Fall 2015

American

University of Sharjah
College of Engineering

Department of Civil Engineering

Construction Materials Lab
CVE 202
Experiment # 6A

Normal Consistency of Cement

Experiment # 6B

Time of Setting by Vicat

Needle
Submitted by:
Name
Christian Raymond Jaber

Submitted to:
Date of Submission:

ID No.
54656

Dr. Arshi Faridi

Monday, 9th November, 2015

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Table of Contents
Table of Contents.............................................................................................ii
List of Figures..................................................................................................iii
List of Tables....................................................................................................iii
Objectives:.......................................................................................................1
Theory..............................................................................................................2
Equipment & Procedures.................................................................................3
Equipment [4A and 4B]................................................................................3
Procedure [4A]:.............................................................................................5
Procedure [4B]..............................................................................................6
Data & Results [4A].........................................................................................7
Sample Data [4A].........................................................................................7
Results..........................................................................................................8
Discussion of Results.....................................................................................10
Sources of Error.............................................................................................11
Conclusions, Applications, and Recommendations........................................13
Conclusion and Application.........................................................................13
Recommendations......................................................................................14
References.....................................................................................................15
Appendices....................................................................................................16
Sample Calculations:..................................................................................16

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Original
Data
..17

List of Figures
[Figure 1] Balance or scale accurate within 0.1% of the test
load3
[Figure 2] Sample
Splitter
.3
[Figure 3] Trays of suitable size, which can be heated in the oven
...3
[Figure 4] Metal Thickness Gauge
.4
[Figure 5] Metal Length Gauge ..
.4
[Figure 6] BS Test Sieves

..4

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List of Tables
Table 1A: Minimum Mass of Test
Proportion...7
Table 1B: Sieves Sizes.
.....7
Table 2A: Minimum Mass of Test
Proportion...7
Table 2B: Sieves Sizes.
.....7
Table 3: Flakiness Index.
...8
Table 4: Elongation Index.
...9

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Objectives:
I.

Experiment #6A [Normal Consistency of Cement]

To determine the normal consistency of hydraulic

II.

cement, according to ASTM C187-98.

Experiment #6B [Time of Setting by Vicat Needle]

To determine the time of setting of hydraulic cement by
means of the Vicat needle, according to ASTM C191-04.

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Theory
In this lab experiment, the properties of cement paste were to be studied
and acknowledge their characteristics and to learn the factors that affect the
properties of cement. The properties of cements paste are of great
importance in designing the mix. It is formed generally through the addition
of water to the cement powder which creates a dark coloured paste. As a
result, the cement paste begins to harden due to hydration. This experiment
discusses the two most important properties of cement paste, which are
known as the Normal Consistency and the Time of Setting. Also, it is
recommended to use distilled water rather than sea water because sea
water greatly affects the cements strength and durability.

Experiment [6A Normal Consistency]

A cement paste shall be of normal consistency only when the rod of
the Vicat apparatus settles to a point of 10 1 mm below the original
surface within 30 seconds from the moment the rod is dropped. The value of
water content present in the paste at that specific settling is required to
prepare hydraulic cement pastes for testing. Several trials are conducted

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where the data are recorded and a graph of the penetration vs. the water
content is plotted.
NormalConsistency ( N .C )=
Where:

W
x 100
C

(%)

N.C Normal Consistency

C Weight of cement = 650 grams
W Weight of water to obtain a penetration of 10 1 mm

The Normal Consistency is usually 22% by mass, which represents the

amount of water needed to achieve a complete reaction in the paste for all
the desired properties. We face an obstacle where if more water is added,
the strength and durability of the cement will decrease whereas if no water is
added, we will not be able to achieve the desired characteristics.

Experiment [6B Time of Setting]

The setting time is the time period during which the cement changes its
physical state from liquid to paste and from paste to a hardened layer.
Moreover, there are two setting times for cement.
The first setting time is known as the initial setting time, which is defined
as the passed time after initial contact of water and cement, required for the
Vicat needle to penetrate 25 mm into the cement paste. The second setting
time is the final setting time, which is defined as the elapsed time where the

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initial contact of water and cement required for the Vicat needle to have no
penetration in the cement paste. s

Equipment & Procedures

Equipment [6A & 6B]
1. Vicat Apparatus. [Figure 1]
2. Mechanical Mixer. [Figure 2]
3. Balances or scales that have an accuracy of 0.1 gm. [Figure 3]
4. Glass graduates. [Figure 4]

Figure 1
Figure 2

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Figure 3

Figure 4

Procedure [6A]:
1. Dry the mixer, paddle and bowl of the mechanical mixer before commencing
the procedure.
2. Measure a quantity of water using the graduated glass cylinder and place it in
the bowl.
3. Add 650 grams of cement and wait 30 seconds for water absorption
4. Start the mixer and mix at low speed (140 5 rpm) for 30 seconds and then
stop the mixer for 15 seconds and scrape down any paste that may have
collected on the sides of the bowl.

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5. Start the mixer again at medium speed (285 10 rpm) and leave it for 1
minute.
6. Quickly forming the cement paste in a ball shape with gloved hands. Then
tossing six times through a free path of about 150 mm form one hand to
another so as to produce a nearly spherical mass that may be easily inserted
into the Vicat ring with a minimum amount of additional manipulation.
7. Pressing the ball, resting in the palm of one hand, into the larger end of the
conical ring held in the other hand.
8. Placing the ring on its larger end on the base plate and slicing off the excess
paste at the smaller end by a single oblique stroke of a sharp-edged trowel.
9. Centering the paste under the rod B and the plunger end C of which shall be
brought in contact with the surface of the paste. Moving the indicator F to the
upper zero mark of the scale and releasing the rod immediately. Allow for 30
s time and taking the reading.
10.Making trial pastes with varying percentages of water until the normal
consistency is obtained (10 1 mm penetration). Making each trial with fresh
cement.
11.Plotting the Vicat penetration versus the amount of water to determine the
normal consistency.
12.Calculating the normal consistency by the following formula.

Procedure [6B]

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1. Mix 650 g of cement with the percentage of mixing water required for
normal consistency as determined form the normal consistency test,
following the same mixing procedure.
2. Place the specimen confined in the conical ring in the moist room for 30
minutes.
3. Center the paste confined in the ring under the Vicat apparatus needle
and adjust the apparatus to zero mark when the needle is just touching
the surface of the paste.
4. Release the needle for 20 seconds and record the penetration reading
from the apparatus.
5. Determine the penetration at every 15 minutes thereafter.
6. Plot the penetration versus time and determine the initial and final setting
times of the cement used.

Data & Results

Results [6A]
A) Normal Consistency Results

Trial#
1
2

Water (gram)
162
159

Penetration (mm)
19
-

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3
4
5

156
153
150

9
5

Table 1: Normal Consistency Results

Not required to plot

Normal Consistency = =

156
100=24
650

Results [5B]
Elapsed Time (min)
0
15
30
45
60
75
90
105
120
135
150
165
180
195

Penetration (mm)
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
39
30
22
8
1
0

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Penetration vs. Time Graph

45
40
35
30
25
Penetration (mm)

20
15
10
5
0
0

50

100

150

Time (minutes)

Table 2: Time of Setting Results

200

250

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Graph 1: Penetration vs. Time Graph

10

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Table 3: Standard Physical Requirements

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Discussion of Results
In the first experiment, Table 1 shows how we were able to determine the
amount of water required to penetrate 10 1 mm. Since the penetration
measurement was 9 mm in our third trial, we did not conduct further trials
and so the experiment was stopped. Moreover, the amount of water required
to penetrate 10 1 mm was found to be 156g of water. Furthermore, the
normal consistency was computed by using the normal consistency formula
and obtained a value of 24%. Therefore, it is concluded that that 24% of the
cements weight must be added to get cement paste of standard normal
consistency. In theory, the normal consistency is 25% of the weight of
cement, and thus the value we obtained is roughly close to the theoretical
value

Sources of Error
1- Personal Error:

Lack of experience

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Performing the calculations.

Inaccuracy in recording the values.
Loss of mass of cement powder while producing the paste due to

mishandling
More mixing time due to the time lag between recording 30 seconds
and actually stopping the mixer.

2- Instrumental error: will be the error illustrated on the equipments. It cant be deleted.
However, the error will be smaller when we are using better instrument, but we have to apply
correction for it, because we all know that there are no perfect instruments where zero error
exists.

The accuracy of the balance may have a high inaccuracy causing a relatively big

difference in the calculations. not all electronics are 100% accurate

The machines might be old fashioned and may require repairing or buying a new one due
inaccuracy and lack of calibration.

3. Cumulative Error:

Errors that increase or add up gradually during the series of taking the measurements or
calculations.

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Conclusions, Applications, and Recommendations

Conclusion and Application
Testing the resistance index of coarse aggregates is of great
importance in civil engineering because it will indicate the strength & quality
of the aggregate and whether or not this aggregate will produce a strong and
workable concrete mix. Due to the high importance of measuring the
strength of an aggregate before construction, it is better to use two different
types of experiments, The ACV Test and the LA Abrasion Test.
The Aggregate Crushing Value is used to determine the strength of the
aggregate by crushing the aggregate gradually under a compressive load.
Thus, the strength of this aggregate is highly considered when designing the
concrete mix.
The LA Abrasion Value, which is widely used around the world,
assesses the ability of the aggregate to resist a combination of actions such
as abrasion. Therefore, the value obtained is used to compare the relative
quality or competence of various sources of aggregates having similar
mineral compositions, and generally how much the impact-crushing effect
would affect the change in gradation.

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Finally, The Aggregate Value (ACV) was found to be 17% and the mass
lost while testing equals to 0.1 g, which is less than 1 g; as a result, the
sample is accepted.
The Percentage Loss (LA Abrasion Value) was found to be equal to
14%, which passes the specifications limit of the aggregate (< 50%),
therefore, the sample is accepted.
Thus, our results for ACV and Percentage (%) loss were relatively low,
which means that our aggregate sample is strong and of good quality.

Recommendations
Repeat the experiment more than once and take the average of
the results in order to have accurate and reliable results.
Ensure that you read the amount of water in the graduated
cylinder properly
Be careful of Parallax error while reading the penetration in the
Vicat Apparatus.
Calculations and recording measurements should be done with
more caution.
Use a more accurate balance, if possible

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References
1. ASTM C305-99
2. ASTM C187-98
3. ASTM C191-04
4. ASTM C305-99
5. Neil Jackson and Ravindra K.Dhir Civil Engineering Materials, Fifth Edition
6. Lab handouts provided by the Instructor on iLearn

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Appendices
Sample Calculations [6A Normal Consistency]:
NormalConsistency ( N .C )=
Where:

W
x 100
C

(%)

N.C Normal Consistency

C Weight of cement = 650 grams
W Weight of water to obtain a penetration of 10 1 mm

Normal Consistency = =

Normal Consistency

17

156
100
650

24