College of Engineering and Architecture

Urdaneta City University

CE 223 Construction Material and Testing 2nd Semester AY2024-2025

______________________________________________________________________________

1. “CEMENT MORTAR”
Cement mortar is mainly composed of cementitious material, water, and fine aggregate, and it is an
indispensable engineering material. It offers numerous advantages such as good workability, high strength,
convenient construction, and good bonding performance with blocks, and has been widely used in building
engineering. Rapid economic growth and significant improvements in the quality of human life have led to
increasing building engineering requirements over the past few decades. Consequently, cement mortar also
begins to develop in the direction of high strength, good crack resistance, and thermal and sound insulation.
One such development is rubberised mortar, which has good crack resistance and sound insulation

HISTORY

It is helpful for perspective to see an overview of the general history of mortar. All mortars are not the same.
Thousands of years ago, it was discovered that burning certain clays and stones produced substances that
worked very well for use as binders in mortar. Burning limestone with clay in it produced cement. Burning
purer limestone produced lime.

The success and performance of the cements and limes that were produced was highly varied. Some of the
variances were caused by different compositions of the minerals that were burned, and some were caused by
different processes being used. There are many, many variables in the process of making cement or lime, and
just as many variables in the rock or mineral deposits that are used. It is a very technical study of
manufacturing technology and chemistry.

It has only recently been known why some mortars survive thousands of years and some only survive half a
century. The Romans approached the subject of masonry with perhaps a more scientific approach than had
been used previously, and they built masonry structures that have lasted 2,000 years.

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 College of Engineering and Architecture
Urdaneta City University

CE 223 Construction Material and Testing 2nd Semester AY2024-2025

______________________________________________________________________________

In the U.S., people began making binders 300+ years ago, and many of them brought multi-generational
expertise with them. But making lime out of a particular limestone deposit in one region or country will not
involve the same techniques as making lime out of a different deposit somewhere else. The same techniques
may be used, but an entirely different product with different behaviors might be produced.

Lime has been the main binder in mortars in the western world for thousands of years. Cements have been
used in certain areas and for certain types of masonry, but less widely. The reason for that is that when a good
lime is made (by burning limestone in a certain way), it performs very, very well in masonry walls. It is plenty
strong (with the right sand), it is very flexible (in fact, it heals its own cracks), and it allows moisture to pass
through it easily (while repelling water on the exterior).

The best limes for mortars are made out of very high-calcium limestone. Perhaps because high-calcium
limestone is not universally available, and because it was not widely known before 1900 how to control all the
variables in the process of making good lime, it was easily outsold by a scientifically formulated product that
hardens quickly and could be made virtually anywhere: Portland cement.

It is no wonder that, with the industrial revolution of the 19th century, Portland cement began to be mass-
manufactured by a few, and soon was widely depended on. This very standardized product was patented in the
1870’s in Britain, and by the 1920’s and 1930’s was beginning to replace lime as the main binder for mortar
in the U.S.

By the 1960’s, masons had entirely forgotten the techniques of making or using lime as the binder in
their mortars. Never scientists themselves, masons forgot all the materials science that had been passed on to
them through their traditional trade. Today, masons know very little about the composition of their main
product (mortar), except to open a bag of something delivered to them, mix it with some amount of sand
(whatever was done in their apprentice years), and lay with it. (We affectionately call it “Wet and Forget”.)
The nuances of using different binders: of adding other ingredients to change the behavior of the lime; aging
the lime; freezing it; changing the sand; or adding a little cement to make it set under water: these are not part
of the masonry trade anymore.

In recent years, mostly because of the efforts of a few tradesman in Europe, lime mortar science and use is
making a comeback. People are again learning the basics of lime mortar, finding that it is, in fact, the best
mortar for human-scale building and restoration.

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 College of Engineering and Architecture
Urdaneta City University

CE 223 Construction Material and Testing 2nd Semester AY2024-2025

________________________________________________________________________

2. APPLICATION AND PROCEDURE IN CONSTRUCTION ASPECT

Cement mortar is used in a variety of construction projects, from small DIY jobs to large-scale
commercial builds. It is commonly used in masonry work, such as laying bricks, blocks, or stones, and
also as a rendering material to create a smooth finish on walls. In addition to its practical uses, cement
mortar can also be decorative, with different colours and textures available to add visual interest to a
building. Overall, cement mortar is an essential component in the construction industry, providing
strength, durability, and versatility to a range of building projects.

