CAVITE STATE UNIVERSITY

Indang, Cavite

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND TESTING

Name: ___________________________ Date Performed: __________

Student No.: ___________________________ Date Submitted: __________

LABORATORY EXERCISE No. 2

FINENESS OF PORTLAND CEMENT

(WRITE AN INTRODUCTION 2-3 PARAGRAPHS)

I. Objectives
a. To determine the effect of the fineness of Portland cement in terms of
strength
b. To determine the effect of the fineness of Portland cement in terms of
hydration.

II. Apparatus
a. U.S. Standard No. 200 sieve (74 micron), with pan and cover
b. Triple beam balance
c. Bristle brush or paint brush

III. Procedure
a. Place around 150 grams of Portland cement on a clean dry No. 200
sieve with the pan attached.
b. Put the cover and start sieving operations by a gentle wrist motion until
most of the fine materials have passed through the sieve and the residue
looks clean. This operation usually requires 3 to 4 minutes.
c. After sieving, remove the pan and slowly clean the sieve gently with the
brush in order to dislodge any dust adhering to the sieve.
d. Empty the pan and wipe it out thoroughly with a piece of clean cloth.
Replace the pan and continue sieving as described in step 1 to 3 for 5
to 10 minutes depending on the condition of the cement. The gentle
wrist motion involves no danger of spilling the residues if kept well
spread out on the sieve. Throughout the sieving, continuous rotation of
the sieve should be carried on.
e. After the sieving, clean the sieve and then weigh the residue.
 f. Tabulate your data. Conduct two trials.

IV. Discussion
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V. Conclusion and Recommendation
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VI. References
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VII. Sketch of Apparatus Used
 PRELIMINARY DATA SHEET

Experiment Name : Fineness of Portland Cement

Experiment Date :

Student’s Name : ____________________

Student Number : ____________________
Year/Semester : ____________________
Section/Group : ____________________

Material Used
Trial Number 1 2
Weight of sample + container
Weight of container
Weight of sample
Weight of sample passing No. 200 Sieve
Weight of residue/retained
Fineness of cement
Average fineness

Group Leader’s Name & Signature : ____________________

Instructor’s Signature : ____________________
Date : ____________________

Calculation:
The fineness shall be calculated as follows:

150 − 𝑅
𝐹= × 100%
150
where:
F = fineness of the cement expressed as percentage passing
the No. 200 Sieve
R = weight of residue on the No. 200 sieve in grams
 FINAL DATA SHEET

Experiment Name : Fineness of Portland Cement

Experiment Date :

Student’s Name : ____________________

Student Number : ____________________
Year/Semester : ____________________
Section/Group : ____________________

Material Used
Trial Number 1 2
Weight of sample + container
Weight of container
Weight of sample
Weight of sample passing No. 200 Sieve
Weight of residue/retained
Fineness of cement
Average fineness

Calculation:
 CAVITE STATE UNIVERSITY
Indang, Cavite

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND TESTING

Name: ___________________________ Date Performed: __________

Student No.: ___________________________ Date Submitted: __________

LABORATORY EXERCISE No. 3

NORMAL CONSISTENCY OF PORTLAND CEMENT

(WRITE AN INTRODUCTION 2-3 PARAGRAPHS)

I. Objectives
a. To determine the amount of water required to produce a cement paste
of normal or standard consistency
b. To determine the normal or standard consistency of cement paste
using vicat apparatus.

II. Apparatus
a. Vicat apparatus
b. Triple beam balance
c. Graduated cylinder 100–200 ml capacity

III. Procedure
A. Preparation of cement paste
1. Weigh _____ grams of cement sample and measure ____ ml of
water in a graduated cylinder.
2. Place the measured cement sample in a mound over a 20 cm by
20 cm glass plate.
3. Pour the measured water in the cement slowly
4. Turn the dry portion of the mound to allow it to absorb water and
allow standing for 30 seconds or even more to allow the cement to
completely absorb water.
5. Mix the cement with water t even consistency with trowel.
B. Molding of test specimen
1. Immediately after mixing the paste by gloved hands for a period of
1 to 2 minutes and form the paste into a ball.
 2. Toss the ball of paste from one hand to the other for six times,
maintaining the hands about 15 cm apart.
3. Press the ball as it rests in the palm of one hand, into the larger
end of the conical ring, which is held by the other hand, completely
filling the ring with the paste.
4. Remove the excess paste.
C. Consistency determination
1. Center under movable rod a Vicat apparatus the paste, which is
confined in the ring and resting on the plate.
2. Loosen the setscrew to allow the plunger end to be brought slowly
in contact with surface of the paste; tighten the screw after contact.
3. Set the movable indicator to the upper zero of the scale or take an
initial reading.
4. Release the rod for 30 seconds.
5. Tabulate your data. Conduct four trials.
Note:
The paste shall be of normal consistency when the rod settles to a point 10
± 1 mm below the original surface in 30 seconds after being released.
Trial Paste shall be made with varying percentage of the water until the
normal consistency is obtained. Each Trial shall be made with fresh samples
of cement following the same procedure as above.

IV. Discussion
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V. Conclusion and Recommendation
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___________________________________________________________________
VI. References
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___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
VII. Sketch of Apparatus Used
 PRELIMINARY DATA SHEET

Experiment Name : Normal Consistency of Portland Cement

Experiment Date :

Student’s Name : ____________________

Student Number : ____________________
Year/Semester : ____________________
Section/Group : ____________________

Material Used
Trial Number 1 2 3 4
Weight of sample + container
Weight of container
Weight of sample
Volume of water used
Penetration
Volume of water @10mm penetration
Normal Consistency

Group Leader’s Name & Signature : ____________________

Instructor’s Signature : ____________________
Date : ____________________

Calculation:
The normal consistency shall be calculated as follows:

𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟
𝑁𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑙 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦 = × 100%
𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒
 FINAL DATA SHEET

Experiment Name : Fineness of Portland Cement

Experiment Date :

Student’s Name : ____________________

Student Number : ____________________
Year/Semester : ____________________
Section/Group : ____________________

Material Used
Trial Number 1 2 3 4
Weight of sample + container
Weight of container
Weight of sample
Volume of water used
Penetration
Volume of water @10mm penetration
Normal Consistency

Calculation:
 CAVITE STATE UNIVERSITY
Indang, Cavite

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND TESTING

Name: ___________________________ Date Performed: __________

Student No.: ___________________________ Date Submitted: __________

LABORATORY EXERCISE No. 4

UNIT WEIGHT OF AGGREGATES

(WRITE AN INTRODUCTION 2-3 PARAGRAPHS)

I. Objectives
a. To determine and compare the unit weight of fine aggregates based on
how it is prepared.
b. To determine and compare the unit weight of coarse aggregates based
on how it is prepared.

II. Apparatus
a. Metal volumetric container that can stand rough usage
b. Tamping steel rod 20–25 mm in diameter; 0.60 meters long
c. Balance and weights

III. Procedure
A. Calibration of Volumetric container that can stand rough usage.
The volumetric measures shall be calibrated by determining the weight
of water required to fill it. Volume of container equals weight of water
divided by the unit weight of water at the temperature of calibration.

B. Compact weight determination

1. Fill one-third of the measure, level and tamp 25 times evenly
distributed over the surface.
2. Fill two-third of the measure, then to overflowing. Each time the
same procedure as in step 1 is repeated. In tamping, the rod
should penetrate only the layer being tamped and should not be
forced in to the bottom of the measure or last layer placed.
3. Strike off the excess aggregate with the tamping rod.
 4. Get net weight of aggregate in measure. Compute unit weight by
dividing the net weight by the volume of measure.
C. Loose-weight determination
1. Fill volumetric measure of overflowing by means of a shovel or
scoop. Discharge the aggregation from a height of about 5 cm from
the top of measure. Exercise care to prevent aggregation of sizes.
2. Level off carefully the surface of aggregates.
3. Get net weight of aggregate and compute unit weight by dividing
net weigh by volume of measure

IV. Discussion
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V. Conclusion and Recommendation
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
VI. References
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
VII. Sketch of Apparatus Used
 PRELIMINARY DATA SHEET

Experiment Name : Unit Weight of Aggregates

Experiment Date :

Student’s Name : ____________________

Student Number : ____________________
Year/Semester : ____________________
Section/Group : ____________________

CALIBRATION OF THE VOLUMETRIC MOLD

Type of mold used
Weight of mold (kgs)
Weight of mold + water (kgs)
Weight of water to fill mold (kgs)
Temperature of water
Unit Weight of water at temp(kg/cu.m.)
Volume of mold (cu.m.)

FINE AGGREGATES
Determination Loose Compact
Trial Number
Weight of mold + sample (kgs)
Weight of mold (kgs)
Weight of sample (kgs)
Volume of mold (cu.m.)
Unit Weight (kg/cu.m.)
Average (kg/cu.m.)
COARSE AGGREGATES
Determination Loose Compact
Trial Number
Weight of mold + sample (kgs)
Weight of mold (kgs)
Weight of sample (kgs)
Volume of mold (cu.m.)
Unit Weight (kg/cu.m.)
Average (kg/cu.m.)

Group Leader’s Name & Signature : ____________________

Instructor’s Signature : ____________________
Date : ____________________
 FINAL DATA SHEET

Experiment Name : Unit Weight of Aggregates

Experiment Date :

Student’s Name : ____________________

Student Number : ____________________
Year/Semester : ____________________
Section/Group : ____________________

CALIBRATION OF THE VOLUMETRIC MOLD

Type of mold used
Weight of mold (kgs)
Weight of mold + water (kgs)
Weight of water to fill mold (kgs)
Temperature of water
Unit Weight of water at temp(kg/cu.m.)
Volume of mold (cu.m.)

FINE AGGREGATES
Determination Loose Compact
Trial Number
Weight of mold + sample (kgs)
Weight of mold (kgs)
Weight of sample (kgs)
Volume of mold (cu.m.)
Unit Weight (kg/cu.m.)
Average (kg/cu.m.)
 COARSE AGGREGATES
Determination Loose Compact
Trial Number
Weight of mold + sample (kgs)
Weight of mold (kgs)
Weight of sample (kgs)
Volume of mold (cu.m.)
Unit Weight (kg/cu.m.)
Average (kg/cu.m.)

Calculation: