CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL AND TESTING TIME OF SETTING OF PORTLAND

CEMENT

University of Rizal System

College of Engineering
Civil Engineering Program
Morong, Rizal

Experiment No. 2
Title: Time of Setting of Portland Cement

CE 2 (CMT)
Construction Material and Testing

Submitted by:
Bautista, Darlene Joy C.
2CE – C
1011901696

Submitted to:
Engr. Noel Garrovillas

Date Submitted:
April 27, 2021

BAUTISTA, DARLENE JOY C. 2CE-C EXPERIMENT NO. 2

CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL AND TESTING TIME OF SETTING OF PORTLAND
CEMENT

TIME OF SETTING OF PORTLAND CEMENT

SCOPE:
This method of test is intended for determining the time of setting of Portland
cement, or any hydraulic cement, by means of the Gillmore needles.

APPARATUS:
 Standard Gillmore needle
 Balance sensitive to ± 1.0grams
 Graduated cylinder 150-200 ml capacity
 Glass plate, trowel.

PROCEDURE:
A. Preparation of cement Paste:
Mix 500 grams of cement with the exact percentage of water requires for
normal consistency following the procedure outline in Experiment 2, Normal
Consistency of Portland Cement.

B. Moulding Test Specimen:

1. From the cement paste, prepared as mentioned in section A, prepare a pat
about 3 inches in diameter and ½ - inch in thickness at the center with a flat
top and tapering to a thin edge over a flat, clean glass plate about 4 inches
square. (In moulding the oat, the cement paste shall first be flattened on the
glass and the pat then formed by drawing the trowel from the outer edge
toward the center then flattening the top.).
2. After moulding the pat, store it in a closet or moist room with the temperature
maintained between 20 and 27.5C, and relative (room) humidity of not less
than 50%. (The pat shall remain in the room except when the determinations
of time of setting are being made).

C. Time of Setting Determination:

1. Determine the time of the setting by placing the pat under the needle held
vertically at intervals and applying the needle lightly to the surface of the pat.

D. Interpretation of Results:
1. The cement is considered to have acquired its initial set when the pat will
bear, without appreciable indentation, the initial Gilmore needle.
2. The cement is considered to have acquired its final set when the pat will
bear, without appreciable indentation, the final Gilmore needle
 For the initial set determination, use the needle with a diameter of 1/12 –inch
and weighing ¼ lb.
 For the final set determination, use the needle with a diameter of 1/24 –inch
and weighing 1 lb.

BAUTISTA, DARLENE JOY C. 2CE-C EXPERIMENT NO. 2

CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL AND TESTING TIME OF SETTING OF PORTLAND
CEMENT

FINAL DATA SHEET

EXPERIMENT NO. 2
TIME OF SETTING OF PORTLAND CEMENT

DATA:
MATERIAL USED: CEMENT TYPE: REPUBLIC
TRIAL NUMBER 1 2 3 4
WEIGHT OF PORTLAND 500 500 500 500
CEMENT
VOL. OF WATER AT NORMAL 187 187 187 187
CONSISTENCY (ML)
TIME OF MAKING CEMENT 09:18:29 09:22:42 09:35:04 09:31:15
PAT
TIME OF INITIAL SETTING 12:04:13 12:05:52 12:12:35 12:18:05
TIME OF FINAL SETTING 02:50:44 02:14:05 02:17:00 02:18:00
INITIAL SET 02:50:44 02:48:10 02:47:31 02:46:50
FINAL SET 04:59:31 04:51:23 04:51:56 04:47:45
AVERAGE INITIAL SET 02:47:04
AVERAGE FINAL SET 04:52:39

CONCLUSION:

The table shows the time of setting of Portland Cement in trial 1-4. In the weight
of Portland Cement, it has 500 in both trials and in terms of vol. In both experiments,
the amount of water at average consistency was 187 ml, but the time it took to make a
cement pat was different. The time it takes to make a cement pat plays a significant
part in which the time it takes for Portland cement to set varies from trial to trial.
Cementequipment.org claims that “Setting time refers to the amount of time it takes for
cement paste to stiffen to a given consistency. Hardening is not relevant to setting
since hardening is a continuation of the chemical activity that started with setting time.”
The setting time of Portland cement is vital because it allows the cement to be placed
and compacted properly so that the concrete can be rendered fully and securely.

BAUTISTA, DARLENE JOY C. 2CE-C EXPERIMENT NO. 2