CONCRETE REPORT DCC 2042

1. 1
CODE & SUBJECT : DCC 2042 – CONCRETE AND
BRICWORK
TITLE : SOFTHENING POINT TEST
LECTURER’S NAME : PUAN HUSNA BINTI MAT SALLEH
KELAS : DKA1B
NAME REGISTRATION NO.
MUHAMAD AKMAL BIN MOHAMAD SHARIF 03DKA16F2030
AINUNYASMINE BINTI HASLAN 03DKA16F2023
NIRANDOAL A/L CHENG 03DKA16F2029
NUR AIDA BINTI ZAINOL ABIDIN 03DKA16F2027

2. 2
OBJECTIVE
To find out the percentage of amount of water at which the standard consistency is
achieved.
THEORY
Consistency - The thickness or the viscosity of the cement paste is called consistency.
Cement Paste - The viscous mass obtained by mixing cement with water is known as
cement paste.
Standard Cement Paste - It is the cement paste for which the 10mm diameter plunger in
a standard VICAT test penetrates to such an extent that its distance from the bottom is
5-7mm.
Standard/Normal Consistency - It is the thickness or the viscosity of the standard paste
and is expressed as the percentage of weight of water.

3. 3
APPARATUS
1. Balancing mass
2. Vicat apparatus plunger with 10mm diameter and 50mm
3. Lengthglass graduates
4. Spatula
5. Glass plate
6. Trowel

4. 4
PROCEDURE
1. Adjust the plunger rod.
2. Mix 400gm of cement with a measured quantity of water and make a cement
paste as per the standard procedure.
3. Put the cement paste in the ring of the vicat apparatus and remove the excess
paste with the help of a trowel.
4. Center the paste confined in the ring, resting on the plate, under the plunger rod
and bring the plunger end in contact with the surface of the paste, Pull the
hydraulic jack so that some amount of energy is stored in it and when released
that stored energy is transferred to the cement paste.

5. 5
5. This must not exceed 30 s after completion of mixing.
6. The apparatus shall be free of all vibrations during the test.
7. The paste of normal consistency is achieved when the rod settles to a point such
that it is 4-7mm above the bottom surface in 30 s after being released.
8. Make trial pastes with varying percentages of water until the normal consistency
is obtained. Make each trial with fresh cement.

6. 6
ANALYSIS
RESULTS
DEPTH (mm) PERCENTAGE OF
WATER (%)
AMOUNT OF WATER (ml)
23 28% 112ml
17 30% 120ml
13 32% 128ml
4 34% 136ml
1 36% 144ml
0 38% 153ml
23
17
13
4
1
0
0
5
10
15
20
25
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40
DEPTH(mm)
PERCENTAGE OF WATER (%)

7. 7
DISCUSSION
This experiment tells us the amount of water content at which we can obtain the
maximum strength of cement.The achieved Standard Consistency is coming within the
range of water( 26% to 33% ) So, the standard consistency of cement paste is 28%.
Moreover the temperature and humidity values were not in the specified range. This test
also gives us information that how much amount of water is enough to prepare a paste
of cement before using it at the site at the time of construction.
CONCLUSION