

4. RESULT

Weight of cement

(W1)

Weight of water added

(W2)

Standard consistency of cement

= W2 x 100%
W1
=

The setting time for the given cement sample are found to be:
Initial setting time

minutes

Final setting time

minutes

4.1.2 Fineness of Cement

Serial No.

Weight of

Weight of

Fineness

cement taken (g)

residue (g)

(%)

1
2
Average Fineness =

Fineness of cement (%) = weight of residue (g)

100
g

* The format of the report is left to the creativity

creativity and discretion of the
group. The report must be submitted 7 days after the completion of the
test.