ABDULLAH GÜL UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

CE 244
MATERIALS OF CONSTRUCTION

LAB REPORT-1

DETERMINATION OF SETTING TIME OF

CEMENT PASTE

Submitted by: M. oghor Battal

Student ID: 110310276

Submitted to: Res. Assist. Hediye Yorulmaz

Date of Submission: 3/25/2021

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Introduction
• Experimental
- Materials
- Apparatus
- Method/Procedure
• Results/Discussions
• Conclusion
• References

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 1. INTRODUCTION

Traditionally, setting is known to be the stiffening of the cement paste.

However, a few strength advancements may occur during setting. Moreover,
when the cement and water are mixed the chemical reactions begins
immediately when these materials get in touch. Settings can be also referred
to as the change from a fluid into a rigid state. Moreover, in this lab report
our focus will be on determining the “initial setting time” and “final setting
time” of the cement paste. Initial setting time can be defined as the time
where the paste starts to being deprived of its plasticity, while the final
setting time is known to be the time between the water being added to the
cement and the time where the cement paste altogether loses its plasticity.
Furthermore, this test is being conducted due to the important of the setting
phase of the cement paste, since the cement paste can only be shaped during
this time interval.

2. EXPERIMENTAL

I) Materials

The material used in this experiment is cement paste sample at normal

consistency. Where normal consistency is the water content/ratio required
for this test, in our case it’s a water-cement ratio of 0.28 (450g of cement
and 126 ml of water). The cement paste is prepared as follows: we firstly
add the whole water and cement into a mixer and wait for approximately 30
secs, subsequently we run the mixer at a reduced speed for 30 secs,
afterwards we stop the mixer for 15s and enable the cement paste to rest,
finally we continue to mix at a rapid speed for 60s more.

Figure 2.1) cement

paste sample at
normal consistency

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 II) Apparatus

Regarding the apparatus of the experiment/test a Vicat apparatus was

utilized. a Vicat apparatus was implemented due to its ability to determine
the required quantity of water to produce a cement paste, as well as,
recording the initial setting time of cement concrete and final setting time of
cement concrete.

Figure 2.2)
electronic Vicat
apparatus

III) Methods/Procedures

1. Firstly the preparation of cement paste in normal consistency. Where we used a

0.28 water-cement ratio to obtain the cement paste in normal consistency.

2. secondly the cement paste is placed ın the vicat ring.

3. The vicat ring is placed in the vicatronic and the surface is smoothed.

4. The plunger is removed from the vicat apparatus and was replaced by a 1mm
diameter needle for the purpose of penetration.

5. Lastly, the test starts approximately 15 minutes after placing the cement paste in the
vicat ring.

Figure 2.4)
Figure 2.3) vicat needle
vicat ring

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 3. RESULTS/DISCUSSIONS

Eventually after preparing the cement paste at normal consistency and

conducting the setting time test by using the Vicat apparatus, we were able
to record different penetration value for different time intervals in order to
find the initial and final setting time of the cement paste. The initial setting
time is known to be the duration of time between the preparation of the
paste and the time when the needle approximately penetrates 25mm into the
cement paste, according to the ASTM C 150 the initial setting time should
not be shorter than 45 minutes. While the Fınal setting time is the duration
of time between the composition of the cement paste and the time were the
needle can no longer sink evidently into the cement paste, the final setting
time should exceed more than 375 minutes. When it came to our
experiment from the data obtained we found the initial setting time to be
between 280-290 min as the penetration at that time was nearby 25mm
(23.5-26.5mm). while the final setting time from the given data could be
appropriated to be about 360 min, as in that time the cement paste
encountered the maximum penetration (39mm). when compared to the
standard limitation provided by the ASTM C 150 our initial setting and final
time are in the required interval. Thus we are not facing any “flash or false”
set.

Initial setting time (25mm Final setting time

penetration)
280-290 min 360 min

Figure 2.5) table showing the initial and

final setting times

4. CONCLUSION

To conclude, after completing the test on the cement paste of normal

consistency we found the initial time setting and the final time setting to be
approximately 280 and 360 min, respectively. These time durations where

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 also in accordance with the ASTM C 150 standard specification, thus no
major obstacles will occur due to settings. However, other obstacles might
occur during setting for various causes, obstacles that might occur are either
“Flash set” or “False set”. Flash test occurs when there is an insufficient
amount or no gypsum in the cement. While false test is the premature
stiffening of the paste after a few minutes of mixing. Furthermore, from this
experiment we also gained the knowledge of how a cement paste is
composed with the accordance of normal consisteny.in addition to, learning
the application of Vicat apparatus to find the setting times of different
materials.

