EXPERIMENT NO.
Determination of Standard Consistency of Hydraulic Cement.
Standard (Designation): ASTM C187
1.1 Objective:
This test method covers the determination of the normal consistency of hydraulic cement paste
with Vicat’s Apparatus.
1.2 Introduction:
Normal consistency/Standard consistency
The amount of water content that brings the cement paste to a standard condition of wetness is
called “normal consistency”. It has a marked effect upon the time of set as well as upon other
properties of cement. The paste at normal consistency is fairly stiff and is used only for the
determination of time of set and soundness of cement. It is necessary to fix the quantity of water
to be mixed in cement while experimenting on it.
The normal consistency of a cement paste is defined as that consistency (% of water) which will
permit the vicat plunger to penetrate to a point 10 mm from the top of the vicatmould. The usual
range of values being between 22 to 30 percent by weight of dry cement. Normal consistency is
also called standard consistency.
1.2.1Cement paste:
The viscous mass obtained by mixing cement with water is known as Cement Paste.
1.2.2 Standard paste:
It is the cement paste for which 10mm diameter plunger in a standard Vicat Test penetrates to
such an extent that its distance from the bottom is 9-11m.
1.3 Reference Standard:
This test method conforms to the ASTM standard requirements of specification C187.
1.4 Scope:
This test method is intended to be used to determine the amount of water (by % weight of dry
cement) required to prepare hydraulic cement pastes for testing.
Necessity and Use of Normal Consistency:
a. Cement produced by different factories may not have same properties and so it is
necessary to standardize the consistency using standard equipment.
b. The knowledge of normal consistency is required while performing other important tests
such as setting time, soundness etc. as these tests are performed on cement paste using a
certain percentage of water required for standard consistency. Related Terms:
Consistency: A certain minimum quantity of water is required to be mixed with cement so as to
complete chemical reaction between water and cement. Less water than this quantity would not
complete chemical reaction thus resulting in reduction of strength and more water would
increase water cement ratio and so would reduce its strength. Thus correct proportion of water
to cement is required to be known to achieve proper strength while using cement in structure.
Gauging Time: The period observed from the time water is added to cement for making cement
paste till commencing the filling of mould of Vicat Apparatus in this test.
1..5 Apparatus:
Vicat apparatus
Plunger with 10mm dia. And 50mm length
Weighing balance
Glass graduated cylinder of 200ml
Trowel ,Mixing plate, small trowel.
Vicat Apparatus:
Vicat Apparatus is used to find out the consistency, initial setting time and final setting
time of the cement.
Vicat Apparatus consists of an arrangement to hold the plunger of 10 mm diameter and
two other needles which are made to freely fall into a mould filled with the cement paste
and the amount of penetration of the needles / plunger can be noted using the vertical
graduations from 0 mm to 50 mm. For standard consistency test, plunger of 10 mm
diameter is used.
Figure 1.1: Vicat apparatus Other
1.7Test Conditions:
Related to Temperature:
1. The temperature of the air in the vicinity of the mixing slab, the dry cement, molds, and
base plates shall be maintained between 20°C and 27.5°C (68 and 81.5F).
2. The temperature of the mixing water shall not vary from 23°C (73.4°F) by more than
1.7°C .
Related to Humidity:
The relative humidity of the laboratory shall be not less than 50%.
Amount of Cement :
500g,650g
Mixing Time:
3-4 minutes
1.8 Procedure:
Preparation of Cement Paste:
Weigh out 500gm of cement and place on the mixing plate. Form crater in the center and add
a measured quantity of water. (The water required for normal consistency for ordinary cement
ranges from 22 to 30% by weight).
1. Turn the material at the outer edge into the crater within 30sec with a trowel.
2. After an additional interval of 30sec for the absorption of the water, complete the
operation by continuous, vigorous mixing, squeezing and kneading with the hands for
1.5min.
3. If mechanical mixing machine is used, start the mixer at low speed for 30 s. Stop for (15
s) and make sure no materials have collected on the sides of the bowel. Start mixing at
medium speed for (1 min).
Molding Test Specimen:
1. Quickly form the cement past into the approximate shape of a ball with gloved hands.
Then toss six times through a free path of about 6in. (150mm) from one hand to another
so as to produce a nearly spherical mass that may be easily inserted into the Vicat ring
with a minimum amount of additional manipulation.
2. Press the ball, resting in the palm of one hand, into the larger end of the conical ring,
held in the other hand, completely filling the ring with paste. Remove the excess at the
larger end by a single movement of the palm of the hand.
3. Place the ring on its larger end on a plane, nonabsorptive 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 and smooth the top, if necessary,
with a few light touches of the pointed end of the trowel. During these operations of
curing and smoothing take care not to compress the paste.
Consistency Determination:
[Link] the paste confined in the ring, resting on the plate, under the rod, the plunger
end, of which shall be brought in contact with the surface of the paste, and tighten the
set-screw.
[Link] set the movable indicator (10 mm dia) to the upper zero mark of the scale, or
take an initial reading, and release the rod immediately. This must not exceed 30 sec
after completion of mixing. The apparatus shall be free of all vibrations during the test.
The paste shall be of normal consistency when the rod settles to a point 10 1 mm
below the original surface in 30 sec after being released.
Calculation:
1. Calculate the amount of water required for normal consistency to the nearest 0.1% and
report it to the nearest 0.5% of the weight of the dry cement.
2. Plot the amount of mixing water used as abscissa and observed penetration as ordinate in
a plain graph paper. Then using this plot, determine the amount of water required for 10
mm penetration.
1.9 Warning:
Fresh hydraulic cementitious mixtures are caustic and may cause chemical burns to skin and
tissue upon prolonged exposure. The use of gloves, protective clothing, and eye protection is
recommended. Wash contact area with copious amounts of water after contact. Wash eyes for a
minimum of 15 min. Avoid exposure of the body to clothing saturated with the liquid phase of
the unhardened material. Remove contaminated clothing immediately after exposure.
[Link] and Calculations :
No of Amount of Amount of Initial Reading Final Reading Penetration
Obs Cement(g) Water(ml) (mm) (mm) (mm)
Result:
Percentage of water required for cement paste of Normal Consistency =
Comments:
