INITIAL AND FINAL SETTING TIME OF CONCRETE BY

PENETROMETER TEST (IS-8142-1976)

OBJECTIVE
Determination of initial and final setting time of concrete as per IS-8142-1976

APPARATUS
• Non absorptive metal container having minimum lateral dimension of 150 mm
and minimum depth of 150 mm.
• Penetration resistance apparatus having a pressure gauge of capacity 700 to
900N. Removable needles of 645, 323, 161, 65, 32 & 16 mm2.
• Pipette
• Tamping rod of 16 mm dia.

Penetration Resistance Apparatus

SAMPLE PREPARATION & STORING

• Select a representative sample of concrete of sufficient volume to provide enough
mortar to fill the test container to a depth of at least 140 mm.
• Sieve the concrete through 4.75 mm IS sieve in order to remove all the mortar
from concrete.
• Mix the mortar thoroughly and place it in the container in layers. Compact each
layer of mortar using tamping rod. The final height of mortar after tamping should
be less than 13 mm from the height of the container. This space is required for the
collection and removal of bleeding water.
• Cover the specimen in the container, with a suitable tight fitting, water
impermeable blanket for the duration of the test.

TEST PROCEDURE
1. Before testing, remove the bleeding water from the surface of the mortar by
means of a pipette.
2. Attach the needle with the penetration resistance apparatus.
3. Bring the bearing surface of the needle in contact with the mortar surface.
4. Gradually and uniformly apply a vertical downward force on the apparatus until
the needle penetrates to a depth of 25 mm, as indicated by scribe mark. The time
taken to penetrate 25 mm depth could be about 10 secs.
5. Record the force required to produce 25 mm penetration and time of inserting,
from the time water is added to the cement.
6. Repeat step 2 to step 8, with the remaining needles of different bearing area, at
an hourly interval. The initial penetration test is carried out after 3 to 4 hours of
adding water to the mix.
7. For the subsequent penetration avoid the area where the mixture has been
disturbed. The clear distance should be two times the diameter of bearing area.
Needle is inserted at least 25 mm away from the wall of container.
8. Not less than six penetration resistance determination is made. Continue the test
until one penetration resistance of at least 26.97 MPa is reached. Penetration
resistance is calculated in N/mm2, by dividing the force required to cause 25 mm
depth of penetration of the needle by the area of bearing face of the needle.

PLOTTING OF GRAPH

Setting time plot

• Plot a graph of penetration resistance as ordinate and elapsed time a abscissa.
• Connect the various points by a smooth curve.

FINDING OUT INITIAL AND FINAL SETTING TIME FROM THE GRAPH
• From the penetration resistance equal to 3.43 MPa, draw a horizontal line. The
point of intersection of this with the smooth curve is read on the x-axis which gives
initial setting time.
• Similarly a horizontal line is drawn from the penetration resistance of 26.97
MPa and point it cuts the smooth curve is read on the x-axis which gives the final
setting time.