The document focuses on various testing methods for cement, including both field and laboratory tests to assess quality and suitability for construction. Key tests discussed include the date of manufacture, lumps test, color test, fineness test, setting time test, and compressive strength test, each critical for ensuring the integrity of cement. Proper storage and handling techniques, along with standard specifications, are emphasized to maintain cement's effectiveness over time.

1. Cement
CE 225
Construction Materials
and Testing

2. TESTING OF CEMENT

3. ❖ FIELD TESTING
❖ LABORATORY TESTING
METHODS OF TESTING

4. 1) Date of manufacture test
This is the first test you have to perform to check
the manufacturing date of cement. As the strength of
cement reduces with the time, you should not use
cement which is made a year ago. Generally, the
date of manufacturing of cement should not be
before 90 days/3 months.
FIELD TEST

5. If usage of cement is required even after 3 months of
its manufacturing then always check it by carry out
different cement test. Proper arrangement therefore
should be made in cement godown. Cement bought
first should be used first.
FIELD TEST

6. 2) Lumps test
This is the most important field test of cement. to
check it, Take a bag of cement, and spread over the
cemented or bricks ground. It should not contain any
hard lumps.
These types of lumps are formed by observing
moisture from the atmosphere which does not gain the
required strength in construction. So, you can reject
these types of cement if found.
FIELD TEST

7. Storage of cement
Absorption of 1 to 2% of moisture has no significant
effect on quality of cement. But if moisture absorption
exceeds 5%, the cement becomes totally useless.
FIELD TEST
a. Raised Floor to Protect the Cement from the
Ground Moisture
Cement bags should be stacked
150 mm to 200 mm above ground
on the platform made by wooden
batten and planks or by other
means. Also cover the platform
with an impermeable plastic sheet
underneath.

8. Storage of cement
FIELD TEST
b. Keep Distance from Side Wall to Protect the
Cement from the Atmospheric Moisture:
A space of 600 mm minimum shall
be left all-round between the
exterior walls and the cement
stacks.

9. 3) Color Test of Cement
Check whether the color of cement is uniform and
should be in Grey color with light greenish shade.
Colour of the cement depends on the source of raw
materials, sources of its pozzolanic admixtures and
manufacturing process. However, colour is not the
yardstick to measure the strength and quality of
cement.
FIELD TEST

10. 4) Rubbing Test
Take of some amount of cement from the bag by
yourhand and feel it. It shouid be smooth in rubbing.
If it is not smooth then there is adulteration (not finely
mixed) with a sand component in it.
FIELD TEST

11. 5) Smell test of cement
Take a pinch of cement with your finger and smell it.
It should not be the earthy smell. If this is earthy in
smell then there is more amount of clay and silt has
been mixed which makes cement weak.
FIELD TEST

12. 6) Temperature Test
Insert your hand in the bag of cement deeply and feel
whether it is cool or not.
It should be a cool feeling. But if there is warm or hot
then there is a starting of hydration in it which will
not be suitable for construction.
FIELD TEST

13. 7) Float Test
Take a small quantity of cement and put it into a
bucket of clean water. It should float for some time
before it sinks. If it sinks immediately then there is
moisture contained in it which makes cement
hydration and loses their Workability.
FIELD TEST

14. 8. Shape Test
Take 100g of cement and make a stiff paste. Prepare a
cake with sharp edges and put on the glass plate.
Immerse this plate in water. Observe that the shape
shouldn’t get disturbed while settling. It should be
able to set, attain strength and not crack. Cement is
capable of setting under water also and that is why it
is also called ‘Hydraulic Cement’.
FIELD TEST

15. LABORATORY TESTS
➢Fineness test
➢Standard consistency test
➢Setting time test
➢Soundness test
➢Compressive test

16. 1. FINENESS OF CEMENT
By fineness of cement, we mean diameter of its smallest
particle.
Fineness, or particle size of Portland cement affects hydration
rate and thus the rate of strength gain.
The smaller the particle size, the greater the surface area-to-
volume ratio, and thus, the more area available for water-
cement interaction per unit volume. The effects of greater
fineness on strength are generally seen during the first seven
days.
However, the excess fine cement increases the cost of grinding
and need more water in hydration. It also affect the workability
of cement paste/concrete/mortar and also causes bleeding.
LABORATORY TESTS: FINENESS TEST

17. IMPORTANCE OF CHECKING FINENESS OF CEMENT
Fineness of cement has a great effect on the rate of hydration and
hence the rate of gain of strength.
Fineness of cement increases the rate of evolution of heat.
Finer cement offers a great surface area for hydration and hence faster
development of strength.
Increase in fineness of cement also increases the drying shrinkage of
concrete and hence creates cracks in structures.
Excessive fineness requirement increases cause of grinding.
Excessive fine cement requires more water for hydration, resulting
reduced strength and durability.
Fineness of cement affects properties like gypsum requirement,
workability of fresh concrete & long term behavior of structure.
Coarse cement particles settle down in concrete which causes
bleeding.
LABORATORY TESTS: FINENESS TEST

18. 1.3 PRECAUTION
Before sieving, air set lumps of cement should be broken by hand
Sieving should be done by rotating the sieve and not by translation.
Sieving shall be done holding the sieve in both hands and gentle wrist
motion, this will involve no danger of spilling the cement, which
shall be kept well spread out on the screen. More or less continuous
rotation of the sieve shall be carried out throughout sieving.
Washers, shots and slugs shall not be used on the sieve. The underside
of the sieve shall be lightly brushed after five minutes of sieving.
Mechanical sieving devices may be used, but the cement shall not be
rejected if it meets the fineness requirement when tested by the hand
method.
LABORATORY TESTS: FINENESS TEST

19. (a) Use of Fineness Test of Cement:
Fineness test of cement is performed to check the fineness of
cement according to standard specifications. The fineness of
cement can be measured either by the grain size of cement or by
the surface area of cement. Followings methods are used to
determine the fineness of cement.
1. The Sieve Test- Measures a grain size of cement.
2. The blain’s air permeability test- Measures a surface area of
cement.
3. The Wagner turbidimeter method- Measures a surface area of
cement.
LABORATORY TESTS: FINENESS TEST

20. (b) Recommended Result of Fineness Test of Cement:
The Sieve Test- The weight of residue of the cement left on sieve
shall not exceed 10%.
The blain’s air permeability test- The minimum value of the
specific surface area of cement -225 m2/kg.
LABORATORY TESTS: FINENESS TEST

21. OBJECTIVE:
To determine the fineness of cement by means of the 75micron/
micromillimeter (No 200) sieve.
INSTRUMENTS & ACCESORIES:
1. Standard balance with 100grams weighing capacity
2. No 200 sieve with pan and cover
3. Brush
4. 100g ordinary Portland cement
FINENESS OF CEMENT BY DRY SIEVING
[ASTM C-184-94e1 (withdrawn 2002)]
LABORATORY TESTS: FINENESS TEST

22. Procedure:
1. Break down any air-set lumps in the cement sample with fingers.
2. Weigh accurately 100grams of the cement and place it in a standard
No 200 sieve.
3. Continuously sieve the sample for 15 minutes.
4. Weigh the residue left after 15 minutes of sieving.
5. Repeat the procedure for trials 2 and 3.
Computation:
The percentage weight of residue over the total sample is reported.
FINENESS OF CEMENT BY DRY SIEVING
[ASTM C-184-94e1 (withdrawn 2002)]
LABORATORY TESTS: FINENESS TEST

23. Observation sheet:
FINENESS OF CEMENT BY DRY SIEVING
[ASTM C-184-94e1 (withdrawn 2002)]
LABORATORY TESTS: FINENESS TEST

24. Blaine Air Permeability Test
LABORATORY TESTS: FINENESS TEST
Blaine's Air Permeability Test is used to find the specific
surface, which is expressed as the total surface area in
sq.cm/g. of cement. The surface area is more for finer
particles.
Blaine Air
Permeability
Apparatus

25. ❖Principle of air permeability method is in observing the time
taken for a fixed quantity of air to flow through compacted cement
bed of specified dimension and porosity.
PROCEDURE:
❖ cement required to make a cement bed of porosity 0.475 is
calculated.
❖ pass on the air slowly at constant velocity.
❖Adjust the rate of air flow until the flowmeter shows a difference
in level of 30-50cm.
❖Repeat these observation for constant h1/h2. specified air
flow.
LABORATORY TESTS: FINENESS TEST
Blaine Air Permeability Test

26. The standard consistency of a cement paste is defined as that consistency
which will permit a Vicat plunger having 10 mm diameter and 50 mm
length to penetrate to a depth of 33- 35 mm from the top of the mould.
USE:
Used to find out the percentage of water required to produce a cement paste
of standard consistency.
This is also called normal consistency (CPNC).
LABORATORY TESTS: STANDARD CONSISTENCY TEST

27. PROCEDURE:
•For first trial, take about 500gms of cement & water of r%.
•Fill it in Vicat’s mould with in 3-5min.
•After filling, shake the mould to expel air.
•A standard plunger, 10 mm diameter, 50 mm long is attached and
brought down to touch the surface of the paste and quickly released.
•Note the reading according to depth of penetration of the plunger.
LABORATORY TESTS: STANDARD CONSISTENCY TEST
The test has to undergo three times, each time the cement is
mixed with water varying from 24 to 27% of the weight of
cement.

