This document outlines various physical tests conducted on hydraulic cement, including normal consistency, setting time, fineness, soundness, compressive strength, and specific gravity. It describes the test methods, equipment, and precautions for each test according to Indian Standards. Maintaining proper temperature, humidity, and equipment calibration is important. All tests should be performed following the specified standards.

1. Physical Test of Hydraulic Cement
By Chandra Shekhar

2. Contents
• Introduction
• Normal consistency
• Setting time
• Fineness
• Soundness
• Compressive strength
• Specific gravity
• Conclusion

3. Introduction
• Hydraulic Cement
- OPC, PPC and PSC
• Why do Physical Test?

4. Environment Condition
• Physical Lab
Temperature: 27±2 °C
Relative Humidity: >65%
• Humidity Chamber
Temperature: 27±2 °C
Relative Humidity: >90%
• Curing Tank
Temperature: 27±2 °C

5. Normal Consistency
• Test Method : IS
4031(Part-5)
• NC%=
• Equipment's Used:
Analytical Balance,
Gauging Trowel, Vicat
Apparatus etc.

6. Normal Consistency
Precautions:
1. Balance must be calibrated.
2. Vicat apparatus zero check before test.
3. Vicat apparatus confirming to as per IS: 5513.
4. The plunger gently touch to the surface and quickly
release allowing it to penetration into the cement.

7. Setting Time
• Test Method: As per IS: 4031 (Part-4)
• 0.85% Water required of total weight for test
• Setting Time measured in two step
Initial Setting Time
Final Setting Time

8. Setting Time
Cement Hydration Reactions
2(3CaO.SiO2)+ 11H2O → 3CaO.2SiO2.8H2O + 3Ca(OH)2
2(2CaO.SiO2) + 9H2O → 3CaO.2SiO2.H2O + Ca(OH)2
3CaO.Al2O3 +3(CaSO4.2H2O)+ 26H2O → 6CaO.Al2O3.3SO3.32H2O
2(3CaO.Al2O3)+ 6CaO.Al2O3.3SO3.32H2O + 4H2O → 3(4CaO.Al2O3.SO3.12H2O)
3CaO.Al2O3 + Ca(OH)2+12H2O → 4CaO.Al2O3.13H2O
4CaO. Al2O3.Fe2O3 + 10H2O + 2Ca(OH)2 → 6CaO.Al2O3.Fe2O3.12H2O

9. Setting Time
Hydration of cement

10. Setting Time
Precautions:
1. Care shall be taken to keep the initial needle straight.
2. Checked test block within fix time interval.
3. Temperature and Humidity check on daily basis.
4. In the event of a scum forming on the surface of test
block, use the underside of the block for the
determination.

11. Fineness
• Test Method: As per IS:
4031 (Part-2)
• Equipment’s used: Air
Permeability Blaine
Apparatus, Stopwatch,
Mercury etc.
• Specific Surface Area

12. Fineness
Precautions:
1. One filter paper used only one time, because pore should be
filled by particles.
2. Care should be taken avoid spilling or splashing the mercury
and any contact between it and the operator’s skin and eyes.
3. Too rapid pressing may change the particle size distribution.
4. Must be used own standard sample to know to any changes
in permeability cell.

13. Soundness
• Test Method: As per IS: 4031 (Part-3)
• Two method used for this test
(i) Autoclave Method
(ii) Le-chatelier Method
• Excessive expansion within the cement paste can cause
an increase in internal stresses, which may lead to the
failure of the concrete.

14. 1. Autoclave Method
• Equal percent of water
required of Normal
Consistency
• Equipment’s used:
Autoclave Machine,
Autoclave bar moulds,
Dial gauge etc.
• MgO+H2O → Mg(OH)2
• AC%=

15. 2. Le-chatelier Method
• 0.78 percent of water
required of Normal
Consistency
• Equipment’s Used:
Standard Scale, Water
Bath, Le-chatelier moulds
etc.
• CaO+H2O → Ca(OH)2
• LC(mm)=

16. Soundness
Precautions:
1. Proper setting of reference point on the time of filling bar.
2. Reference bar must be used before initial and final
reading.
3. Before open to autoclave machine, release all pressure
of machine.
4. Must be check safety valve of autoclave machine.
5. Safety gloves must be used the time of removing.

17. Compressive Strength
• Test Method: As per IS 4031 (Part-6)
• Equipment’s used: Vibration Machine, Poking Rod,
Compression Testing Machine, Gauging Trowels, Curing
Tank etc.
• Standard Sand (IS 460) required also
• Water required for cube casting(ml) =

18. Compressive Strength
Precautions:
1. Environment Condition must be maintain.
2. Proper Gauging with in time(3 to 5 minutes).
3. Cube moulds should be need & clean with standard
dimensions.
4. CTMs also calibrated on monthly basis.
5. Do not consider specimens that give strengths
differing by more than 10 percent from the average
value of all the test specimens.
6. Curing temperature should be checked once in a
day.

19. Density
• Test Method: As per IS 4031
(Part-11)
• Specific Gravity is the ratio of
density so it have no unit.

20. Density
Precautions:
1. The inside of the flask above the level of the liquid shell be dried.
2. The constant temperature water bath shall be capable of
maintaining temperature within ± 0.2°C.
3. It is advisable to use a rubber pad on the table when filling the
flask.
4. If the difference between the two values more than 0.03, the test
shall be repeated.

21. Conclusion
• Temperature and humidity should be maintain.
• All equipment should be calibrated as per STI.
• Anti-vibrating table shall be used for balances and not
placed to direction of AC or door.
• Measuring cylinder must be calibrated.
• Potable/distilled water shell be used in all test.
• All test should be done as per Indian Standards.