EXPERIMENT NO:

DATE:

TITLE: Strength test on cement.

AIM: To determine the compressive strength of 1:3 Cement Sand Mortar Cubes.

THEORY:

Compressive strength test is final check on the quality of cement. This test performed
in order to determine whether cement confirms to standard specifications or not. The
compressive strength is measured by determining the compressive strength of cement mortar
cubes of 1 part of cement to 3 parts of aggregate (sand) confirming to IS 650-1966 (revised).

APPARATUS: cement, sand, water, compression testing machine, cube moulds (7.06 cm),
cube vibrating machine, trowel enamel trays for mixing, measuring cylinder, weighing
instrument, non- porous plate.

PROCEDURE:

1) Take 185 Gms of cement and 555 Gms of standard sand and mix them dry thoroughly.
2) Add water (p/4+3.0%) (Where p is % of water required to prepare paste of standard
consistency) to the dry mix of cement and sand and mix thoroughly for 3-4 min to obtain
a mix of uniform colour. “If even in 4 min uniform colour of mix is not obtained reject
the mix and fresh quantities of cement, sand and water to obtain a mix of uniform colour.
3) Place thoroughly cleaned and oiled mould on the vibrating machine and hold it in position
by clamps provided on the machine for the purpose.
4) Fill the mould with the entire quantity of mortar using a suitable hopper attached to the
top of the mould for the facility of filling and vibrate it for 2 min at the specified speed of
12000±400 /min to achieve full compaction.
5) Remove the mould from the machine and keep it in a place of 27±2°C and relative
humidity of 90% for 24 hrs.
6) At the end of 24 hrs remove the cube from the mould and immediately submerge it in
water. The cube can be taken out of water only at the time of testing.
7) Prepare at least 9 cubes in the same manner.

TESTING:
1) Place the cubes on a platform of compression testing machine without any packing
between cube and plate of testing machine.
2) Apply the load steadily and uniformly till the cube fails and record the result. Similarly 2
more cubes are tested and recorded.
3) The time period of testing cubes of various types of cement mortar in order to determine
the compressive strength is recommended as under-
1. Ordinary Portland cement 3, 7 and 28 days.
2. Rapid hardening cements 1 and 3 days.
3. Low heat cement 3, 7 and 28 days.

OBSERVATION:

 Weight of cement-
 Weight of standard sand-
 Weight of water (p+3.0) combined weight of cement and sand-
 Area of specimen-
 Type cement-

Sr. No. Strength after 03 days

Load at fracture Strength in kg/m²
1
2
3
Average Strength

Sr. No. Strength after 07 days

Load at fracture Strength in kg/m²
1
2
3
Average Strength
Sr. No. Strength after 28 days
Load at fracture Strength in kg/m²
1
2
3
Average Strength

RESULT:

CONCLUSION:

PRECAUTIONS:

1. Quantity of material should be properly weighed and measured.

2. Mortar should not be filled and compressed in the mould by hand.
3. The cubes should be tested on their sides and not on their faces.
4. The mould should be strictly observed.
5. The cubes should be tested immediately after taking out of water and not allowed to
dry until they fail after testing.