Welcome to Concrete Technology Laboratory

List of Experiments
I Cycle Fineness of Cement Normal Consistency of Cement Initial Setting Time and Final Setting Time Compressive strength of Cement Slump Test

FINENESS OF CEMENT
Aim: To determine the fineness of cement by dry sieving as per IS: 4031 (Part 1) Apparatus: 90m IS Sieve, Balance, A nylon or pure bristle brush Principle: Determine the proportion of cement whose grain size is larger then specified mesh size. Procedure: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Weigh approximately 100g of cement to the nearest 0.01g and place it on the sieve. Agitate the sieve by swirling, planetary and linear movements, until no more fine material passes through it. Weigh the residue and express its mass as a percentage R1,of the quantity first placed on the sieve to the nearest 0.1 percent. Gently brush all the fine material off the base of the sieve. Repeat the whole procedure using a fresh 10g sample to obtain R2. Then calculate R as the mean of R1 and R2 as a percentage, expressed to the nearest 0.1 percent. When the results differ by more than 1 percent absolute, carry out a third sieving and calculate the mean of the three values.

Results: The value of R, to the nearest 0.1 percent, as the residue on the 90m sieve

NORMAL CONSISTENCY OF CEMENT

Aim: To find out the water content required to produce a cement paste of standard consistency as specified by the IS: 4031 (Part 4) Apparatus: Vicat apparatus, Balance, Gauging trowel Principle: Standard consistency of cement is that consistency at which the Vicat plunger penetrates to a point 5-7mm from the bottom of Vicat mould. Procedure: 1. Weigh approximately 500g of cement and mix it with a weighed quantity of water. The time of gauging should be between 3 to 5 minutes. 2. Fill the Vicat mould with paste and level it with a trowel. 3. Lower the plunger gently till it touches the cement surface. 4. Release the plunger allowing it to sink into the paste. 5. Note the reading on the gauge. 6. Repeat the above procedure taking same sample of cement and different quantities of water until the reading on the gauge is 5 to 7mm. Results: The amount of water as a percentage of the weight of dry cement

INITIAL AND FINAL SETTING TIME OF CEMENT

Aim: To calculate the initial and final setting time as per IS: 4031 (Part 5) Apparatus: Vicat apparatus, Balance, Gauging trowel Procedure: 1. Weigh approximately 500g of cement and mix it with a weighed quantity of water. The time of gauging should be between 3 to 5 minutes. 2. Fill the Vicat mould with paste and level it with a trowel. 3. Lower the needle gently till it touches the cement surface. 4. Release the needle allowing it to sink into the paste. Initial Setting Time: 1. Repeat the procedure till the needle fails to pierce the test block to a point 5.0 0.5mm measured from the bottom of the mould. 2. The time period elapsing between the water is added to the cement and the time the needle fails to pierce the test block by 5.0 0.5mm measured from the bottom of the mould, is the initial setting time.
Final Setting Time:

1. Replace the above needle by the one with an annular attachment. The cement should be considered as finally set when, upon applying the needle gently to the surface of the test block, the needle makes an impression therein, while the attachment fails to do so. 2. The period elapsing between the water is added to the cement and the time the needle makes an impression on the surface of the test block, while the attachment fails to do so, is the final setting time.

COMPRESSSIVE STRENGTH OF CEMENT

Aim: To determine the compressive strength of cement Apparatus: Cube mould of size 7.07x 7.07 x 7.07cm with base plates, Weighting balance accurate up to 0.1gm, Motored cube vibration machine , Measuring cylinder , Trowel and tray Procedure:
Mix the cement and sand with trowel on non-porous plate for one minute. Then add water to the mixture of cement, sand and mix it until the mixture of uniform color is obtained. The time of gauging shall in any case not be less than 3 minutes and not more than 5 minutes, gauging time Is the time lapsed between the water added to the mix and casting of cubes. 1. Apply thin layer of oil to the interior faces of the mould. Place it on the table of the vibration machine, and firmly hold in position by means of suitable clamps. 2. Place the entire quantity of mortar in the hopper of the cube mould and compact the same by vibrations for period of about 2 minutes. 3. At the end of vibration, remove the mould together with the base plate from the machine and finish the top surface of cube in the mould by smoothing the surface with the blade of trowel. Engrave identification mark on cubes. 4. Keep the filled moulds in the atmosphere of at least 90% relative humidity for 24 hours, after completion of vibration. Also maintain temperature at 27 2C. 5. At end of this period. Remove cubes from the moulds and immediately submerge in clean fresh water and keep there until taken out just prior to breaking. After they are taken out and until they are broken, the cubes shall not allow to become dry.

WORKABILITY OF CONCRETE (Slump Test)

Aim: Slump test is used to determine the workability of fresh concrete Apparatus: Slump cone and Tamping rod Procedure: 1. The internal surface of the mould is thoroughly cleaned and applied with a light coat of oil. 2. The mould is placed on a smooth, horizontal, rigid and nonabsorbent surface. 3. The mould is then filled in three layers with freshly mixed concrete, each approximately to one-third of the height of the mould. 4. Each layer is tamped 25 times by the rounded end of the tamping rod (strokes are distributed evenly over the cross section). 5. After the top layer is rodded, the concrete is struck off the level with a trowel. 6. The mould is removed from the concrete immediately by raising it slowly in the vertical direction. 7. The difference in level between the height of the mould and that of the highest point of the subsided concrete is measured. 8. This difference in height in mm is the slump of the concrete.

WORKABILITY OF CONCRETE (Slump Test)

Degree of Workability (IS 456) Slump Value (mm) Low Medium High 25 75 50 100 / 75-100 100 150