Applications of cement mortars

It is suitable where high strength is essential and in structures which are likely to keep wet condition like
piers, dams, deep foundation etc.

It is applicable for exterior plastering and pointing work.

It should be utilized for damp proof course under ground level.

It is useful for exposed work like exterior walls and parapets, engineering construction with bricks containing
extreme strength.

It is effective for concrete since cement mortar unites the particles of course aggregate into one solid mass.

To bind masonry units like stone, bricks, blocks, cement

For Plastering on walls and slabs to make them impervious.

As a filler material in Ferro cement works and stone masonry.

To fill cracks and joints in the wall.

Use of cement mortar gives a neat finishing work to wall and concrete work.

For pointing the joints of masonry.

For preparing the building blocks.

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 College of Engineering and Architecture
Urdaneta City University

CE 223 Construction Material and Testing 2nd Semester AY2024-2025

______________________________________________________________________________
Procedure of cement mortars

Preparing cement mortar involves mixing cement, sand, and water in the correct proportions to create a
workable consistency. The following steps outline the general process of preparing cement mortar:

Gather the required materials: cement, sand, and water. Use a reliable source to ensure the quality of the
materials.

Measure the correct proportions of cement and sand. The ratio of cement to sand may vary depending on
the desired strength and consistency of the mortar. A common ratio is 1:3, which means one part cement
to three parts sand by volume.

Combine the cement and sand in a dry state and mix thoroughly until the two are evenly distributed.

Add water slowly and gradually to the dry mixture, mixing continuously until the mortar reaches the
desired consistency. The amount of water required will depend on the type of cement used and the
intended application of the mortar.

Once the desired consistency is achieved, the mortar should be used immediately. Avoid adding more
water to the mixture, as this can weaken the strength of the mortar.

Overall, the preparation of cement mortar requires precision and care to ensure the strength and durability
of the final product. By following the correct proportions and mixing techniques, cement mortar can
provide a reliable and long-lasting binding material for a range of construction projects.

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 College of Engineering and Architecture
Urdaneta City University

CE 223 Construction Material and Testing 2nd Semester AY2024-2025

_____________________________________________________________________________
3. MORTAR CEMENT ESTIMATE

Let us assume a standard quantity of 1m3 Cement mortar and a mix proportion of CM 1:6 (1 part Cement & 6
parts Sand). The quantity can calculated in two ways, one is by weight and the other by volume. Let us
consider the volume method for the calculation of cement & sand quantity.

Dry quantity of mortar is equivalent to 1.2 to 1.3 times the quantity of wet mortar. This is due to the fact that
voids are present in aggregates and cement. Actual value depend on the void ratio of the ingredients which are
being used.

Hence, let us assume the quantity of dry cement mortar mix as 1×1.3 = 1.3m3.

The basic formula to calculate the volume of an ingredient is as follows:

Volume of dry ingredient = Volume of dry mortar x (Parts by volume of ingredient / Total parts of ingredient)

= 1.3 x (Parts by volume of ingredient / Total parts of ingredient)

Quantity of cement in Cement Mortar

Here, for 1:6 mix, total number of ingredients in the mortar is 6+1 = 7.

Hence, volume of cement in mortar = Volume of dry mortar x (Parts of cement / Total parts of ingredient)

= (1.3×1)/7 = 0.185 m3
Since the cement is available in bags, volume of 1 cement bag (50kg) is 0.0347 m3.

0.185 m3 = (1.3×1)/(7×0.0347) = 5.35 bags

Quantity of sand

Volume of sand is = Volume of dry mortar x (Parts of sand / Total parts of ingredient)

= (1.3×6)/7=1.14 m3 of sand or fine aggregate

Quantity of Water

For wet mortar recommended water-cement ratio varies from 0.4 to 0.6. Further, water requirement depends
on any admixture added to mortar to improve its workability. Admixtures must be added as per suppliers
specifications. Hence, water required

= 5.35 bags x 0.0347 = 0.11 m3 water

= 0.11 x 1000 l = 111 liters of water

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 College of Engineering and Architecture
Urdaneta City University

CE 223 Construction Material and Testing 2nd Semester AY2024-2025

______________________________________________________________________________
TABLE OF MORTAR PROPORTION

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 College of Engineering and Architecture
Urdaneta City University

CE 223 Construction Material and Testing 2nd Semester AY2024-2025

Page 7 / Rara, Lovely G.