properties of cement

1. PLAIN AND REINFORCED CONCRETE-1 JOB NO.3
1January 24, 2018
JOB NO. 3
PREPARATION OF CEMENT PASTE OF STANDARD CONSISTENCY.
Code: ASTM C 187-04
SCOPE & SIGNIFICANCE:-
It is used to find out the percentage of water at which the standard consistency is achieved. This
known amount of water is then used in making the cement paste for other tests like;
i. Initial setting time
ii. Final setting time
iii. Soundness test
APPARATUS:-
 Weighing Balance
 VICAT Apparatus (contains)
Plunger with the end of 10mm diameter and 50mm length
Conical ring with lower distance of 70mm, upper distance of 60mm and 40mm height.
 Glass Graduates (200mL or 250mL capacity)
 Scraper
 Spatula
 Glass Plate Trowel
RELATED THEORY: -
CONSISTENCY:
The percentage water requirement of cement paste at which viscosity of the paste becomes such
that the plunger in a specially designed apparatus (known as Vicat's apparatus) penetrates a depth
5 to 7mm, measured from the bottom of the mould.
CEMENT PASTE:
The viscous mass obtained by mixing cement with water is known as cement paste.
STANDARD PASTE:
It is the cement paste for which the 10mm diameter plunger in a standard Vicat test penetrates by
around 10mm.
STANDARD / NORMAL CONSISTENCECY:
Consistency which permits the Vicat plunger to penetrate to a point 5 to 7 mm from the bottom
of the Vicat mould in this test. It is expressed as amount of water as a percentage (by weight) of
dry cement.
VICAT APPARATUS:

2. PLAIN AND REINFORCED CONCRETE-1 JOB NO.3
2January 24, 2018
A device shown in fig1 is used for determining the normal consistency and time of setting of
portland cements that consists of a rod weighing 300 grams, having a needle in each end, and
supported in a frame with a graduated scale to measure the distance to which the needle
penetrates the cement. The height of cylindrical mold is 40mm.
Figure 1: VICAT APPARATUS
TEST SPECIFICATIONS:-
i. Temperature and humidity
The temperature of the air in the vicinity should be between 20-27.5 °C. The temperature of the
mixing water should be between 21-25°C.
The relative humidity of the laboratory should be less than 50 percent.
ii. Amount of cement
The amount of cement required for the test according to ASTM should be 650gm.
iii. Mixing time
The cement paste should be properly mixed and placed in specimen within the maximum time
of3.75-4.25 min from initial contact of cement with water.

3. PLAIN AND REINFORCED CONCRETE-1 JOB NO.3
3January 24, 2018
PROCEDURE:-
i. Take 650gm of cement sample.
ii. Add measured quantity of water.
iii. Make the cement paste by mixing the cement with water as per defined standard
procedure.
iv. Place the cement paste in the mold and fill it completely and remove the excess of paste
from mold with help of trowel.
v. Place the cylindrical mold on the should of Vicat apparatus in such a way that the needle
will falls in the center of mold and set zero reading on the scale.
vi. Allow the needle to penetrate in the paste for 30 seconds after 30 seconds note the
readings from the graduated scale that how much needle penetrates in the paste.
vii. Repeat the procedure by varying the amount of water until the needle is 4mm to 7mm
above bottom of mold and note that amount of water
OBSERVATIONS & CACULATIONS:
Type of cement =
Source of cement =

4. PLAIN AND REINFORCED CONCRETE-1 JOB NO.3
4January 24, 2018
Manufacturer of cement =
Sampling person =
Quantity of cement (W1) gm =
TABLE:
OBSERVATION NO 1 2 3 4
WEIGHT OF WATER ADDED (W2) gm
PENETRATION OF PLUNGER (mm)
% WATER BY WEIGHT = W2/W1 * 100
RESULTS:

5. PLAIN AND REINFORCED CONCRETE-1 JOB NO.3
5January 24, 2018
COMMENTS: