Concrete Technology, Construction material, Cement

1. University of Salahaddin/ College of Engineering 2015-2016
Dept. Of Dams & Water resources Engineering By: Goran Adil
Construction Material 1
Test No. 2
Test Name: Standard Consistency of cement.
Introduction:
For the determination of the initial setting time, the final setting time, and for Le Chatelier
soundness tests, neat cement paste of a standard consistence has to be used. Therefore, it is
necessary to determine for any given cement the water content which will produce a paste of
standard consistence. The standard consistency of cement is between 26 and 33 (expressed a
percentage by mass of dry cement).
Purpose:
To find the amount of water required to produce a cement paste of standard consistency.
Materials:
1- Ordinary Portland cement.
2- Water.
Apparatus:
1- Vicat apparatus with the mould and its 10 mm diameter plunger for consistency test.
2- Weighing balance with capacity at least 2000 gram.
3- Trowel.
4- Scoop, Container, Hand Gloves, Glass Graduates.
Procedure:
1- Zeroing Vicat apparatus (the 10 mm plunger attach the base of the mould).
2- Prepare the paste by adding the amount of water (25, 30, and 35 % of the mass of dry
cement) to 600 gm of cement, and mixing for 4±1/4 minutes.
3- Form the cement paste into the approximate shape of ball with gloved hands. Then toss
six times through a free path of about 150 mm from one hand to another. Press the ball
resting on the palm of one hand into the mould, and then remove the excess.
4- Center the paste confined in the mould, resting on the base plate under the plunger.
5- Let the plunger contact the surface of the paste.
6- Release the plunger immediately to penetrate the paste (this must not exceed 30 seconds
after completion of mixing).
7- Read the gauge or the penetration depth taking the distance from the base plate to the tip
of the plunger.
Consistency determination:
According to (B.S. 4550: part 3: sec 3.5, 1978) the paste shall be of standard consistency when
the 10 mm plunger penetrate the paste to a distance of 5±1 mm from the base plate.
Precautions:
1- The temperature of the laboratory and mixing water shall be 20±2 o
C.
2- The relative humidity of the laboratory shall be not less than 50%.

2. University of Salahaddin/ College of Engineering 2015-2016
Dept. Of Dams & Water resources Engineering By: Goran Adil
Construction Material 2
Discussion:
- Compare the test results with the approximate values of the standard consistency of
cement.
- What is the significance of this test?
- What is the effect of temperature and relative humidity on the test results?

3. University of Salahaddin/ College of Engineering 2015-2016
Dept. Of Dams & Water resources Engineering By: Goran Adil
Construction Material 3
Data Sheet
Standard Consistency of cement
Test No.: 2
Test name: Standard Consistency of cement.
Name of the student:
Group No.:
Date:
Group No.
w/c ratio
%
Amount of water
ml
Depth
mm
1
2
3
Results: