Preface

Part 1: Normal Consistency of the Cement Paste

I. Objectives:
This experiment aims to:

determine the amount of water required for normal consistency of

cement paste

measure the initial setting time and the final setting time of the
standard consistency of the cement paste

II. Standards Used:

Consistency of standard cement paste ASTM C-187

III. Materials Used:

VICAT Apparatus
digital weighing scale (accurately measures the mass of dry cement)
glass graduate (accurately measures the volume of water)
trowel
mixing bowl
stopwatch
Portland Pozzolanic cement
Water

IV. Procedures:
1. Weigh 650 g of cement using the digital weighing scale. Make sure that
the weight registered in the scale must be for the cement alone
2. The water to cement ratio must be %. Hence, the water volume for this
experiment must be . Use the glass graduate to accurately measure the
volume.
3. Homogenously mix the cement and water in a mixing bowl to create a
cement paste. This must be done in 4.25 minutes.
4. Fill the mold in the VICAT Apparatus with the cement paste. Level the top
surface smoothly and as fast as possible.
5. Align the mold in its place in the VICAT Apparatus. Use the 10 mm
diameter plunger in determining the normal consistency of the standard
cement paste.
6. Lower the 10 mm diameter plungers until it touches the cement paste and
then allow the plunger to fall freely.

7. Take the depth from the VICAT Apparatus ruler. If the depth is between
101 mm, then the normal consistency of the standard cement paste is
already been determined; otherwise, do other trials with fresh cement.

Part II: Setting Time Measurement

I. Objectives:
This experiment aims to:

measure the initial setting time and the final setting time of the
standard consistency of the cement paste

II. Standards Used:

Initial and final setting time of Portland Cement: ASTM C191

III. Materials Used:

VICAT Apparatus
digital weighing scale (accurately measures the mass of dry cement)
glass graduate (accurately measures the volume of water)
trowel
mixing bowl
stopwatch
Portland Pozzolanic cement
Water

IV. Procedures:
1. After the normal consistency has been determined, use the taken specification of
the cement paste previously used to measure the initial and final setting time in
order to make anew cement paste of the standard consistency. The stopwatch
shall start at this step.
2. Use the 1 mm diameter plunger needle and penetrate the sample by letting it fall
freely onto the cement paste, and then read the VICAT ruler scale.
3. Do the trial each in 15 minutes until the depth of penetration is about 252 mm.
The elapsed time from mixing the water with dry cement until this step is called
the initial setting time.
4. Finally, the elapsed time until the depth of penetration equals to zero is the final
setting time.
V. Results: