CEMENT

Cement, is an adhesive substance, the binding material used in building and civil
engineering construction. Cements of this kind are finely ground powders that, when
mixed with water, set to a hard mass. Setting and hardening result from hydration,
which is a chemical combination of the cement compounds with water that yields
submicroscopic crystals or a gel-like material with a high surface area. Because of
their hydrating properties, constructional cements, which will even set and harden
under water, are often called hydraulic cements.
This article surveys the historical development of cement, its manufacture from raw
materials, its composition and properties, and the testing of those properties. The
focus is on portland cement, but attention also is given to other types, such as slag-
containing cement and high-alumina cement. Construction cements share certain
chemical constituents and processing techniques with ceramic products such as brick
and tile, abrasives, and refractories. For detailed description of one of the principal
applications of cement, see the article building construction

USES OF CEMENT
-It is used in mortar for plastering, masonry work, pointing, etc.
-It is used for making joints for drains and pipes.
-It is used for water tightness of structure.
-It is used in concrete for laying floors, roofs and constructing lintels, beams, stairs,
pillars etc.
-It is used where a hard surface is required for the protection of exposed surfaces of
structures against the destructive agents of the weather and certain organic or
inorganic chemicals.
-It is used for precast pipes manufacturing, piles, fencing posts etc.
-It is used in the construction of important engineering structures such as bridges,
culverts, dams, tunnels, lighthouses etc.
-It is used in the preparation of foundations, watertight floors, footpaths

CONSTITUENTS OF CEMENT
-Lime
-Silica
-Alumina
-Magnesia
-Iron oxide
-Calcium Sulphate
-Sulphur Trioxide
-Alkaline

TYPES OF CEMENT
-Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC)
-Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC)
-Rapid Hardening Cement
-Quick setting cement
-Low Heat Cement
-Sulphates resisting cement
-Blast Furnace Slag Cement
-High Alumina Cement
-White Cement
-Coloured cement
-Air Entraining Cement
-Expansive cement
-Hydrographic cement

Fineness of Cement:- The size of the particles of the cement is its fineness. The
required fineness of good cement is achieved through grinding the clinker in the last
step of cement production process. As hydration rate of cement is directly related to
the cement particle size, fineness of cement is very important.
Tensile Strength:- The ability of the cement/concrete withstand in pulling force
(Tensile Stress) without broke is called Tensile Strength of concrete. The concrete is
good in compression force and weak in tension force. Tensile strength
resists tension (being pulled apart).
Compressive Strength:- Compressive strength or compression strength is the
capacity of cement to withstand loads tending to reduce size, as opposed to tensile
strength, which withstands loads tending to elongate. In other words, compressive
strength resists compression (being pushed together).
Setting Time of Cement:- Cement sets and hardens when water is added. This
setting time can vary depending on multiple factors, such as fineness of cement,
cement-water ratio, chemical content, and admixtures. Cement used in construction
should have an initial setting time that is not too low and a final setting time not too
high. Hence, two setting times are measured:
-Initial set: When the paste begins to stiffen noticeably (typically occurs within 30-
45 minutes)
-Final set: When the cement hardens, being able to sustain some load (occurs below
10 hours)
Soundness of Cement:- Soundness refers to the ability of cement to not shrink upon
hardening. Good quality cement retains its volume after setting without delayed
expansion, which is caused by excessive free lime and magnesia.
Specific Surface:- Specific surface is expressed as the total surface area in square
meters of all the cement particles in one kilogram of cement. The higher the specific
surface is, the finer cement will be.

