Faculty of Engineering
Civil Engineering Department
CVLE381 Material of Construction
CEMENT NORMAL CONSISTENCE
Name Surname: Ahmed Abdulaal
Student No.: 22319516
Lecturer: Asst. Prof. Dr. Saeid KAMKAR
Purpose and Significant:
For the determination of the initial setting time, the final setting time, and
for Le Chatelier soundness tests, neat cement paste of a standard
consistence has to be used. Therefore, it is necessary to determine for any
given cement the water content which will produce a paste of standard
consistence. Consistence is determined by the Vicat apparatus, which
measures the depth of penetration of a 10 mm diameter plunger under its
own weight. When the depth of penetration reaches a certain value, the
water content required gives the standard consistence of between 26 and
33 (expressed as a percentage by mass of dry cement) according to ASTM
C187.
Materials:
Cement (CEMII / B-L 32.5 R), WATER
Apparatus:
Figure 1 Plunger Figure 2 Weighing device
Procedures:
1. 650g of cement was weighed
2. The cement was mixed with water with w/c ratio of 0.28
3. The paste was used to form a round cement ball with my hands and
was tossed fast.
4. The cement was placed in the mould evenly and appropriately under
the plunger.
5. The plunger was released down into the mould and the displacement
was measured and recorded after 30secs.
6. Steps 1-5 was repeated with w/c ratio of 0.3 & 0.34.
Calculation and Results:
Trial Cement w/c Water Penetration
1 650g 0.28 182g 4mm
2 650g 0.3 195g 6mm
3 650g 0.34 221g 9mm
Cement
m2 – m1 342.48 – 302.51
0.4
0.35
0.3
w/c ratio
0.25 y = 0.03x + 0.2467
0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05
0
4 6 9
Penetration
y = 0.03x + 0.2467 w/c ratio =
0.03(10) + 0.2467 0.55
= 55%
Discussion and Errors:
The water needed for normal consistency in for this cement is 55%. This is
higher than the normal 26-33% according to standard of ASTM. This
difference may be due to the cement type used in the test as it is rapid
hardening cement.
