Experiment No:01 Date:

CONSISTENCY OF CEMENT

Aim: To determine the normal consistency of the given cement sample.

Apparatus: Vicat’s apparatus with Plunger, Mould, Measuring cylinder,

Trowels, Glass base, Mould oil and other accessories

Specimen: Prepared from the given sample of cement as per IS 4031-88

(part-IV)

Procedure:
The standard consistency of a cement paste is defined as that consistency
which will permit the Vicat’s plunger G confirming to IS: 5513- 1 976 to
penetrate to a point 5 to 7 mm from the bottom of the Vicat’s mould when the
cement paste is tested as described in 5.2 to 5.4.of the code .

A paste of cement is prepared of weighed quantity of Cement with a weighed

quantity of potable or distilled water, taking care that the time of gauging is not
less than 3 minutes, or more than 5 min, and the gauging shall be completed
before any sign of setting occurs.
The gauging time shall be counted from the time of adding water to the dry
cement until commencing to fill the the test block is placed in the mould,
together with the non-porous resting plate, under the rod bearing the plunger;
lower the plunger gently to touch the surface of the test block, and quickly
release, allowing it to sink into the paste.
This operation shall be carried out immediately after filling the mould. Trial
pastes are prepared with varying percentages of water and test as described
above until the amount of water necessary for making up the standard
consistency as defined above.

Observations:
Type and brand of cement :
Grade of cement/Week of Mfg :
Quantity of cement sample taken, W :
Cement is Confirming to IS :

Calculations:
The amount of water is expressed as a percentage by mass of the dry cement
to the first place of decimal.
Laboratory Observations:

Brand and grade of the cement used:

Sr. % of water Vol. of Water Depth of Penetration from

No bottom of mould
1
2
3

Result:
Experiment No:02 Date:

INITIAL AND FINAL SETTING TIME OF CEMENT

Aim: To determine the initial and final setting time of the given cement sample.

Apparatus: Vicat’s apparatus, Mould, Initial setting time pin, Final setting time
pin,Measuring cylinder, Trowels, Glass base, Mould oil and other accessories

Specimen: Prepared from the given sample of cement as per IS 4031-88

Procedure:
A neat cement paste is prepared by gauging the cement with 0.85 times the
water required to give a paste of standard consistency. Potable or distilled
water is used for preparing the mould. The paste should be gauged in the
manner and under the condition prescribed in IS: 4031(PART 4)-1988.

The time of gauging is not less than 3 minutes, or more than 5 min, and the
gauging shall be completed before any sign of setting occurs. The gauging
time shall be counted from the time of adding water to the dry cement until
commencing to fill the mould. Fill the Vicat’s mould with this paste, the mould
resting upon a non-porous plate. After completely filling the mould, smoothen
the surface of the paste, making it level with the top of the mould. The mould
may be slightly shaken to expel the air. The mould is kept for 30 -60 minutes
before the initial setting time is recorded.

After 30 -60 minutes the test block is placed in the mould, together with the
non-porous resting plate, under the rod bearing the needle. Lower the needle
gently to touch the surface of the test block, and quickly release, allowing it to
sink into the paste.

This procedure is repeated until the needle, when brought in contact with the
test block and released as prescribed above; fails to pierce the block beyond
5.0+0.5 mm measured from the bottom of the mould shall be the initial setting
time.

FINAL SETTING TIME: the above needle is replaced by the one with an
annular attachment. The cement is considered as finally set when, upon
applying the needle gently to the surface of the test block, the needle makes
an impression therein, while the attachment fails to do so. The period elapsing
between the time, water is added to the cement and the time, the needle
makes an impression on the surface of the test block, while the attachment
fails to do so, is the final setting time.
Observations:
Type and brand of cement :
Grade of cement/Week of Mfg. :
Quantity of cament sample taken, W :
Water for standard consistency, P :
Cement is Confirming to IS :

Laboratory Observations:

Brand and grade of cement used:

Sr. Time in Minutes Penetration from bottom

No. (mm)

Result:
Experiment No:03 Date:

PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION BY SIEVE ANALYSIS

Aim: To determine the particle size distribution by sieve analysis.

Apparatus: Rotary sieve shaker, sand, brittle brush and empty plate.

Specimen: Not less than 2 kg of sand as per IS 2386(PART 1)-1963

Procedure:
A sample of 2kg sand is taken and is put in the sieve shaker. The shaker is
started for 15 minutes. Materials are not forced through the pressure of hand.
After minutes the shaker is stopped and the all the sieves are separated from
the apparatus.

The separated sieve is cleaned with the brush around the sides of sieve so
that all the particles around the sieve is collected .0n the completion of this
process the materials retained in the sieve together with the material collected
after the cleaning is taken for weighing. The weight of the individual sieve is
taken and recorded in the tabular column shown below.
The result is recorded as:
a) The cumulative percentage by weight of the total sample passing each of
the sieves.
b) The percentage by weight of the total sample passing one sieves and
retained on the next smaller sieve.

Observations:
Quantity of sand sample taken, W=2000 g m
Graphical method of recording the result:
The result of sieve analysis may be recorded graphically on the chart for
recording sieve analysis.
The graph is plot between sieve sizes vs. cumulative percentage of finer
particles.

Result:
Experiment No:04 Date:

BULKING OF SAND

Aim: To determine the bulking of the given quantity of sand.

Apparatus: 250 measuring cylinder, sand sample, water.

Specimen: Sand sample as per IS 2386(PART 3)-1963.

Procedure:
In a 250 ml measuring cylinder, the damp sand (consolidated by shaking) is
poured until it reaches 200 ml mark. Then the cylinder is filled first with 2%
water and stirring is done so as to wet the sand well.
The water should be sufficient to submerge the sand completely.

We will see that the sand level is changed. Suppose the level be above the
original level.

The same procedure is repeated again by taking 2.5% water every time till the
level has come back near to its original level.
Then the reading is recorded in the observation table.

Observations:
Type of sand taken :
Quality of sand :
Colour :

Laboratory observations:

Natural Sand
Sr. Volume of Sand % of water Quantity of Increase/
No. added water added decrease of
volume
1
2
3
4
5
6

M-Sand
Sr. Volume of % of water Quantity of Increase/
No. Sand added water added decrease of
volume
1
2
3
4
5
Graph: A graph is plotted between % of water added vs. increase or decrease
in volume.

Result: