How to Check Quality of Cement at Site- Field Test for Cement

Check Quality of Cement at Site

Cement is one among the foremost important materials utilized in any construction. It acts as a binder that binds a combination of aggregate and sand along in concrete.

Quality tests on cement at the site are performed to understand the quality of the cement supplied, within a short period of time. It's impossible to possess laboratory tests done in the short period of your time, hence in such times the essential field Tests for Cement are done by civil engineer on the cement to see its quality.

Well, there are numerous theories explaining how to check the quality of cement in the lab but most of them require huge apparatus to check the quality of cement.

Below mentioned tests are the simple quick tests which you'll perform easily on site to seek out the quality of cement with no apparatus. These tests provide some plan concerning the quality of the cement.

Manufacturing Date of Cement

The manufacturing date of cement ought to be checked on the bag of cement. As discussed above, fresh cement will have good quality but under the effect of the environment, and with reference to time, the quality is affected then its efficiency. Several studies stated that because the Strength of cement reduces as time goes on. As per IS Specifications cement should be re tested, if it is stored more than three months within the mill.

Note:- Hydrophobic cement is often utilized in places where prolonged storage is required for cement. It's typically processed at the site like a dam and at ports.

The loss of strength of cement at different intervals of times as reported by major studies is as given below within the table.

Strength of Cement
Age of Cement	Per. Of Reduction
3 Months	20-30
6 Months	30-40
12 Months	40-50

Above table shows, the strength of cement loses its strength over a period of your time.

Color of Cement

The cement should be uniform in color. Good quality cement should have grey color with greenish shade. Cement color gives a sign of excess clay or lime. Hence, check the color of cement before you use it on the site.

Check for lumps

Lumps are formed due to the presence of moisture & absorption of moisture from climate in cement. Cement undergoes a reaction when it's reacted with the atmospheric moisture this process is termed as hydration. Moisture is a big enemy for cement. Cement becomes useless once it's hydrated with water (liquid form or vapour form).

Float test of cement

Take a sample of cement from the bag and throw it in a bucket filled with water, a good quality of Cement should sink and will not float on water. Such cement will reduce the strength of cement.

Adulteration Test (Rubbing Test)

This test is performed by feeling the cement, take a pinch of cement rub within your fingers, it should feel smooth while rubbing. If it's rough, it implies that the cement is adulterated with sand.

> How do you calculate Cement grade?
>How do you find the normal consistency of cement?

Setting Test

In this test, a thick paste is ready by mixing cement and water and is placed on a bit of glass plate. This is often kept under water for 24 hours. After this, it should set and not develops crack.

Strength Test

A block of cement 25mm x 25mm and 200mm long is ready and it is immersed for 7 days in water. It's then placed on a support 150mm apart and it is loaded with a weight of 340 N. The block shouldn't show signs of failure.

Temperature Test

Cement features a tendency to stay cool while it's in bag. Simply insert your hand into the bag of cement, it should give cool feeling if its quality is good. If it’s warm inside, then it indicates that the process of hydration is taking place.

Specific Gravity of cement

Finding specific gravity of cement is the most important, if cement is stored for more than three months. A good cement should have Specific gravity (Sg) in between 3.1-3.6g/cc.

Happy Learning!

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