28. •Conduct trials continuously by taking different water cement
ratios till the plunger penetrates for a depth of 33-35mm from
top.
•This particular percentage is known as percentage of water
required to produce cement paste of standard consistency.
This is usually denoted as ‘P’.
SUITABLE CONDITIONS:
Conducted in a constant temperature of 27º±2ºC
.
Constant Humidity 90%.
LABORATORY TESTS: STANDARD CONSISTENCY TEST

29. An arbitraty division has been made for the setting time of cement as
❖ Initial setting time
❖ Final setting time.
LABORATORY TESTS: SETTING TIME TEST
Vicat's apparatus is used to find the
setting times of cement

30. ❖For this test, a needle of 1 mm square size is used. The needle
is allowed to penetrate into the paste (a mixture of water and
cement as per the consistency test). The time taken to penetrate
33-35 mm depth is recorded as the initial setting time.
❖The time elapsed between the moment that the water is added
to the cement, to the time that the paste starts losing its plasticity.
❖Normally a minimum of 30min has maintained for mixing &
handling operations.
❖ It should not be less than 30min.
INITIAL SETTING TIME
LABORATORY TESTS: SETTING TIME TEST

31. FINAL SETTING TIME
❖After the paste has attained hardness, the needle does not
penetrate the paste more than 0.5 mm. The time at which the
needle does not penetrate more than 0.5 mm is taken as the
final setting time.
❖The time elapsed between the moment the water is added
to the cement, and the time when the paste has completely
lost its plasticity and has attained sufficient firmness to
resist certain definite pressure.
❖ It should not exceed 10hours.
So that it is avoided from least vulnerable to damages from
external activities.
LABORATORY TESTS: SETTING TIME TEST

32. PROCEDURE:
❖ Vicat apparatus is used for finding the setting time
❖ Take 500gms of cement and add about 0.85p
❖ The paste should be filled within 3-5 minutes.
❖ Initial and final setting time is noted.
LABORATORY TESTS: SETTING TIME TEST

33. SOUNDNESS TEST
❖It is very important that the cement after setting shall not
undergo any appreciable change of volume.
❖This test is to ensure that the cement does not show any
subsequent expansions.
❖The unsoundness in cement is due to the presence of excess of
lime combined with acidic oxide at the kiln.
❖This is due to high proportion of magnesia & calcium
sulphate.
❖Therefore magnesia content in cement is limited to 6%.
LABORATORY TESTS: SOUNDNESS TEST

34. Le-Chatelier-Mould
LABORATORY TESTS: SOUNDNESS TEST

35. LABORATORY TESTS: HEAT HYDRATION TEST
Heat of Hydration Test
During the hydration of cement, heat is
produced due to chemical reactions. This heat
may raise the temperature of concrete to a
high temperature of 50°C. To avoid these, in
large scale constructions low-heat cement has
to be used.

36. LABORATORY TESTS: HEAT HYDRATION TEST
This test is carried out using
a calorimeter adopting the
principle of determining
heat gain. It is concluded
that Low-heat cement
should not generate 65
calories per gram of cement
in 7 days and 75 calories per
gram of cement in 28 days.

37. •
•
Compressive strength of cement is the most
important property.
It is determined by conducting compression tests
on standard 50 mm mortar cubes in accordance
with ASTM C 109.
• In general, cement strength (based on mortar-cube
tests) can not be used to predict concrete
compressive strength with great degree of accuracy
because of many variables in aggregate
characteristics, concrete mixtures, construction
procedures, and environmental conditions in the
field.
LABORATORY TESTS: COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH TEST

38. ASTM C109 | Concrete | Compression Testing
ASTM C109 describes the methodology for testing the
compression strength of mortars using cubes of material
that are 2 inches on a side.
1. Prepare the specimen carefully according to the
instructions in the specification and measure and record
the specimen dimensions prior to the test.
2. Load the specimen on the compression platen, making
certain that it is centered and that the spherically seated
platen is free to move.
3. Run the test at the specified load rates.
4. Record and report the total maximum load and calculate
the compressive strength based on the load and the sample
dimensions.
LABORATORY TESTS: COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH TEST

39. Free Powerpoint Templates
Strength Development of Portland Cement
mortar cubes
Rates of compressive
strength development
for concrete, made
with various types of
cement :
LABORATORY TESTS: COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH TEST

40. Compressive Strength Test
LABORATORY TESTS: COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH TEST