EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY OF LEFKE

CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

MATERIALS OF CONSTRUCTION LABORATORY

CE208 MATERIALS OF CONSTRUCTION

GROUP NUMBER 8

EXPERMENT 1
DETERMINATION OF STANDARD CONSISTENCY

Asst.Prof.Dr Ertug Aydin

Yahya Abdullah Muaamar
164338
2/04/2018
OBJECTIVE
To determine the consistency of cement paste
Scope & Significance:

amount of water is then used in making the cement paste for the other cement
acceptance quality tests. This test is used to find out the percentage of amount of water
at which the standard consistency is achieved. This known like;
 Initial setting time
 Final setting time
 Soundness test

Apparatus:

 Reference Masses and Devices for Determining Mass

 VICAT Apparatus
 Plunger with 10mm diameter and 50mm length
 Glass graduates (200mL or 250mL capacity)
 Spatula
 Glass plate trowel
 Stop watch

PROCEDURE

 Weight 400g of cement and 140ml of water.

 Mix them for 5mins on a nonporous surface with two trowels.
 Fill mould with cement paste within next 15s smooth off the top of the mould as
quick as possible.
 The whole operation should be completed within 225s.
 Lower the plunger gently into contact with the surface of cement paste.
 Release plunger and allow it to sink into the surface.
 EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY OF LEFKE

CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

MATERIALS OF CONSTRUCTION LABORATORY

CE208 MATERIALS OF CONSTRUCTION

GROUP NUMBER 8

EXPERMENT 2
Test for setting times

Asst.Prof.Dr Ertug Aydin

Yahya Abdullah Muaamar
164338
2/04/2018
CALCULATION
140
Standard consistency = *100 =35%
400
=3.5 to the nearest 0.5%
Standard consistency =4

=0.4 to the nearest 0.5%

Discussion/ conclusion
This test helps to determine water content for other tests like initial and final
setting time, soundness and compressive strength.
Scope & Significance:

 This test method is used to determine the time of setting of the hydraulic cement by
VICAT needle apparatus.
 The knowledge of the setting time of the cement is always helpful in deciding the time
duration to mix, transport, place and compact the concrete effectively.
 We always prefer a larger initial setting time so that we can mix, transport and place the
concrete easily. According to ASTM specifications, the initial setting time shall not be less
than 45 min but in the field, we prefer an initial setting time not less than 90 min.
 A smaller value of the final setting time is always preferred in order to avoid large
expenditures on the formwork. According to most of the specifications, the final setting
time shall not be greater than 10hrs and shall not be less than (90 + 1.2 x (initial setting
time)) min.
i.e. (90 + 1.2 x (initial setting time)) min < final setting time < 10hrs

Apparatus

 VICAT apparatus
 Reference Masses and Devices for Determining Mass

 Spatula
 Graduated cylinders
 Mould / Should comply with the required standard.
 Frame / Should comply with the required standard.
 Initial setting time needle / Needle of 1mm2 cross-section and 50mm
length .The time elapsed between the initial contact of cement and water
and the time when a 1mm2 cross-section needle gives a reading between
4-7mm from the bottom in a standard Vicat apparatus is known as initial
setting time of that particular cement paste.it is round and is made up of
hardened or tempered steel and the diameter should be 113mm its effective
length excluding the hilt thus fitted end is 50mm and the lower face is flat.
 Final setting time needle / Plunger with 1mm smaller needle and
5mm outer diameter . It is the time elapsed between the initial contact of
cement and water and the time when the smaller needle (1mm2 cross-
section and 0.5mm deep) completely penetrates into the paste and the outer
metal attachment of 5mm diameter does not leave an impression on the
cement paste. It is made of the same materials as of the initial setting time
 but it be 30mm in length and is fitted with a metal attachment hollowed
out so as to leave circular cutting edge 50mm in diameter and the depth of
the hollowed out should be 5mm.

 Related Theory: Setting

In the setting process very little chemical reaction takes place. It only includes the shape
acquisition due to evaporation of water. During the setting process the cement remains
in the fluid or the semi-fluid state and there is very little or no gain in strength. Finer the
cement particles more will be the hydration and therefore it will lead to quick settlement.

Hardening

Hardening is the rate of gain of strength due to the chemical reaction. It also refers to the
strength of the concrete after a specified interval of time.

Initial setting time

The time elapsed between the initial contact of cement and water and the time when a
1mm2 cross-section needle gives a reading between 4-7mm from the bottom in a standard
Vicat apparatus is known as initial setting time of that particular cement paste.
Final setting time
It is the time elapsed between the initial contact of cement and water and the time when
the smaller needle (1mm2 cross-section and 0.5mm deep) completely penetrates into the
paste and the outer metal attachment of 5mm diameter does not leave an impression on
the cement paste.

Apparatus:
 VICAT apparatus
 Needle of 1mm2 cross-section and 50mm length (for initial setting time)
 Plunger with 1mm smaller needle and 5mm outer diameter (for final setting time)
 Flat trowel
 Reference Masses and Devices for Determining Mass

 Spatula
 Graduated cylinders
Test Specifications:

Needle Sizes

1- For Initial Setting Time

1mm x 1mm cross-section

50mm length

2- For Final Setting Time

1mm2 cross-section and 1mm deep inner needle

5mm diameter outer metal attachment

Mixing Water

Portable water is satisfactory for the routine tests.

Temperature & Humidity

The temperature of the air in the vicinity should be between 23±3 °C. The temperature of
the mixing water should be 23±2 °C. The relative humidity of the laboratory should not be
less than 50%.

Amount of cement

Amount of cement required for the test according to various specifications are mentioned
below.

BS = 500gm , ASTM = 650gm

Procedure:

Using the procedure described before mix about 400g of cement with quantity of water
required to give a paste of standard consistence fill the mould within the prescribed time
and place immediately in the moist curing chamber.

Observations & Results

Brand of Cement S.R.MAPPLE LEAF

Time of Starting the experiment = 9:25 am

Time at taking initial setting reading = 10:45 am

Time at taking final setting reading = 1:50 pm

Initial Setting Time = …1 hour 20 minutes….

Final Setting Time = …4 hours 25 minutes….

Comments:

After Performing the experiment, the results that the initial setting time of cement is 1 hr
20 mins and final setting time of cement paste is 4 hrs & 25 mins. The minimum initial
setting time is 45 minutes and maximum final setting time is 10 hrs. As the Initial and Final
setting time is coming in between the prescribed range , it means that the experiment is
performed accurately. The requirements of temperature and humidity were not taken into
account in the lab. Usually in fields a larger initial setting time is preferred so that we can
mix, transport and place the concrete easily as some times concrete mixers have to
transport concrete to some places which are not very close to the concrete plant and in
the same time a smaller value of the final setting time is always preferred in order to avoid
large expenditures on the form work or shuttering as it plays a vital role in the economy
of a construction project.
 EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY OF LEFKE

CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

MATERIALS OF CONSTRUCTION LABORATORY

CE208 MATERIALS OF CONSTRUCTION

GROUP NUMBER 8

EXPERMENT 5
Determination of particle size distribution
Of aggregates by sieving

Asst.Prof.Dr Ertug Aydin

Yahya Abdullah Muaamar
164338
2/04/2018
Apparatus
Only sieve sets change. For this case 28, 20, 14, 6.3, 5 and 3.35mm
sieves should be used.
Procedure:
 Dry the sample to constant weight at a temperature of (105_+5C).
 Weight the sample and put it into the sieve shaker conduct the
sieving operation by means of a lateral and vertical motion of the
sieve, accompanied by jarring motion so a s to keep the sample
moving continuously over the surface of the sieve. continue the
sieving until not more than 1% by weight of the residue passes any
sieve during 1 min. the sieving operation generally lasts 10
minutes.
 Calculate the percentage (passing) on the basis of the total weight
of the sample and determine the fineness modulus.
Sieve Mass of Mass of Mass % Cumulative Cumulative
size Empty sieve retained retained Percentage Percentage
(mm) sieve(g) +aggregate (g) passing retained
(g)
28 920 920 0 0 100 0
20 710 820 110 5.5 94.5 5.5
14 730 1510 780 38.8 55.7 44.3
10 730 1640 910 45.3 10.4 89.6
6.3 690 870 180 8.95 1.45 98.55
5 700 710 10 0.5 0.95 99.05
3.35 770 780 10 0.5 0.45 99.55
pan 910 920 10 0.5 0 100
total 2010 536.55

Calculations
536.55
Fineness modulus = = 5.4
100

Discussion of results:
The results show that the fineness modulus is 5.4. By comparison, the
acceptable range of fineness modulus for coarse aggregate is between
5.5 and 7.5. so the result of 5.4 is within the standard range.
The accuracy of the experiment could be improved when determining
the saturated surface dry weight of the aggregate.it is important to dry
the surface of the aggregate well so that no moisture is left on it as it will
add to the mass of the aggregate and later evaporate. This will reduce the
total mass retained as obtained in this experiment.
Conclusion:
conclude, the data obtained from the experiment shows that the tested aggregate
has an acceptable size distribution and is therefore suitable to be used in the
concrete mix.