Module 4: 1.

Weigh accurately about 500 gm of neat cement sample

to be tested.
HYDRAULIC CEMENT 2. Mix about 25% of a clean water to the cement by
Hydraulic cement is a type of cement that hardens and means of spatula.
sets when it comes into contact with water due to a 3. Mix it thoroughly with hands for at least one minute.
chemical reaction. The most common type of hydraulic 4. The kneaded paste is formed into a ball and tossed
cement is Portland cement, which is widely used in the about six times from one hand to another.
construction industry. Due to hydration, cement creates 5. The ball is then pressed into a rubber mold completely
cement paste when combined with water. This paste can filling the ring and the excess paste is removed.
be molded into any desired shape due to its plasticity. 6. If necessary, smooth the top surface using spatula or
trowel. Care shall be taken not to compress the paste.
Hydraulic cement is a fundamental component in the 7. Center the paste confined in the ring, resting on the
construction industry, primarily due to its rapid setting, plate, under the larger end of the rod.
strength, durability, and adaptability. 8. The larger end of the rod is brought in contact with the
Proper testing and quality control of hydraulic cement are surface of the paste.
essential to ensure the safety and longevity of 9. Set the movable indicator to zero marks of the scale
construction projects. and tighten the screw.
10. The rod is then quickly released without any jerk and
Among the key tests conducted in the evaluation of the penetration noted. If the rod penetrates by 5 to 7
hydraulic cement includes normal consistency and setting mm from the bottom of the paste, it is said to be of
time test. "normal consistency".
11. Make trial pastes with varying percentages of water
DETERMINATION OF NORMAL CONSISTENCY
until the normal consistency is obtained. Make each
Consistency, a property of the fresh concrete, is an trial with fresh cement. The amount of the water is
important consideration in securing a workable concrete expressed as percentage by weight of dry cement
that can be properly compacted in the forms. usually 30%.
12. The time taken between adding of water to cement
The common tests to determine consistency are the: and the filling of the mold should be between 3 to 5
1. Slump Test minutes.
2. Ball Penetration
These tests give only rough measures of consistency. DETERMINATION OF SETTING TIME
The principal factors affecting consistency are: The setting time of Portland cement is the time it takes
1. Relative proportions of cement to aggregate for the cement to solidify or harden after it is mixed with
2. Water Content of Mix water. There are two key points in the setting time of
3. Size of Aggregate Portland cement:
4. Shape and Surface Characteristics of the
Aggregate Particles 1. Initial Setting Time - This is the first stage of setting, and it
5. Fineness and Type of Cement and the Kind and is the point at which the cement paste begins to harden
Amount of a Mixture and can support some load. During the initial set, the
cement paste loses its plasticity and becomes partially
Purpose: To determine the normal consistency of
rigid. The initial set time for Portland cement is typically
Portland cement using Vicat apparatus.
around 30 minutes to a few hours, depending on factors
Apparatus: like cement type and environmental conditions.
2. Final Setting Time - This is the second stage of setting, and
1. Balance it is the point at which the cement paste has completely
2. Vicat Apparatus hardened and can resist significant load. The final set time
3. Spatula or Trowel for Portland cement typically occurs several hours after
4. Mixing Pan the initial set, usually within a range of a few hours to
5. Graduated Cylinder several days. The final set is the point at which the cement
has achieved its maximum strength and rigidity.
Procedure:
Setting Time by Vicat Needle:
Initial setting occurs when a 1-mm needle ceases to pass a
point 5-mm above the bottom of the cement paste. Final
set occurs when there is no visible penetration.

Purpose: To determine the setting time of Portland

cement using Vicat apparatus.

