Standard Test Methods

1. AASHTO T 131 and ASTM C 191: Time of Setting of Hydraulic Cement by Vicat Needle
2. AASHTO T 154: Time of Setting of Hydraulic Cement by Gillmore Needles
3. ASTM C 266: Time of Setting of Hydraulic-Cement Paste by Gillmore Needles

Portland Cement Setting Time

Cement paste setting time is affected by a number of items including: cement fineness, watercement ratio, chemical content(especially gypsum content) and admixtures. Setting tests are used
to characterize how a particular cement paste sets. For construction purposes, the initial set must
not be too soon and the final set must not be too late. Additionally, setting times can give some
indication of whether or not a cement is undergoing normal hydration (PCA, 1988). Normally,
two setting times are defined (Mindess and Young, 1981):
1. Initial set. Occurs when the paste begins to stiffen considerably.
2. Final set. Occurs when the cement has hardened to the point at which it can sustain some
load.
These particular times are just arbitrary points used to characterize cement, they do not have any
fundamental chemical significance. They describe the setting of the cement and are not tied to
the setting time of concrete.
Both common setting time tests, the Vicat needle and the Gillmore needle, define initial set and
final set based on the time at which a needle of particular size and weight either penetrates a
cement paste sample to a given depth or fails to penetrate a cement paste sample. The Vicat
needle test is more common and tends to give shorter times than the Gillmore needle test. Table
1 shows ASTM C 150 specified set times.
Test Method Set Type Time Specification
Initial

45 minutes

Final

375 minutes

Initial

60 minutes

Vicat
Gillmore

Test Method Set Type Time Specification

Final

600 minutes

4. AASHTO T 133 and ASTM C 188: Density of Hydraulic Cement

Specific gravity is normally used in mixture proportioning calculations. The specific gravity of
portland cement is generally around 3.15 while the specific gravity of portland-blast-furnace-slag
and portland-pozzolan cements may have specific gravities near 2.90 (PCA, 1981).
5. AASHTO T 105 and ASTM C 114: Chemical Analysis of Hydraulic Cement
Loss on ignition is calculated by heating up a cement sample to 900 1000C (1650 1830F)
until a constant weight is obtained. The weight loss of the sample due to heating is then
determined. A high loss on ignition can indicate prehydration and carbonation, which may be
caused by improper and prolonged storage or adulteration during transport or transfer (PCA,
1988).

6. AASHTO T 107 and ASTM C 151: Autoclave Expansion of Portland Cement

When referring to portland cement, soundness refers to the ability of a hardened cement paste
to retain its volume after setting without delayed destructive expansion (PCA, 1988). This
destructive expansion is caused by excessive amounts of free lime (CaO) or magnesia (MgO).
Most portland cement specifications limit magnesia content and expansion. The typical
expansion test places a small sample of cement paste into an autoclave (a high pressure steam
vessel). The autoclave is slowly brought to 2.03 MPa (295 psi) then kept at that pressure for 3
hours. The change in specimen length due to its time in the autoclave is measured and reported
as a percentage. ASTM C 150, Standard Specification for Portland Cement specifies a maximum
autoclave expansion of 0.80 percent for all portland cement types.
7. AASHTO T 97 and ASTM C 78: Flexural Strength of Concrete (Using Simple Beam with
Third-Point Loading)
8. AASHTO T 177 and ASTM C 293: Flexural Strength of Concrete (Using Simple Beam with
Center-Point Loading)

Flexural strength (sometimes called the modulus of rupture) is actually a measure of tensile
strength in bending. PCC flexural strength testing is carried out on a 40 x 40 x 160 mm (1.57inch x 1.57-inch x 6.30-inch) cement mortar beam. The beam is then loaded at its center point
until failure.
Flexural strength is typically used in PCC mix design for pavements because it best simulates
slab flexural stresses as they are subjected to loading. Because the flexural test involves bending
a beam specimen, there will be some compression involved, and thus flexural strength will
generally be slightly higher than tensile strength measured using a split tension test. Usually, mix
designs are typically tested for both flexural and compressive strength; they must meet a
minimum flexural strength, which is then correlated to measured compressive strengths so that
compressive strength (an easier test) can be used in field acceptance tests.
There are two basic flexural tests: the third-point loading (Figure 1) and the center-point loading
(Figure 2). For maximum aggregate sizes less than 50 mm (2 inches), each test is conducted on a
152 x 152 x 508 mm (6 x 6 x 20 inch) PCC beam (see Figures 3 and 4). The beam is supported
on each end and loaded at its third points (for the third-point loading test) or at the middle (for
the center-point loading test) until failure. The modulus of rupture is then calculated and reported
as the flexural strength. The third-point loading test is preferred because, ideally, in the middle
third of the span the sample is subjected to pure moment with zero shear (Mindess and Young,
1981). In the center-point test, the area of eventual failure contains not only moment induced
stresses but also shear stress and unknown areas of stress concentration. In general, the centerpoint loading test gives results about 15 percent higher (ACPA, 2001).

Figure 1. Third-Point Loading

Figure 2. Center-Point Loading

Flexural Testing Device

Flexural Testing Device

Figure 3. Beam Test Specimen for Flexural Tests

Figure 4. Casting Flexural Beam Test

Specimens in the Field

9.

AASHTO T 98 and ASTM C 115: Fineness of Portland Cement by the Turbidimeter.

10.AASHTO T 128 and ASTM C 184: Fineness of Hydraulic Cement by the 150-mm (No. 100) and
75-mm (No. 200) Sieves

11.AASHTO T 153 and ASTM C 204: Fineness of Hydraulic Cement by Air Permeability Apparatus
12.AASHTO T 192 and ASTM C 430: Fineness of Hydraulic Cement by the 45-mm (No. 325) Sieve
Fineness, or particle size of portland cement affects hydration rate and thus the rate of strength
gain. The smaller the particle size, the greater the surface area-to-volume ratio, and thus, the
more area available for water-cement interaction per unit volume. The effects of greater fineness
on strength are generally seen during the first seven days (PCA, 1988).

13. AASHTO T 106 and ASTM C 109: Compressive Strength of Hydraulic Cement Mortars
(Using 50-mm or 2-in. Cube Specimens)
14. ASTM C 349: Compressive Strength of Hydraulic Cement Mortars (Using Portions of Prisms
Broken in Flexure)
The most common strength test, compressive strength, is carried out on a 50 mm (2-inch) cement
mortar test specimen. The test specimen is subjected to a compressive load (usually from a hydraulic
machine) until failure. This loading sequence must take no less than 20 seconds and no more than 80
seconds. Table 2 shows ASTM C 150 compressive strength specifications.
Curing Time

Portland Cement Type

IA

II

IIA

III

IIIA

IV

1 day

12.4
(1800)

10.0
(1450)

3 days

12.4
(1800)

10.0
(1450)

10.3
(1500)

8.3
(1200)

24.1
(3500)

19.3
(2800)

8.3
(1200)

7 days

19.3
(2800)

15.5
(2250)

17.2
(2500)

13.8
(2000)

6.9
(1000)

15.2
(2200)

28 days

17.2
(2500)

20.7
(3000)

N Note: Type II and IIA requirements can be lowered if either an optional heat of hydration or chemical
limit on the sum of C3S and C3A is specified
Table 2. ASTM C 150 Portland Cement Mortar Compressive Strength Specifications in MPa (psi)