The main objective of this research is to find a test method to obtain a realistic initial setting time value in order
to plan the placing of concrete to prevent formation of cold joints which can affect the performance of the structure.
Mechanical properties (tensile strength and shear strength) at a purposely made cold joint was evaluated by testing
concrete cubes cast in two layers with different time lags between placing of concrete in the two layers. Point of
change of each strength parameter with respect to time lag was identified and corresponding time range was identified
as the initial setting time range. Standard penetration resistance test was also carried out and with the use of
penetration resistance vs. elapsed time graph, corresponding penetration resistance value was also identified.
Although this new method is effective to identify the initial setting time of concrete, it is not possible to use as a field test
since it a time consuming and complicated test. Therefore, an attempt was made to introduce a simple field test method.
Ultrasonic pulse velocity is used to measure properties of hardened concrete, because pulse velocity of a concrete
sample depends on its elastic modulus and density. Since properties of fresh concrete such as elastic modulus changes
with time, the ultrasound pulse velocity was used to monitor the change of stiffness of fresh concrete with time.
Based on the test results of the experimental investigations, it was found that the more realistic initial setting time of
concrete is the onset time of the penetration resistance of mortar measured in the standard penetration test. This was
further verified by a simple qualitative field test where the initial setting time is considered as the latest time that a
vibrating poker can be inserted into the concrete and removed without leaving a significant trace.
1. Introduction
Setting of concrete is identified as the transition of
fresh concrete from liquid phase to solid phase. It is
important to identify this phase change to plan
transporting and placing of concrete.
Current practice of determining initial setting time of
concrete is based on ASTM C 403[1]. According to this
standard, initial setting time is identified based on the
penetration resistance measured on mortar sieved from a
concrete mixture and it is defined as the time taken to
achieve a penetration resistance of 3.5 MPa (See Figure1).
This specified penetration resistance value is an arbitrary
value and initial setting time measured based on this
definition does not seem realistic (i.e. about 4 hrs for
concrete without any set retarders –Figures 17) since in
practice, concrete sets quicker than that time. Therefore
the main objective of this research is to identify a test
method to obtain a realistic value for the initial setting
time of concrete.