Apparatus:
1. Balance
2. Vicat Apparatus
3. Spatula or Trowel
4. Mixing Pan Module 3:
5. Graduated Cylinder
Concrete Test Specimen
Procedure: Concrete – is the hardened product of a carefully
1. Weigh accurately about 500 grams of neat cement proportioned mixture of aggregates, hydraulic cement,
sample to be tested. and water. The aggregates are inert. Cement and water
2. Make a paste with the water required to make a are the active ingredients which combine chemically to
paste of normal consistency. form a paste which binds the aggregates together into a
3. Mix it thoroughly with hands for at least one minute. solid mass. The quality of concrete, therefore, is
4. The kneaded paste is formed into a ball and tossed controlled by the cement – water paste.
about six times from one hand to another.
5. The ball is then pressed into a rubber mold The binding property of the paste is due to the chemical
completely filling the ring and the excess paste is combination of cement and water, generally referred to
removed. as hydration. The reactions take place within a few hours
6. If necessary, smooth the top surface using spatula or after the mixture is prepared and the result is a gradually
trowel. Care shall be taken not to compress the hardening mass of concrete.
paste.
The hardening process of gain in strength is rapid during
7. Center the paste confined in the ring, resting on the
the early stages but it may continue for a long period,
plate.
although at a much slower rate, provided the moisture
8. The small end of the Vicat needle is brought in
and temperature conditions are favorable.
contact with the surface of the paste.
9. Set the movable indicator to zero marks of the scale In order to obtain the maximum potential strength of
and tighten the screw. concrete, it is highly important that the cement and water
10. The rod is then quickly released without any jerk and are well proportioned and the hardening mass should be
the penetration noted. The initial setting time is said kept from drying by proper curing.
to occur when the needle ceases to pass a point 5
mm above the bottom of the mold. The desirable properties of concrete are workability while
11. The time taken from the instant of adding water to it is still fresh, and strength and durability of the hardened
the cement up to the moment when the needle mass while in service.
ceases to pass a point 5 mm above the bottom of the Workability is defined as the case with which fresh
mold is known as the initial setting time of the concrete can be handled without segregation from the
cement. time it is mixed up to its final placing. There is no direct
12. The final setting time is when the needle does not measure of workability and it is judged only by
sink visibly into the paste. experience. It can be said, however, that workability and
consistency are related, or consistency is a component of
workability. Since consistency is readily measured by the
slump test, workability is roughly evaluated by the same
test for lack of a better means.
Concrete in order to be a useful construction product
must meet minimum compression, flexural, shear, or
bond strength requirements. Strength of concrete is 1. True Slump – True slump is the only slump that can be
principally dependent on the water-cement ratio. measured in the test. The measurement is taken
between the top of the cone and the top of the
In general, factors that affect compressive strength also concrete after the cone has been removed.
affect flexural, shear, and bond strengths. 2. Zero Slump – Zero slump is the indication of very low
To control or check the strength of concrete in bridges, water-cement ratio, which results in dry mixes.
buildings, and other structures where the principal 3. Collapsed Slump – This is an indication that the water-
stresses are compressive, cylinder samples are obtained cement ratio is too high, i.e. concrete mix is too wet or
and tested in compression. it is a high workability mix, for which a slump test is not
appropriate.
In concrete pavements, where the stresses are bending, 4. Shear Slump – The shear slump indicates that the
beam samples are tested for flexural strength. result is incomplete, and concrete to be retested.
Compression and Flexure Test
SLUMP TEST Purpose: To prepare concrete specimens and test these
Purpose: To determine the consistency of concrete by the specimens in compression and flexure.
slump test. Why do we test concrete compressive strength after 28
Apparatus: days?

1. Slump mold, galvanized metal no. 16 gage in the form Concrete gains strength with time after casting. It takes
of the lateral surface of the frustum of a cone with the much time for concrete to gain 100% strength and the time
base 8” diameter, top 4” diameter, and height 12 for same is still unknown. The rate of gain of concrete
inches. The base and top shall be open and parallel to compressive strength in higher during the first 28 days of
each other and at right angles to axis of cone. casting and then it slows down. The table below shows the
2. Tamping rod, steel 5/8” diameter, 24” long, and compressive strength gained by concrete after 1, 3, 7, 14
tapered to a distance of one inch to spherically shaped and 28 days with respect to the grade of concrete we use.
end. Flexural Stress of Concrete Beam
3. Container for mixing concrete sample
4. Scoop or shovel
5. Steel Ruler
Procedure:
1. Place the mold on a flat surface.
2. Fill the mold with fresh concrete using scoop in 3 layers
each approximately 1/3 of the mold.
3. Each layer should be rodded with 25 strokes using the
tamping rod.
4. After the top layer has been rodded, strike off the
surface of concrete with a trowel so that the mold is
exactly filled.
5. Remove the mold from concrete by raising it carefully
in vertical direction, then measure immediately the
slump by determining the difference of the height of
the mold and the height of the concrete.
Recommended Slump:
For Portland cement concrete pavement, the slump is
usually 1.5 inches to 3 inches.
For buildings and bridges, the slump is usually 6 inches to 8
inches.
Types of Concrete Slump Test Result
A. Compression Test Where: R = modulus of rupture, psi or MPa
b = average width, in or mm
P = maximum load, lb or N
d = average depth, in or mm
a = distance between line of fracture and the
nearest support measured along the center line of
the bottom surface of the beam, in or mm

Calculation:
(c) If the fracture is outside of cases (a) and (b), discard
the results of the test.
Calculation:
F=P/A
Where: F = compressive stress, psi or MPa
A = area, in2 or mm2
P = maximum load, lb or N

B. Flexure Test

Calculation:
(a) If the fracture is within the middle third, calculate
modulus of rupture by the formula,
R=PL/bd2
Where: R = modulus of rupture, psi or MPa
b = average width, in or mm
P = maximum load, lb or N
d = average depth, in or mm
L = span, in or mm

Calculation:
(b) If the fracture is outside of the middle third of the span
length by not more than 5% of the span length,
calculate modulus of rupture by the formula:
R = 3Pa/bd2