
ASTM C 266: Time of Setting of Hydraulic-Cement Paste by Gillmore Needles. AASHTO T 154: Time of Setting of Hydraulic Cement by Gillmore Needles. AASHTO T 131 and ASTM C 191: Time of Setting of Hydraulic Cement by Vicat Needle. Final set: When the cement hardens, being able to sustain some load (occurs below 10 hours)Īgain, setting time can also be an indicator of hydration rate. Initial set: When the paste begins to stiffen noticeably (typically occurs within 30-45 minutes). Cement used in construction should have an initial setting time that is not too low and a final setting time not too high. This setting time can vary depending on multiple factors, such as fineness of cement, cement-water ratio, chemical content, and admixtures. ASTM C 348: Flexural Strength of Hydraulic Cement MortarsĬement sets and hardens when water is added. The test is performed in a 40 x40 x 160 mm cement mortar beam, which is loaded at its center point until failure. This is actually a measure of tensile strength in bending. Though this test used to be common during the early years of cement production, now it does not offer any useful information about the properties of cement. ASTM C 349: Compressive Strength of Hydraulic Cement Mortars (Using Portions of Prisms Broken in Flexure). AASHTO T 106 and ASTM C 109: Compressive Strength of Hydraulic Cement Mortars (Using 50-mm or 2-in. The loading sequence must be within 20 seconds and 80 seconds. A test specimen (50mm) is taken and subjected to a compressive load until failure. Cement gains strength over time, so the specific time of performing the test should be mentioned. The tests of strength are performed on cement mortar mix, not on cement paste. Cement strength is merely a quality control measure. Cement mortar strength and cement concrete strength are not directly related. While testing the strength, the following should be considered: Various factors affect the strength, such as water-cement ratio, cement-fine aggregate ratio, curing conditions, size and shape of a specimen, the manner of molding and mixing, loading conditions and age. Three types of strength of cement are measured – compressive, tensile and flexural. A cement is said to have a normal consistency when the plunger penetrates 10☑ mm. The plunger will penetrate the cement up to a certain depth depending on the consistency. The plunger of the apparatus is brought down to touch the top surface of the cement. In Vicat Test Cement paste of normal consistency is taken in the Vicat Apparatus. The ability of cement paste to flow is consistency. Standard autoclave test: AASHTO T 107 and ASTM C 151: Autoclave Expansion of Portland Cement. The requirement for good quality cement is a maximum of 0.80% autoclave expansion. The change in length of the specimen (after gradually bringing the autoclave to room temperature and pressure) is measured and expressed in percentage. In a good quality cement, the distance should not exceed 10 mm.Ĭement paste (of normal consistency) is placed in an autoclave (high-pressure steam vessel) and slowly brought to 2.03 MPa, and then kept there for 3 hours. After cooling the device, the distance between indicator points is measured again. It is taken out to measure the distance between the indicators and then returned underwater, brought to boil in 25-30 mins and boiled for an hour. Cement paste (normal consistency) is taken between glass slides and submerged in water for 24 hours at 20+1☌. This method, done by using Le Chatelier Apparatus, tests the expansion of cement due to lime. Unsoundness of cement may appear after several years, so tests for ensuring soundness must be able to determine that potential. #Portland cement specific gravity lab free#
Good quality cement retains its volume after setting without delayed expansion, which is caused by excessive free lime and magnesia. Soundness refers to the ability of cement to not shrink upon hardening. As hydration rate of cement is directly related to the cement particle size, fineness of cement is very important. The required fineness of good cement is achieved through grinding the clinker in the last step of cement production process. The size of the particles of the cement is its fineness. Also, you will find the test names associated with these physical properties. These physical properties are discussed in details in the following segment. The physical properties of good cement are based on:
Some key parameters control the quality of cement.
Physical Properties of Cementĭifferent blends of cement used in construction are characterized by their physical properties.
This article concerns the physical and chemical properties of cement, as well as the methods to test cement properties. Cement, a popular binding material, is a very important civil engineering material.