JOB#01 EXPERIMENT#01

1.1 TITLE: Fineness of cement by sieve analysis method (dry process)

1.2 STANDARD: ASTM C786-10

1.3 THEORY:
This experiment is carried out to check the proper grinding of cement. The cement which is
produced by an industry is checked for its quality, that either it is good for certain type
of construction or it doesn’t possess that much strength. For example, for RCC and other
heavy load bearing structures such as bridges it is essential that the cement which is being
used in the concrete should have the ability to provide the required strength, while in
the PCC structures it is not so much critical.
The ability to provide strength of a certain type of cement is checked by finding
the fineness of that cement, because the fineness of cement is responsible for the rate
of hydration and hence the rate of gain of strength and also the rate of evolution of heat.
If the cement is fine then greater is its cohesiveness, which is the property, required in the
concrete because it gives compactness to the concrete. Usually cement loses 10% of its
strength within one month of its manufacturing.

1.4 OBJECTIVE:
Fineness is an indication of size of cement particle and is an important parameter to
determine whether the cement is fit for use in concrete. The properties of cement are greatly
influenced by Fineness which depends on the grinding of clinker during manufacturing
process. Adulterated and damaged cement show deviation of fineness value from the
prescribed limit.

1.5 APPARATUS:
 Sieve # 200
 Sample of cement
 Triple beam balance or electronic balance
 Brittle brush
 Empty plate or pan

1.6 PROCEDURE:
 Take the triple beam balance and adjust the reading of the balance to zero.
 Take a pan and adjust the weight as zero
 Put some cement in the pan placed on the balance, so that the weight of cement
becomes 200 grams.
 Put the cement in the sieve# 200 carefully.
 Start shaking the sieve horizontally; keep on shaking the sieve for 10 to 15 minutes

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 regularly.
 After 15 minutes take the residue left in the sieve, put it in a plate whose weight has already
been taken as zero(tared) and measure its weight (residue).
 Then by using the following formula calculate the percentage fineness of cement:

Fineness=(weight passed/total weight)×100

1.7 OBSERVATIONS AND CALCULATIONS:

Serial No: Weight of cement Weight passed %fineness=
sample,W1(gm) W2(gm) (W2/W1)x100
1 200 196 (196/200)×100=98%

1.10 READINGS OF EXPERIMENT:

Total weight of cement = W1 = 200 gram
Total weight of residue = W2 = 4 gram
Total weight passed=W3 = 196 gram
% age of fineness = 98 %

1.11 COMMENTS:
As residue ≤ 10% for sieve # 100
residue ≤ 22% for sieve # 200
Our value comes out to be 98% therefore:
“The fineness of cement is according to the ASTM standard, so the cement is perfectly fresh
therefore it should be used for making concrete where high strength is required.

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