TIME OF SETTING OF CONCRETE MIXTURES BY

PENETRATION RESISTANCE

TEST REPORT

Tested at : Client :

Heigh Institue of technologicals studies  L2MGC

in Sfax Adress:
Loboratorie of civil engeneer

Project:  NAWARA .........

The determination of the time of setting of concrete with Standard Test Method for Time of
Setting of Concrete Mixtures by Penetration Resistance ( ASTM C403/C403M – 08) was
determinated in the laboratorie of civil engeneer

A mortar sample was obtained by sieving a representative sample of fresh concrete. The
mortar was placed in a container and stored at 17C ambient temperature. At regular time
intervals, the resistance of the mortar to penetration by standard needles was measured. From
a plot of penetration resistance versus elapsed time, the times of initial and final setting were
determined.

The penetration resistance (PR) and the elapsed time (t) data in Table 1 will be used to
illustrate the procedures for determining times of setting.

Table 1: Penetration Resistance

Penetration
Elapse Time (t)
resistance (PR) Log(PR) Log(t)
(min)
(PSI)
45,21 330   1,655 2,519
126,09 360   2,101 2,556
168,60 390   2,227 2,591
313,65 420   2,496 2,623
517,54 450   2,714 2,653
951,56 480   2,978 2,681
1676,56 510   3,224 2,708
2283,75 525   3,359 2,720
2673,44 540   3,427 2,732
3081,25 555   3,489 2,744
3625,00 570   3,559 2,756
4531,25 585   3,656 2,767
The Fig. 1 is a plot of the penetration resistance versus elapsed time values in Table 1. The
smooth curve was drawn by-hand using a flexible drawing curve.
 5000.00

4500.00

4000.00

3500.00

3000.00
Penetration resistance, psi

2500.00

2000.00

1500.00

1000.00

500.00

0.00
0 100 200 300 400 500 600

Elapsed time, min

Fig.1: Plot of Penetration Resistance Values Versus Elapsed Time and Hand Fit Curve
Used to Determine Time of Setting

10000

1000

100

10
100 1000

Fig.2: Log-Log Plot Showing Straight Line to Determine Times of Setting by Using
Regression Analysis
Fig 2 is a log-log plot of the penetration resistance versus elapsed time values. The plot shows
that, with the exception of the outlier, there is approximately a straight line relationship
between the logarithms of penetration resistance and elapsed time. The straight line is
obtained by linear regression analysis using the logarithms shown in the third and fourth
columns of Table 1. The equation for this line is:

Log (PR) = 18.377 + 7.948 Log (t)

where:
PR = penetration resistance
t = elapsed time.

The correlation coefficient is 0.984, and it is, therefore, acceptable to use linear regression
analysis. To obtain the times of setting, the equation is rewritten as:

Log (t) = (Log(PR) + 18.377)/ 7.948

For time of initial setting, substitute the value 500 for PR:

Log (t) = (Log(500) + 18.377)/ 7.948 = 2.652

Therefore: t = (10) 2.652= 448 min.

For time of final setting, substitute the value 4000 for PR:

Log (t) = (Log(4000) + 18.377)/ 7.948 = 2.765

Therefore: t = (10) 2.765= 582 min.

Annexed Documents:

 TEST REPORT
 ASTM C403/C403M – 08