SICAM, CARL VINCENT B.
GROUP NO. 5
CE152P-2 / E02
FEB 27, 2024
EXPERIMENT NO. 1
FINENESS OF CEMENT
I.
INTRODUCTION
In the realm of civil engineering, cement fineness is an important parameter that directly
affects the qualities of mortar and concrete. The term "fineness" describes the distribution of
cement particle sizes, which has an impact on the concrete's hydration rate, workability, and
strength development. Using the specific surface area approach, which yields a quantitative
assessment of the cement's particle size distribution, the objective of this experiment is to
ascertain the fineness of cement.
The performance of concrete constructions is directly correlated with cement fineness, which
makes measuring cement fineness important. More surface area per unit mass produced by finer
cement particles facilitates greater hydration, which in turn increases the strength and longevity
of concrete. Coarser particles, on the other hand, may impede the hydration process, which
would be detrimental to the ultimate characteristics and workability of the concrete.
When it comes to civil engineering, concrete quality is crucial for creating infrastructure
projects like roads, bridges, buildings, and dams. Engineers can improve concrete's mechanical
qualities, workability, and mix design by making sure the cement is the right fineness.
Furthermore, the heat of hydration, resistance to chemical attack, and setting time are all
influenced by the cement's fineness and are crucial elements in determining the durability and
long-term performance of concrete structures.
Comprehending cement fineness is also crucial for quality assurance and control in building
projects. Engineers can guarantee constant and predictable performance of concrete mixes,
resulting in safer and more sustainable constructions, by monitoring and regulating the cement's
particle size distribution. Furthermore, requirements for cement fineness are frequently set by
regulatory authorities in order to preserve consistency and quality throughout construction
projects.
In conclusion, this cement fineness experiment is essential to the area of civil engineering
because it offers insightful information about cementitious materials' properties and how they
affect the performance of concrete structures. Engineers can improve construction methods,
strengthen structural integrity, and promote sustainable infrastructure development by
analyzing and measuring cement fineness.
II.
MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENTS
#200 SIEVE PAN
WEIGHING BALANCE
SAMPLING SPOON
MIXING BOWL
BRUSH
CEMENT SAMPLE
100g
III.
EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
a) Weigh accurately 100 g of cement and place it on the #200 sieve. Breakdown any air set
lumps in the sample with fingers, without rubbing them on the sieve.
b) Continuously sieve the sample for 15 minutes by holding the sieve in both hands and
giving wrist motion.
c) Weigh the residue left on the sieve after sieving (W1)
IV.
DISCUSSION AND INTERPRETATION
From the gathered results of sieving the cement from the procedures of experiment, the
fineness of cement accuracy was achieved. From the result of first trial, data of fineness was
91.53% while the second one was 87% giving the average of 89.265% of fineness of cement that
was vital for its strength. As from our expectation before making the experiment, we are sure that
it will achieve the good fineness of cement. The hydration rate, workability, and strength of
concrete are all influenced by the fineness of the cement, which is important for guaranteeing
long-lasting and highly effective structures in civil engineering projects.
V.
CONCLUSION
In order to conclude this experiment, as per the gathered data the fineness of cement was a
good quality for concrete strength. This meets the expected standard fineness with satisfactory
accuracy. These results highlight how important accurate cement fineness measurements are to
guaranteeing the durability and effectiveness of structures in civil engineering projects. In order
to create long-lasting and highly effective concrete structures, it will continue to be crucial to
maintain the ideal cement fineness.
VI.
RECOMMENDATION
Regarding from our experiment, we recommend that it is vital to use high quality cement as
well the materials. #200 sieve pan is important to be clean and has no clog to ensure and find the
real fineness of cement to avoid any problem in this experiment. It is also recommendable to
carefully and double check the measurement of sample cement to able to get the accurate data.
Before computing the data, it is also vital to follow the procedure carefully that will help you to
achieve the objective of this experiment
VII.
REFERENCE
Mahajan, B. (2024, February 2). Fineness of cement: Definition, importance, and how to test it.
Civiconcepts. https://civiconcepts.com/blog/fineness-of-cement
Bala Bala . (2023, October 15). What is fineness of cement? - importance & test procedure. Civil
Planets. https://civilplanets.com/fineness-of-cement/