Prepared by: Mohammad.

Taqawi ID# 178

Gh.Ahmad. Noori ID# 168
Instructor: Ms. Hossainzada
Group No: C
786
CONTENTS
Introduction .. 01
Scope .. 02
Apparatus .. 03
Material 07
Conditioning . 08
Procedure .. 09
Initial setting time 11
Final setting time . 12
Calculation ... 13
Conclusion 16
Reference .. 17






INTRODUCTION
Initial and Final Setting Time are two very
important properties of cement which are
required in estimating free time for transporting,
placing, compaction and shaping of cement paste.
Initial setting time is the time from mixing dry
cement with water till the beginning of interlocking
of the gel.
Final setting time is the time from mixing dry
cement with water till the end of interlocking of the
gel.




01
SCOPE
We want to determine the time of setting of
hydraulic cement by means of the VICAT needle.
Two test methods are given; Method A is the
Method using the manually operated standard
VICAT apparatus, while Method B permits the
use of an automatic VICAT machine that has, in
accordance with the qualication requirements of
this method.


02
1. VICAT: have a movable rod, the end of the rod used for
penetration have a removable needle with a diameter of
1.00 0.05 mm and length no less than 50 mm.
2. Glass Graduates: 200 or 250-mL capacity.
3. Flat trowel: having a sharpened straight-edged steel
lade 100 to 150 mm in length.
4. Conical ring: have a height of 40 1 mm, an inside
diameter at the bottom of 70 3 mm, and an inside
diameter at the top of 60 3 mm.
5. Mixer: bowl, and paddle
7. Digital weighing scale.
8. Stop-watch.



APPARATUS
03


APPARATUS
04


APPARATUS
05
APPARATUS
06
Portland cement (525) Type II
Drinking Water
MATERIALS
07
Maintain the temperature of the air in the
vicinity of the mixing slab, the dry cement,
molds, and base plates at 23.0 3.0C.
Maintain the temperature of the mixing water at
23.0 2.0C.
The relative humidity of the mixing room shall
be not less than 50 %.
CONDITIONING
08
PROCEDURE
1. Prepare a cement paste by gauging the cement with
water, the water quantity shall be 25% of cement
weight to give a paste of standard consistency.
2. Start a stop-watch, the moment water is added to
the cement.
3. Place the dry paddle and the dry bowl in the mixing
position in the mixer.
4. Place all the mixing water in the bowl.
5. Add the cement to the water and allow 30 s for a
absorption of the water.
6.




09
PROCEDURE
6. Start the mixer at low speed (145 r/min) for 30 sec.
7. Stop for (15 sec) and make sure no materials have
collected on the sides of the bowel.
8. Start mixing at medium speed (285 r/min) for (1
min).
9. Quickly form the cement paste into the approximate
shape of a ball with gloved hands Putting hand at
(15cm) distance, throw the cement paste ball from
hand to hand six times.
10. Press the ball into the larger end of the conical ring,
completely fill the ring with paste.



10
INITIAL SETTING TIME
11. Place the test block under the rod bearing the
needle. Lower the needle gently in order to make
contact with the surface of the cement paste and
release quickly, allowing it to penetrate the test
block. Repeat the procedure till the needle fails to
pierce the test block to a point 5.0 0.5mm
measured from the bottom of the mold. The time
period elapsing between the time, water is added to
the cement and the time, the needle fails to pierce
the test block by 5.0 0.5mm measured from the
bottom of the mold, is the initial setting time.





11
FINAL SETTING TIME
12. Replace the above needle by the one with an annular
attachment. The cement should be 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.




12
CALCULATION
The weight of cement was 650 gram and the
percentage of water was 25% of cement
weight.
Cm = Mass of Cement in gram
Wm= Mass of Water in gram

= %

= .



13
CALCULATION
In this experiment the initial setting time
value found after four reading, its mean after
90 minutes we got the 25 mm value.
Reading
1. After 45 minute = 40 mm
2. After 60 minute = 33 mm
3. After 75 minute = 27 mm
4. After 90 minute = 25 mm


14
CALCULATION
The final setting time for this test found after
three readings.
Reading
1. After 2 hours = 2 mm impression
2. After 3 hours = 1 mm impression
3. After 5 hours = 0.3 mm impression

NOTE
The minimum time for initial setting time of cement is 45 minutes.
The maximum time for final setting time of cement is 375 minutes.

15
CONCLUSION
To measure the setting times of cement, we
have to do our tests on cement of standard
consistency.
Normal consistency of standard cement can be
gained by using the W \ C ratio and depending
on 25%- 33%. The higher rate of water the
more initial setting time needed.



16
REFERENCE
ASTM-C-191
ASTM-C-305
ASTM-C-187
ASTM-C-150

17




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