TEST TO DETERMINE THE ABOVE PROPERTIES

Compressive strength:- Compressive strength is one of the most important
properties of concrete and mortar. The strength of the binder (cement) therefore
has a significant effect on the performance characteristics of the mixture and
ensures the overall quality of the finished product. The test for compressive
strength is generally carried out by crushing cubes of hardened cement-sand mortar
in a compression machine. The compressive strength of the cubes is determined by
the highest stress applied to a cube specimen that causes it to fracture. The test
equipment required for this purpose includes a compression machine, a mortar
mixer, suitable moulds, a humidity cabinet, the cement itself and test sand.
Tensile strength:- The tensile strength of cement is relatively low when compared to
its compressive strength. Concrete structures are vulnerable to tensile cracking due to
a variety of effects including dynamic loading and temperature variation. Tensile
strength tests can be carried out to gain an understanding of the cohesion between the
cement particles. The tensile strength is proportional to the compressive strength and
the tests are simple and inexpensive to perform, so they are relatively popular. The
most common tensile strength test on cement is conducted by the application of
uniaxial tension. This test is carried out by moulding cement-sand mortar briquettes,
which are placed in a machine that can apply a tension load. The tensile strength is
calculated by measuring the load required to split the sample in half over the section
of the fracture.
When a uniaxial tension machine is not available, tensile tests can also be carried out
by other indirect methods. For example, in the split cylinder test, a sample in the
shape of a cylinder is loaded laterally until fracture occurs. An alternative method is
the flexure test, in which a mortar beam is loaded between two supports to apply a
bending stress; which causes the fibres in the lower half section of the beam to
develop tension stresses, until failure occurs. It should be noted that these tests give a
higher tensile strength value than the uniaxial tension method.
Fineness:- The final stage of cement production involves grinding to form a fine
powder containing particles of significantly different sized particles. The particle size
distribution has a major influence on the rate at which a cement sets and gains
strength, and can affect other factors such as workability and drying shrinkage. The
smaller the particle, the larger the surface area of the powder in relation to the
volume, so as cement reacts with water, the smallest particles contain the largest
number of contacts and have a high participation in the process of setting and
hardening.
The fineness of cement is tested by measuring the air permeability specific surface
area of the cement powder. The measurement of fineness of hydraulic cement is
undertaken with the Blaine air-permeability apparatus to determine the specific
surface expressed as the total surface area in square centimetres per gram (or square
meters per kilogram). The test is carried out on a compacted sample of cement at
room temperature at 18 - 22˚C by measuring the time taken for a fixed quantity of air
to flow through the cement sample. The recorded time is a proxy for the specific
surface area. The method is a comparative test between a known and unknown
material, therefore a reference sample with a known surface area is used for
calibration. By measuring the time taken for air to flow through the reference
material, the user can establish a correlation of the surface area based on the time
taken on the test cement. The Blaine Apparatus is employed for this test and consists
of a permeability test cell, a perforated disk, a plunger, filter paper, a manometer U-
tube, manometer liquid, reference cement and a timer.
Consistency and setting time:- The consistency of a mixture plays an important role
in the performance of the mix when poured through reinforcing bars within a form,
and in the time taken for the mortar or concrete to set. The consistency test is
performed to estimate the amount of water needed to form a paste of normal
consistency, defined as the percentage water requirement of the cement paste.
When water is added to cement, the resulting paste will begin to harden and gain
compressive strength. The Vicat needle test measures the time taken for the cement-
water mixture to harden or ‘set’. Consistency is measured by the Vicat test, which
provides both initial and final setting times – measurements that can be regarded as
the two stiffening states of the cement. The beginning of solidification, or the initial
set, marks the point in time when the paste has become unworkable, and the time
taken to completely solidify marks the final set. This should be short enough that
construction activity can be resumed within a reasonable time after the placement of
concrete.
The Vicat plunger has a specified weight, dimensions and drop height, and the
resistance to penetration by the plunger is determined by the viscosity of the cement
paste in a mould. The initial setting time is defined as the time taken for the Vicat
needle to be able to penetrate the paste in the mould to a depth of 5mm. The final
setting time is the time taken for the cement paste to harden sufficiently such that the
Vicat needle cannot penetrate the cement paste in the mould and leaves no mark on
the surface of the specimen. The required equipment includes a Vicat frame, Vicat
needles and mould, glass graduates and mixing tools.
Soundness and expansion of cement and fly ash:- Soundness refers to the ability
of a hardened cement paste to retain its volume after setting without delayed
destructive expansion. As such, soundness is an extremely important test. A sound
cement paste will not undergo any appreciable change in volume after it has
hardened and shall not therefore be susceptible to the development of cracks. A
sound cement paste is the base of a sound mortar or concrete mix.
Fly ash is a by-product of coal-fired power generation. During combustion, mineral
impurities in the pulverised coal are expelled from the combustion chamber in the
form of fused particles in suspension with the flue gases. As these particles cool, they
solidify into spherical glassy particles. Fly ash exhibits cementitious properties and is
used in concrete as a replacement or partial replacement for cement. Un-soundness
can arise from the presence of too much free magnesia or hard-burned free lime in
the cement.
Soundness of cement can be determined by a variety of methods. In the Le Chatelier
water bath method, a specimen of hardened cement/fly ash paste is placed in a mould
and boiled for a fixed amount of time (approximately 3hr) so that any tendency to
expand is speeded up and can be detected. After the boiling process is completed, the
distance between two control indicator points is measured to the nearest 0.5mm and
compared to the original length measured before the test. This test requires a Le
Chatelier water bath, a Le Chatelier mould, caliper, measuring cylinder, balance and
length comparator.

Qualities of good water

 It should be chemically inert, i.e., they should not react with cement or any
other aggregate or admixture.
 It should possess sufficient hardness to resist scratching and abrasion in the
hardened state.
 It should possess sufficient toughness to bear impact and vibratory loads.
 It should be strong enough to bear compressive and normal tensile loads in
the ordinary mixture.
 It should be free from impurities, inorganic or organic in nature, which will
affect adversely on its quality.

Qualities of good aggregates

 Aggregates should be strong, hard, dense, durable, clear and free from
veins and adherent coating.
 Aggregates should be free from injurious amounts of disintegrated pieces,
alkalis, vegetable matter and other deleterious substances.
 Flaky and Elongated pieces should not be present in aggregate mass.
  Aggregate crushing value should not exceed 45 percent for aggregate used
for concrete other than for wearing surfaces, and 30 percent for concrete
for wearing surfaces, such as runways, roads and pavements.
 Aggregate impact value should not exceed 45 percent by weight for
aggregates used for concrete other than for wearing surfaces and 30
percent by weight for concrete for wearing surfaces, such as runways,
roads and pavements.

PRACTICAL REPORT
Consistency of cement test
500g of cement was used
Water(ml) 25% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2% 1% 1% 1%
Consistency(g) 40.00 39.50 39.00 38.50 32.00 17.00 13.00 11.00 7.00

The amount of water needed in 500g of cement for consistency is 38%

 Water=(38/100)*50 = 190ml

Initial setting time for cement and final setting time

Initial Time Setting 38
Final Time Setting 420

SIEVE ANALYSIS OF FINE AGGREGATE

Weight of fine aggregate=1000g

Calculation
SIEVE SIZE(mm) MASS PERCENTAGE PERCENTAGE
RETAINED(g) RETAINED(%) PASSING(%)
5 0.00 0.00 100
4 21.30 2.13 97.87
3.15 54.06 5.14 92.46
2.36 61.14 6.12 86.34
1.60 165.75 32.79 36.97
0.63 327.87 32.79 36.97
0.315 220.70 22.07 14.90
0.250 44.41 4.44 10.46
0.080 102.17 10.22 0.24
Pan 2.42 0.24 0.00
TOTAL 999.82 100

 Percentage obtained on any sieve =

(weight of soil obtained/total soil weight)*100

 At sieve 5 = (0.00/999.82)*100 = 0.00

 At sieve 4 = (21.30/999.82)*100= 2.13
 At sieve 3.15=(54.06/999.82)*100= 5.41
 At sieve 2.36= (61.14/999.82)*100 = 6.12
 At sieve 1.60= (165.75/999.82)*100= 16.58
 At sieve 0.63= (327.87/999.82)*100 = 32.79
 At sieve 0.315= (220.7/999.82)*100= 22.07
 At sieve 0.250=(44.41/999.82)*100= 4.44
 At sieve 0.080= (102.17/999.82)*100 = 10.22
 At sieve pan= (2.42/999.82)*100 = 0.24

Cumulative percentage retained on any sieve = sum of percentage retained on

all sieves.
0.00+2.13+5.41+6.12+16.58+32.79+22.07+4.44+10.22+0.24 =100%
Percentage passage on any sieve size =
100%- cumulative percentage retained on each sieve

 At sieve 5, 100-0.00 = 100%

 At sieve 4, 100-2.13 = 97.87%
 At sieve 3.15, 97.87-5.41 = 92.46%
 At sieve 2.36, 92.46-6.12 = 86.34%
 At sieve 1.60, 86.34-16.58 = 69.76
 At sieve 0.63, 69.76-32.79 = 36.97
 At sieve 0.315, 36.97-22.07 = 14.90%
 At sieve 0.250, 14.90-4.44 =10.46%
 At sieve 0.080, 10.46-10.22 = 0.24%
 At pan, 0.24-0.24 = 0.00

From the graph, coefficient of uniformity,

CU= D60/D10 = 0.90/.0215 = 4.19
CC= (D30)2/(D10*D60) = (0.55)2/(0.215*0.90) =0.3025/0.1935 = 1.56
MOISTURE CONTENT TEST
Weight of loss water, W= M2-M3
P2= 38.31-37.70= 0.61g
C2= 35.00-34.36= 0.64g
Nc= 41.27-40.70=0.57g

Weight of dry sample, W=M3-M1

P2=37.70-17.00 = 20.70g
C2=34.36-15.15 = 19.21g
Nc= 40.70-18.60 = 22.10g

Moisture content % = (weight of soil/weight of dry soil)*100

P2= (0.61/20.70)*100 =2.94%
C2= (0.64/19.21)*100 =3.33%
Nc= (0.57/22.10)*100 =2.58%

Average moisture content % =sum of moisture content/ number of sample

AV= (P2+C2+Nc)/3
AV= (2.95+3.33+2.58)/3
AV= 8.86/3
AV= 2.95%
 Refrences.
 www.researchgate.net
 www.civiltoday.com
 www.civilblog.com
 www.graphpedia.com
 www.civilseek.com
 THE FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC
BAUCHI
SCHOOL OF ENHINEERING
DRPARTMENT OF CIVIL
ENGINEERING
COURSE CODE:- CEC 303
ASSIGNMENT
BY
ABUBAKAR MUSA MUHAMMAD
18/127960
HND 1 STREAM A

Questions:
1) Define Cement
2) State its uses
3) State the constituents and types of cement
4) State physical properties such as (fineness, specific
surface, setting time, soundness, tensile strength,
compressive strength).
5) Determine the above properties by test.
6) Use the result to determine good concrete
7) State the qualities of good aggregate, (fine and coarse
aggregate) and water.