CE 408 – Construction Materials and Testing

Laboratory Report No. 9

False Set in Cement

Objective

To determine by penetration of standard needles or rods into a neat paste of

specified consistency.

Theory

As concrete mortar stiffens, the resistance required for a 10mm rod to penetrate
into the mortar will increase. The depth of penetration of the 10mm rod into a mortar
sample is measured and recorded at various times. If, after remixing , the 10mm rod
penetrates the mortar sample to a depth greater than was measured before remixing,
then a false set condition occurring.

Equipments and Materials

Sample of Portland Cement

Balance, sensitive to 0.1 gm
Vicat’s Apparatus
Spatula
Mixing Container

Methodology

 Take a cement sample about 500 gm in weight

 Make a conical pile and mix with water
 Place the mixture in a rubber mould and level the top
  Place it in the Vicat's Apparatus. The larger and should be placed in contact of
the surface of the mixture and the reading should be set at zero mark.
 Release the plunger and after 30 seconds, read the reading on the scale. The
reading should not less than 35±2 mm.

 Level the mixture in the mould and wait for about 5 minutes for another testing.
Repeat step 4 and 5.

 The difference of the first and final testing in the Vicat's needle reading should
not exceed 17 mm.

Test Results:

Trials Contact with the Surface After Releasing

(L/R*1) (L/R*2)

1 37 / 13 34 / 16

2 37 / 13 34.5 / 15.5

3 35.5 / 14.5 34 / 16

4 35 / 15 34.5 / 15.5

5 35.5 / 14.5 35 / 15

Analysis of Data

The results gathered from the experiment are not far from the true value,
although errors were made in the procedure by not following our standard
requirements.

Conclusion

This experiment tells us the amount of water content t which we can obtain the
maximum strength of cement. The achieved standard consistency is coming within
the range of water (19% - 21%). So, the standard consistency of cement paste is
20%. The reasons why 20%, is that we get a 34 (which is between 35mm-33mm) in
that percent of water adding and the temperature where the group performed is
lower than the preferred standard room temperature which is 27° C. 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 in the time of construction

Appendices