RCC-II (lab)

SUBMITTED TO: Engr. Usman Ali

SUBMITTED BY ROLL NO

BCEF16M017
Shahrukh Niaz
BCEF16E035
Hassaan Zakir
BCEF16E034
Atif Minhas

CIVIL ENGG,CET
UOS,SARGODHA
 Soundness Test On Cement By Le- Chatelier Method

Standard:
Code Followed: BS: 196-32005 (British Standards) (Appendix-I Page: 56)

Code description:

For determining the soundness of cement paste we will primarily use British Code BS-196-3
published in 2005. This test was also published by ASTM under code C189-49 but it was
withdrawn in 1956 and replaced with ASTM C151 (Standard Test Method for Autoclave
Expansion of Hydraulic Cement).

BS-196-3 is same as European Standard EN 196-3 ("Methods of Testing Cement:

Determination of Setting Times and Soundness," European Committee for Standardization,
Brussels, 2000).

Scope and Significance:

This experiment is used to determine the soundness of cement paste (determine if the cement
is free from impurities exceeding the maximum limits imposed by material quality regulatory
codes).

Important points to study are:

 Relative humidity
 Standard consistency of cement
 Limit on soundness of cement

Related Theory:
Soundness refers to the ability of cement paste to retain its volume after it has hardened. The
unsoundness in cement is due to the presence of excess of lime than that could be combined
with acidic oxide at the kiln. This is also due to inadequate burning or insufficiency in
fineness of grinding or thorough mixing of raw materials. It is also likely that too high a
proportion of magnesium content or calcium sulphate content may cause unsoundness in
concrete. For this reason, the magnesia content allowed in cement is limited to 6 per cent.
Apparatus:
 Le Chatelier apparatus
 Water bath
 Weighing balance
 Mixing pan
 Thermometer
 Room or humidity cabinet OR Proper
curing
 techniques
 Relative humidity > 90%
 Temperature = 20 0C±1

Procedure:
1. Before commencing setting time test, do the consistency test to obtain the water
required to give the paste normal consistency (P).
2. Prepare a paste by adding 0.78 times the water required to give a paste of standard
consistency (i.e. 0.78P).
3. Lightly oil the Le-chatelier mould and place it on a lightly oiled glass sheet.
4. Fill the mould with the prepared cement paste. In the process of filling the mould keep
the edge of the mould gently together.
5. Cover the mould with another piece of lightly oiled glass sheet, place a small weight
on this covering glass sheet.
6. Submerge the whole assembly in water at a temperature of 27 ± 20 C and keep there
for 24 hours.
7. Remove the whole assembly from water bath and measure the distance separating the
indicator points to the nearest 0.5 mm (C).
8. Again submerge the whole assembly in water bath and bring the temperature of water
bath to boiling temperature in 25 to 30 minutes. Keep it at boiling temperature for a
period of 3 hours.
9. After completion of 3 hours, allow the temperature of the water bath to cool down to
room temperature and remove the whole assembly from the water bath.
10. Measure the distance between the two indicator points to the nearest 0.5 mm (A).
Observations and Calculations:
Standard Consistency Of Cement: 5-7mm
Amount Of Cement (Kgs): 500g
Amount Of Water (ml): 33% = 165ml

Group no Distance Distance Distance A-C Average

after curing, after boiling, after Value
(mm)
A B bringing to
room
(mm) (mm)
temperature
,C
(mm)

1 14 18 18 4

2 13 19 19 6
4.75
3 9 14 14 5

4 15 19 19 4

Comments:
Soundness value is 4.75<10mm. This shows that expansion is less and there will be less
chances of cracking.