MAPÚA UNIVERSITY

School of Civil, Environmental, and

Geological Engineering

Experiment Number 3: Time Setting of

Portland Cement

Submitted by:
Javier, Rome Lauren A.

2021102361

CE152P-2/A72

Submitted to:
Engr. Nald Ruzzle Esmeralda

CE152P-2 Course Instructor

Date of Submission:
December 2, 2022
 Experiment Number 3: Time Setting of Portland Cement
NAME

(School of Civil, Environmental, and Geological Engineering, Mapúa University,

Philippines)

• Results and Analysis

Type of Cement Portland Cement

Weight of 500 g
Cement
(grams)

Volume of 155 mL
Water at
Normal
Consistency
(mL)

Time of Making 12:50 pm

the Cement
(H:M)

Time of Initial 3:27 pm pm pm pm

Setting (H:M)

Time of Final
Setting (H:M)

Initial Set (H:M) 2 hours 37 mins

Final Set (H:M)

Average Initial 2:07 pm

Set (H:M)

Average Final
Set (H:M)
Table 1. Experiment Result
Table 1.

Type of Cement Portland Cement

Weight of Cement (grams) 500 g
Volume of Water at Normal Consistency (mL) 155 mL
Time of Making the Cement (H:M) 12:50 pm
Time of Initial Setting (H:M) 3:27 pm
Initial Set (H:M) 2 hours 37 mins
Average Initial Set (H:M) 2 hours 37 mins

Calculations:

Formula

𝐼𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑆𝑒𝑡 = 𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑀𝑎𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐶𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑃𝑎𝑡 − 𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝐼𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑆𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔

𝐼𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑆𝑒𝑡 = 3: 27 𝑝𝑚 − 12: 50 𝑝𝑚

𝐼𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑆𝑒𝑡 = 2 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠 37 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑠

The lab experiment looks at the timing of the Portland Cement. The above data
was gathered by examining cement samples evaluated with the Gillmore Needle
Apparatus in section A72 from various groups. 500 grams of Portland Cement is used in
every trial with the same cement. Groups adhered to the prescribed water dosage for
consistent cement paste, which is 155mL of water.

In the data acquired with different time has been recorded, several factors can be
considered that may affect the time setting of the cement.

• The volume of water may vary, thus affecting the time setting of the cement
• Mixing technique/process
• The environment or location
 • Execution and proper manipulation of materials

All laboratory manual guidelines must be followed to produce an accurate and

precise data analysis. How long Portland Cement is allowed to be set may depend on the
criteria outlined above.

• Discussion

Cement hydrates and changes into cement paste when combined with water,
which is when cement sets. By the time it hardens, the cement has achieved its full setting
time because it has continued to react with water throughout that period, progressively
losing its fluidity. Each group is given the resources they need to gather the relevant data,
and the experiment is done to determine the Portland cement's initial and final set times.
Our team experienced a few problems during the experiment.

The group continually molded the cement mixture to achieve the preferred size, a
circle with .5-inch thickness and 3 inches in diameter. After successfully molding the
cement, the group recorded the time and observed the time setting for the cement to fully
construct and harden. The observation can be seen in the first section of this laboratory
report.

More cement or less water should be added to the mixture if you want to make
Portland cement more robust and durable. Although less water makes cement more
necessary, doing so will also result in insufficient hydration, lowering strength. With the
help of these ideas, it is possible to disregard the requirement for a correct consistency
test to determine the ideal water-cement ratio.

• Significance of Experiment
 Understanding the time setting of the cement to be used in a construction project
is one of the most important factors in the project for various reasons. The safety and the
outcome of the plan will be destroyed or ruined if the time setting of the cement quality
will not be considered before pouring it or using the cement-water mixture.

The manner concrete is handled, transported, laid, compacted, and cured

significantly impacts its qualities, including durability, strength, workability, and setting
time. Therefore, it is crucial to adhere to the guidelines established by the responsible
Engineer when pouring concrete. The setting must not be confused with hardening, which
describes the increase in mechanical strength after a certain amount of resistance to the
penetration of a unique attachment is pressed into it.

For example, the shipping, placement, and compacting of cement concrete, the
initial setting time test is crucial. Not too rapidly nor too slowly is required for cement to
set uniformly. The concrete may not have enough time to be transported and laid before
it hardens to an unsatisfactory degree in the first scenario. In the second case, a
protracted setup period often causes work to proceed more slowly than necessary and
may postpone the structure's actual use because it might not be strong enough when it
is needed.

• Conclusion

The experiment was utilized to determine the setting time of cement, as it is one
of the qualities needed to attain the standard time setting of cement in the field of
construction. Initially, utilizing this experiment to measure the setting times of cement
using the Gillmore needle, assessing whether the values met the requirements of ASTM
standard C266 and determining whether the cement met a specification limit for Gillmore
time of setting. The students were able to finish the experiment and arrive at certain
conclusions. The experiment's results showed that cement took two hours and seven
minutes to set initially. In order to satisfy the objectives, the initial setting time must be
completed within 30 minutes and cannot exceed 10 hours. The experiment was correctly
carried out because the Initial and Final setting times fell within the permitted range.
 According to the gathered data, the Portland cement test sample meets the
criterion for cement initial setting time as the initial setting that is produced in this
experiment is 2 hours and 37 minutes, which is longer than 30 minutes. Due to time
constraints, the ultimate setting time of the Portland Cement could not be determined, but
we may assume that it is less than 600 minutes. With this, group researchers determined
that when it is delayed or occurs too soon due to unforeseen reasons, the material loses
strength and is unable to achieve its excellent quality. Through this experiment, the
student researchers demonstrate the relationship between time setting and Portland
cement, as well as the repercussions of that relationship, particularly the cement's
resistance to penetration. With that being said, it clearly shows that the amount of time
required for cement to harden is directly related to how much flexibility it loses. This
implies that more time must elapse before the cement hardens or crystallizes to its
ultimate strength. The consistency of cement and the amount of time it takes for it to set
can be affected by a wide variety of factors, such as a lack of cement and high levels of
humidity. The used variety of cement will experience a change in consistency if it has
been subjected to the elements for an extended period.

Fundamentally, the student researchers were also able to determine the factors
affecting the time setting of Portland cement. This includes the temperature at which
cement paste is allowed to be set, the percentage of water mixed into the cement in
making the paste, and the humidity of the atmosphere where the setting is allowed to take
place. The rate at which Portland cement hardens is influenced both by temperature and
by the humidity of the surrounding air. The initial setting time is forty minutes, which is the
amount of time that passes between the addition of water to the cement and the point at
which the Gillmore needle can penetrate the cement paste. This occurs after the cement
has been mixed with water. With everything laid out, the students concluded that the final-
set needle should be larger in mass and smaller in diameter to provide more pressure
that can penetrate the cement and assist in determining the final-set time of cement
because the final setting time has a significant resistance to penetration.
 • Application

The concept of time setting can be applied in various situations in the field of
engineering, especially in the construction.

1. Time setting is the It is the time taken for the cement paste or cement concrete
to harden sufficiently and attain the shape of the mold in which it is cast. This is important
because as engineers, we should always plan and be ready to whatever may happen and
checking and monitoring the molding of the cement we use is one of the most crucial
things needed to be under consideration.

2. Determination of final setting period facilitates safe removal of scaffolding or

form/. Before collapsing or removing supports like scaffolding or wood supports, we need
to make sure that the cement is hardened and that it is the right time to remove such
foundations, or else the whole building or infrastructure may collapse or not strong
enough to hold its own.

• Documentation