Jordan University of Science and Technology

Civil Engineering Department

Material lab CE326

Student Name: abdallah alhassan ID: 120034

Experiment number : 1

Experiment Name : Time of Setting of Hydraulic cement

Instructor: Eng.nisreen daoud TA Name

Submission Date: SEC# 7

Evaluation Elements Grade

1 Cover page

2 summary

3 Objectives

4 Test specimens

5 Apparatus

6 Procedure

7 Test results

8 Analysis and Discussion

9 Conclusions

10 appendix

11 References

Total
  objective
1. To determine the amount of water required to prepare cement paste for
testing.
2. To determine the time of setting of hydraulic cement by means of the Vicat
needle.

 Test specimens
Hydraulic Cement specimen , 650 g

 Apparatus
1. Mixer.
2. Vicat apparatus.
3. Conical ring.
4. Glass plate.
5. Balance.
6. Timer.
  Procedure

i. Mix 650 g of cement with the percentage of water required for normal
consistency .
ii. After molding cement paste into the test ring, place specimen in moist
room for 30 minutes.
iii. Place specimen ring under Vicat apparatus and lock needle on surface of
paste. Set indicator scale to zero.
iv. Release weighted needles and record the penetration in mm after 30
seconds.
v. Repeat process every fifteen minutes until initial set is achieved.
vi. Repeat processes every hour until final set is achieved.
  Test results
 Normal Consistency:

Trial 1 Trial 2

Cement 650 g 650 g

Water 188.5 g 195 g

w/c 29 % 30 %

Penetration 7 mm 9 mm

 Setting Time:
Time (min) Needle Penetration (mm)
0 40
15 40
30 40
45 39
60 37
75 36
90 34
105 32
120 28
135 27
150 24
165 22
180 20
210 16
240 9
270 4
  Analysis and Discussion

After applying the Normal consistency test and the set time test with a 650g
sample of cement with a 30% water we approach the result above , we did the
test a couple of time , first time the water percentage was to low , so we went up
from 29% to 30% (188.5 g -195g) and the reason of that raise in % is due the age
of the cement sample .

Note:
There are four Factors affecting setting time:
1) Temperature and humidity.
2) Amount of water (w/c)
3) Chemical composition of cement.
4) Fineness of cement ( finer cement  faster setting).
  Conclusions

Due to the results of the tests we can say that this sample is acceptable to
the requirements of the relevant national standards and can be used .

 appendix

How to determine the setting time for cement paste:

1) Interpolation method Time Needle
27  135 (min) Penetration
(mm)
25  x 0 40
24 150 15 40
30 40
X=145
45 39
60 37
75 36
90 34
105 32
120 28
135 27
150 24
2) From Graph

setting time
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300

Needle Penetration (mm) Linear (Needle Penetration (mm))

  summary

 Two Number of tests are performed in the cement plant laboratory to

ensure that the cement is of the desired quality and that it conforms to the
requirements of the relevant national standards.
 Normal consistency: A standard measure of plasticity of a cement paste.
 The quantity of mixing water to form a standard paste for setting and
soundness test About 24%~30% ( by weight) for Portland cement.
 Setting time Definition of terms:
a. Time of initial set: The time at which the concrete can no longer be properly
mixed, finished or compacted.
b. Time of final set: The time required for the cement to harden to a point
where it can sustain some load.

 References

 Course slides