DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Materials of Construction and Testing
EXPERIMENT 12: TIME OF SETTING OF HYDRAULIC CEMENT PASTE BY
GILLMORE NEEDLE
12.1. Program Outcomes (POs) Addressed by the Experiment
b) Ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data.
d) Ability to function on multidisciplinary teams.
12.2. Experiment’s Intended Learning Outcomes (EILOs)
At the end of this experiment the student shall be able to:
a) Apply appropriate ASTM/AASHTO standards for time of setting of hydraulic cement.
b) Examine the effect of water in the setting time of hydraulic cement.
c) Prepare the necessary amount of water to combine with hydraulic cement to control
concrete mixtures and design.
12.3. Objectives of the Experiment
The objective of this experiment is to determine the time setting of hydraulic cement by
means of vicat needle.
12.4. Principle of the Experiment
This test method provides a means of determining compliance with a specification limit for Vicat
time of setting.
The measured time of setting is affected by the percentage and temperature of the water used,
the amount of kneading the paste received, and by the temperature and humidity of the mixing
room air and the moist cabinet or moist room air.
The measured time of setting of hydraulic cement is test-method specific. Time of setting as
measured by this method will not necessarily be similar to other methods used for determining
the time of setting of hydraulic cements.
12.5. Materials / Equipment
Weights / Weighing Device
Glass Graduates
Vicat Apparatus
Container
Scoop / Spatula
Labelling Devices
12.6. Procedure
12.6.1. Preparation of Cement Paste
1. Weigh 650 grams of cement with the percentage of mixing water required for
normal consistency. Distilled water is preferable and shall be used for all the
referee or cooperative tests.
2. The test specimen used for the determination of normal consistency may be used
for the additional determination of setting time by Vicat needle.
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12.6.2. Molding Test Specimen
1. Quickly form the cement paste, prepared as described in Preparation of Cement
Paste, into a ball with the gloved hands and toss six times from one hand to the
other, maintaining the hands about 6in (152mm) apart.
2. Press the ball, resting in the palm of the hand, into the larger end of the conical
ring held in the other hand, completely filling the ring with paste.
3. Remove the excess at the larger end by a single movement of the palm of the
hand. Place the ring on its larger end on a glass plate and slice off the excess
paste at the smaller end at the top of the ring by a single oblique, stroke of a
sharp – edged trowel held at a slight angle with the top of the ring.
4. Smooth the top of the specimen, if, with one or two light touches of the pointed
end of the trowel. During the operation of cutting and smoothing, take care not to
compress the paste.
5. Immediately after molding, place the test specimen in the moist closet or moist
room and allow it to remain there except when determinations of time setting are
being made. The specimen shall remain in the conical mold, supported by the
glass plate throughout the test period. A time of set specimen and an autoclave
bar may be made from the same batch.
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12.6.3. Time of Setting Determination
Allow the time of setting specimen to remain in the moist cabinet for 30 minutes
after molding without being disturbed. Determine the penetration of the 1mm
needle at this time and every 15 minutes thereafter until a penetration of 25mm or
less is obtained.
1. For the penetration test, lower the needle of the rod until it rest on the surface of
the cement paste.
2. Tighten the screw and set the indicator at the upper end of the scale or take an
initial reading.
3. Release the rod quickly by releasing the set screw and allow the needle to settle
for 30 seconds; then take the reading to determine the penetration. If the paste is
obviously quite soft on the early readings, the fall of the rod may be retarded to
avoid bending the 1-mm needle, but the rod shall be released only by the set
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screw when actual determinations for the setting time are made. No penetration
test shall be made closer than ¼ inch (6.4mm) from any previous penetration and
no penetration test shall be made closer than 3/8 inch (9.5mm) from the inside of
the mold.
4. Record the results of all penetration tests and, by interpolation, determine the
time when a penetration of 25mm is obtained. This is the initial setting time. The
final setting time is when the needle does not sin visibly into the paste,
Note:
All apparatus shall be free from vibration during the penetration test. Take care
to keep the 1mm needle straight, and the needle must be kept clean as the
collection of cement on the sides of the needle may retard the penetration, while
cement on the point may increase the penetration. The time of setting is
affected not only by the percentage and the temperature of the water used and
the amount of kneading the paste received, but also by the temperature and
humidity of the air, and its determination is therefore only approximate.
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12.7. Activity Report
Course: BSCE Experiment No.:
Group No.: 1 Section: V134A
Group Members: AGUILAR, RICO RHEN Date Performed:
AZORES, TRISTAN JANUS Date Submitted:
BALDO, MICHEL Instructor: ENGR. ALMIENDA
BARCELO, IAN FREDRICK
CAGURUNGAN, JOHN MARK
12.7.1. Data and Results
TIME PENETRATION
TRIAL
(minutes) (mm)
1 15 -
2 30 -
3 45 -
4 60 -
5 75 -
6 90 IST
7 105 -
8 120 -
9 135 -
10 150 -
11 165 -
12 180 FST
12.7.2. Calculation
Initial Setting Time _____90 MINUTES______
Final Setting Time _____180 MINUTES_____
12.7.3. Observation
Aguilar, Rico Rhen
The purpose of this test method is to establish whether a cement complies with a
specification limit on Gillmore time of [Link] test method covers the determination
of the time of setting of hydraulic-cement paste by means of the Gillmore needles.
Azores, Tristan janus
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Baldo, Micheal
Barcelo, ian fredrick
Cagurungan, John Mark
I observed that this experiment is you need to be patient to know the result of the
test, also you need to be consistent in dropping the object with needle to know every 15
minutes if have change in consistency.
12.7.4. Conclusion/s
Aguilar, Rico Rhen
Sufficient water is added to the cement that is being tested to produce a paste of
normal consistency. A specimen is molded from this paste and is tested for time of
setting by means of the Gillmore initial and final needles. We come up with the trials
with 15 minutes interval. The initial time of setting which is an hour and a half or 90
minutes is the time required for the test specimen to bear the initial Gillmore needle
without appreciable indentation, while the time required for the test specimen to bear
the final Gillmore needle without appreciable indentation is the final time of setting
which is exactly 3 hours or 180 minutes.
Azores, Tristan, janus
Baldo, Micheal
Barcelo, ian fredrick
Cagurungan, John Mark
I concluded that the Gillmore initial and final needles. The initial time of setting is the
time required for the test specimen to bear the initial Gillmore needle without
appreciable indentation, while the time required for the test specimen to bear the final
Gillmore needle without appreciable indentation
is the final time of setting. Based on our experiment the initial time is the lightest object
and the final is the heavy object. After 90 minutes the lightest object was consistent in
zero. And after 180 minutes the heavy is consistent in zero. Our test is done, it is ready
for the next experiment.
12.7.5. Rating
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12.8. References
ASTM C191. (2004). Standard Method of Test for Time Setting of Hydraulic Cement by Vicat
Needle. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM International.
Bureau of Research and Standards. (2014). Laboratory Testing Procedures Manual: Portland
Cement (Vol. III). Department of Public Works and Highways.
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