Table of Contents
Introduction:
A soundness test of cement is performed to ensure that cement does not show any expansion. Normally cement expands due to the unsoundness of cement.
Expansion of cement can cause severe problems. It reduces the overall strength of hardened material and the durability of structures. An excessive quantity of lime causes unsoundness.
Apparatus:
The following apparatus is needed to perform a soundness test of cement.
- Lechatelier Mould
- Two Glass Plates
- Water bath
- Weight & Weigh Balance
- Oil
- Measuring Scale
Test Procedure:
- First determines the standard consistency of cement.
- Now calculate normal consistency with the help of standard consistency.
- Add 0.78 times of water to the cement to give a paste of standard consistency.
- Apply oil on the Lechatelier mould apparatus.
- Place Lechatelier mould on a glass plate.
- Put the cement paste into mould and close it by the glass plate.
- Submerge the whole assembly for 24 hours in the water bath at a temperature of 270C.
- Now remove the apparatus from water and then determine the distance separating two indicator points using a measuring scale and consider it as L1.
- Submerge the whole assembly again at boiling temperature for 3 hours.
- Now remove the whole assembly from the bath and measure the distance between two indicator points and consider it as L2.
Now calculate the expansion of cement by using the following formula.
Expansion of Cement = L1-L2
Read also:
Please comment below to share your thought.
Happy Learning!