Civil Engineering Department

CE452L1/CE405 - Construction Materials and Testing Laboratory Manual

Experiment No. XI
DETERMINATION OF SETTING TIME OF HYDRAULIC CEMENT
1. Objective(s):
The activity aims to introduce the principle, significance and procedures in conducting a
determination of setting time of hydraulic cement test and determine the required setting time of
hydraulic cement.
2. Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs):
The students shall be able to:
2.1 Familiarize to the different apparatus and equipment used in determination of setting time of
hydraulic cement.
2.2 Determine the basic procedure and significance of determining the setting time of hydraulic
cement.
2.3 Determine the Setting Time and Normal Consistency of Hydraulic Cement.
3. Discussion:
Since the setting of concrete is a gradual process, any definition of time of setting must necessarily
be arbitrary. In this test method, the times required for the mortar to reach specified values of
resistance to penetration are used to define times of setting.
This test method can be used to determine the effects of variables, such as water content; brand,
type and amount of cementitious material; or admixtures, upon the time of setting of concrete. This test
method may also be used to determine compliance with specified time-of-setting requirements.
This test method may also be applied to prepared mortars and grouts. However, when the setting
time of concrete is desired, the test shall be performed on mortar sieved from the concrete mixture and
not on a prepared mortar intended to simulate the mortar fraction of the concrete; it has been shown
that the initial and final setting times may be increased when using the prepared mortar.
Standard Test Methods
 AASHTO T 131 and ASTM C 191: Time of Setting of Hydraulic Cement by Vicat Needle
 AASHTO T 154: Time of Setting of Hydraulic Cement by Gillmore Needles
 ASTM C 266: Time of Setting of Hydraulic-Cement Paste by Gillmore Needles
4. Resources:
1 unit Balance, accurate to 0.1 g
1 set of Gillmore or Vicat apparatus
3 pieces Graduated cylinder, 200 ml
3 pieces Mixing Container
3 pieces No. 200 Sieve
3 Sets Scoop & Spatula (1 each)
1 unit Stop watch
3 Sets Set of weights
5. Procedure:
Normal Consistency
1. Take 400 grams cement and prepare a paste with a weighed quantity of water (say 24%).
2. Fill the paste in the mould within 3 to 5 minutes.
3. Shake the mould to expel air.
4. A standard plunger 10 mm diameter, and 50 mm long is attached and brought down to touch
the surface of the paste in the test block and quickly release it to sink in to the paste by its own
weight.
5. Note down the depth of the penetration of the plunger.

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 Civil Engineering Department
CE452L1/CE405 - Construction Materials and Testing Laboratory Manual
6. Conduct the second trial (25% of water) and find out the depth of the penetration.
7. Conduct the number of trials till the plunger penetrates for a depth of 33 – 35 mm from top.
8. The particular percentage of water which allows the plunger to penetrate to a depth of 33 – 35
mm is known as the % of water required to procedure a cement paste of standard consistency.

Initial Setting Time

1. Take the Vicat apparatus and fit the standard consistency plunger (Needle type). Lower the
stem and check if the reading is zero when the plunger touches the non-porous resting plate
(glass plate). If not adjust it to zero.
2. The temperature of cement and water and that of testing room shall be preferably within the
range of 27 + 2°C.
3. Coat the non-porous resting plate (glass plate) with petroleum jelly. Place the mould after
coating it lightly with petroleum jelly, on the non-porous resting plate (glass plate).
4. Take 300 g of cement.
5. Prepare a neat cement paste mixed with water which is0.85 times that of standard consistency
(i.e. If standard consistency = 30%; water for initial setting time = 0.30 x300 x 0.85 = 25.5 ml).
6. The time from adding water to the dry cement until starting to fill the Vicat mould should be
within 3 to 5minutes.
7. Start the stop watch as soon as you starts adding water and mixing the cement past. The
mixing should be done using a stainless steel trowel called gauging trowel which is available
with lab equipment dealers.
8. Fill the Vicat mould completely with the cement paste made and smooth off the surface of the
paste, make it level to the top of the mould.
9. Place the mould under the needle (1 mm square) together with non-porous resting plate and
cement paste.
10. Lower the needle gently to touch the surface of the block and release quickly. Make sure that
the dash pot works properly.
11. Initially the needle will pierce completely into the test block. Repeat this procedure until the
needle fails to penetrate into the test block by 5 + 0.5 mm from the bottom of the mould.
12. Initial setting time: The time started from mixing of water to the cement to the time when the
needle fails to penetrate the test block by 5 + 0.5 mm is described as the initial setting time.

Final Setting Time

1. After determining the initial setting time replaces the needle of Vicat apparatus by the needle
with annular attachment.
2. Lower the attachment gently to touch the surface of the block and release. Use the dash pot.
3. Repeat this procedure at regular intervals until the time to find the needle makes an impression
on the surface of the block and the circular impression is not seen.
4. Final Setting time: The time elapsed from mixing of water to the cement and the time till step 3
is the final setting time of cement.

Course: Experiment No.:

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 Civil Engineering Department
CE452L1/CE405 - Construction Materials and Testing Laboratory Manual
Group No.: Section:
Group Members: Date Performed:
Date Submitted:
Instructor:

6. Data and Results:

Physical Test Test Result Specification Remarks
Specific Gravity
Time of Setting, min
Initial Setting, min
Final Setting, min
Normal Consistency
Date of Test
6.1 Computation

7. Conclusion:

8. Assessment:

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 Civil Engineering Department
CE452L1/CE405 - Construction Materials and Testing Laboratory Manual

BEGINNER ACCEPTABLE PROFICIENT

CRITERIA SCORE
1 2 3
I. Laboratory Skills
Members do not Members occasionally
Manipulative Members always
demonstrate needed demonstrate needed
Skills demonstrate needed skills.
skills. skills
Members are unable Members are able to Members are able to set-up
Experimental
to set-up the set-up the materials the material with minimum
Set-up
materials. with supervision. supervision.
Members do not Members occasionally Members always
Process Skills demonstrate targeted demonstrate targeted demonstrate targeted
process skills. process skills. process skills.
Members do not Members follow safety
Safety Members follow safety
follow safety precautions most of
Precautions precautions at all times.
precautions. the time.
II. Work Habits
Time
Members do not finish Members finish on Members finish ahead of
Management /
on time with time with incomplete time with complete data
Conduct of
incomplete data. data. and time to revise data.
Experiment
Members have
Members do not know
defined Members are on tasks and
their tasks and have
responsibilities most have defined
no defined
Cooperative and of the time. Group responsibilities at all times.
responsibilities.
Teamwork conflicts are Group conflicts are
Group conflicts have
cooperatively cooperatively managed at
to be settled by the
managed most of the all times.
teacher.
time.
Clean and orderly
Clean and orderly
Messy workplace workplace with
Neatness and workplace at all times
during and after the occasional mess
Orderliness during and after the
experiment. during and after the
experiment.
experiment.
Members require
Ability to do Members require
occasional Members do not need to be
independent supervision by the
supervision by the supervised by the teacher.
work teacher.
teacher.
Other Comments/Observations: Total Score
(Total Score)
Rating= ×100
24
9. Reference(s):
ASTM C191-08 “Standard Test Method for Time of Setting of Hydraulic by Vicat Needle”

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