5. REFERENCES

1. Ce244 lab 1 handout (determination of setting time)

2. Ce244 lab1 slides
3. Sinan T. Erdoğan, Turyan Y. Erdoğan, METU Press, Ankara, 2014.

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 ABDULLAH GÜL UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

CE 244
MATERIALS OF CONSTRUCTION
LAB REPORT-1
DETERMINATION OF FLOW OF CEMENT
MORTAR

Submitted by: M. OGHOR BATTAL

Student ID: 110310276
Submitted to: Res. Assist. Hediye Yorulmaz
Date of Submission:

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Introduction

• Experimental

- Materials

- Apparatus

- Method/Procedure

• Results/Discussions

• Conclusion

• References

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 1. INTRODUCTION

Traditionally, flow in a material is known to be the case when a material

such as cement mortar is under constant stress of adequate magnitude were
also the deformation is continuously increased. a mortar is a material meant
to be used in masonry constructions for the intention of filling the gaps
between bricks and blocks, usually made from a mixture of sand, cement
and water. Furthermore, the test/study of the flow in a material is considered
to be critical as it considers the relations between stress and strain with their
time dependent derivatives. In this lab report we aim to find the net increase
in diameter, average increase of all readings and their respective percentage.

2. EXPERIMENTAL

I) Materials

The materials used in this test/experiment where a cement mortar mix which
consists of:

1) cement
2) sand
3) water

Figure 2.1)
cement

II) Apparatus Figure 2.2)

cement
mortar

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 II) apparatus

The apparatus conducted in the experiment/test whereas follow:

1) Flow table: implemented to determine the measurements of the

consistency of the freshly made mortar, the table can be raised and
dropped.
2) Flow mold
3) Ruler: to measure the diameter of the mortar

Mold

Figure 2.3) flow

table and flow mold
Figure 2.4 ruler

III) Methods/Procedures

1. Firstly, in the test the mold is placed in the middle of the table,
while the flow table was carefully cleaned and dried.
2. Secondly, a 25mm thick layer of mortar was placed in the mold, in the mean time
being tamped for about 20 times, where it should be just enough to make certain
of the uniform filling mold.
3. Thirdly, the mortar was filled in the mould while being tamped
4. The mortar was cut off to a plane surface by drawing the straight edge of the
trowel.
5. The mold is lifted from the mortar.
6. Dropping the table about 25 times in 15secs.

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7. Finally, by the use of the ruler the final diameter is measured along the scribed
lines.

4. RESULTS/DISCUSSIONS

After preparing the cement mortar and implementing the experiment, it would
now be obtainable to measure and record the final diameters of the cement mortar.
After obtaining the diameter in two different perpendicular distances which where
“D1= 170(mm), and D2=180mm” respectively; The aim will be to find the net
increase from the original diameter (100mm) which in our case was 70mm for D1
and 80mm for D2. furthermore, we continued to find the average increase diameter
of both direction (75mm) as well as converting it into a percentage form as it will be
more clear for determining the flow of hydraulic cement mortar.

D1 D2 AVERAGE AVERAGE
INCREAS INCREAS INCREAS İNCREASE
E (MM) E E (MM) PERCENATAG
(MM) E (%)
70MM 80MM 75MM 75

Figure 2.5) table showing the results from the

experiment.

5. CONCLUSION
To conclude, we found the net percentage increase of the diameter to be
about 75% nearest to +/- 5mm, we determined the percentage increase
because the flow of concrete is known to be the percentage increase in

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 average diameter of the spread of the concrete over the base of the mould.
From this lap experiment we gained new information about how a cement
mortar is made and the materials that are required. lastly, according to the
ASTM C1437 the percentage increase for the flow of the cement mortar
should be about 110% +/- 5%, what was obtained in this experiment was
not far from this value.

5. REFERENCES

1.Ce244 lab 1 handout (Determination of Flow of Hydraulic Cement Mortar)

2.Ce244 lab1 slides

3.Sinan T. Erdoğan, Turyan Y. Erdoğan, METU Press, Ankara, 2014.

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 ABDULLAH GÜL UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

CE 244
MATERIALS OF CONSTRUCTION
LAB REPORT-1
DETERMINATION OF COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH
OF CEMENT MORTAR

Submitted by: M. OGHOR BATTAL

Student ID: 110301276

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 Submitted to: Res. Assist. Hediye Yorulmaz
Date of Submission:

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Introduction

• Experimental

- Materials

- Apparatus

- Method/Procedure

• Results/Discussions

• Conclusion

• References

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 1. INTRODUCTION

Compressive strength is known to be the quantity of a material such as

cement to handle loads that are reducing the size of the material, as opposed
to the tensile test. furthermore, the compressive strength is known to be one
of the most important parameters when determining the strength and other
properties of certain materials. Where it is usually preferred to when
compared to the tensile test/strength, due to the material being able to resist
more force in compressibility. In the experiment a cement mortar was used;
which is a material meant to be used in masonry constructions for the
intention of filling the gaps between bricks and blocks, usually a mixture of
sand, cement and water. In this lap report we aim to examine the behaviour
of the strength of a cement mortar by determining its compressive load.

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 2. EXPERIMENTAL

I) Materials

The materials used in this test/experiment where

1)500of cement

2)1375 g of sand

3)242 g of water

These materials where used for the manufacturing of cement mortar

Figure 2.1)
cement

Figure 2.2)
cement
mortar

II) Apparatus

The apparatus conducted in the experiment/test whereas follow:

1) Specimen molds: the main apparatus for the determination of the

compressive load of the cement mortar
2) Testing machine

Figure 2.3)
A specimen mold

III) Methods/Procedures

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 1. the first procedure of the experiment is the preparation of the cement
mortar which was prepared by firstly drying the paddle and the bowel,
afterwards approximately 242 ml of water is added to the bowl with
adding about 500gr of cement into the water and mixing them together
with a slow speed for 30s.moreover, the preparation is continued with
gradually adding about 1375gr of sand into a mixer for a duration of 30s
with the same speed, the mixer is then stopped so the mixer can
continue with a more rapid speed then before for about 30 more
seconds, the preparation is finished with covering the bowl with a lid
and mixing for the last 60s in a high speed.

2. The specimen is then molded for roughly 2 and a half minutes, then a layer of
mortar which is about half the depth of the mold layer in all of the cube
compartments.
3. The procedure is continued with tamping the mortar for 32 times for 10s
in 4 rounds consisting of 8 adjoining strokes preferably over the surface
of the specimen.
4. The remaining mortar is used to fill the compartments in the meantime
continue tamping it. After the completion of the tamping it is necessary
for the tops of the cubes to extend slightly above the tops of the molds.
5. The mortar is cut to a near plane surface flush with the top of the mold
with the help of a sawing motion over the length of the mold
6. The molds is then covered with a wet cloth, a 24 hours’ wait is needed
to remove the molds and putting the samples in advance to the
experiment day in the curling pools
7. A press device is used to measure the compressive strength, then read
the maximum load at the moment where the specimen is fractured
8. Lastly 3 different samples must be crushed so we can have an accurate
value for the compression strength

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 Figure 2.4) test Figure 2.5) Figure 2.6) Order
specimen example of a press of Tamping in
device Molding of Test
Specimens

3. RESULTS/DISCUSSIONS

After the completion of the preparation of the cement mortar and

getting different reading of the compressive/maximum load (N), now we are
able to determine the compressive load of the 3 different samples with the
following formula MPA=N/MM^2.The results were 0.52
MPA,0.544MPA,0.552 MPA respectively. Furthermore, the results are
ended by calculating the average compressive load of all the samples which
was approximately 0.53866 MPA.

AREA of compressive compressive compressive Average

the load of the load of the load of the compressive

specimen first sample second third sample load of the

(65KN) sample (69KN) specimen
in mm^3
(68KN)
125000 0.52 0.544 0.552 MPA 0.53866
MPA MPA MPA

Figure 2.7) table showing the results of the

experiment.

4. CONCLUSION

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 In conclusion, with accordance to the ASTM specification C 109 we
found the average compressive strength of the material to be about 0. 53866.
Mpa this test was conducted due to it being more simple and accurate than
other test such as the ASTM specifications C 349 where a Portland cement
is required for the preparation of the cement mortar. Lastly, from this lap
experiment we gained also new information about how a cement mortar is
made and the materials that are required.

5. REFERENCES

1.Ce244 lab 1 handout (Determination of Compressive Strength of Cement)

2.ce244 lab 1 slides

3.. Sinan T. Erdoğan, Turyan Y. Erdoğan, METU Press, Ankara, 2014.

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