Methods of Physical Tests for Hydraulic Cement, Part 13: Measurement of Water Retentivity of Masonry Cement

IS 4031 Part 13: Scope - Key Specifications & References

• Scope: Covers test methods for physical properties of masonry cement, including flow, water retentivity, and compressive strength.

Key Clauses & Specifications:

Important Notes:

• Use planetary mixer for uniform mixing (per relevant IS standards).
• Flow table apparatus and moulds must comply with IS specifications.
• Compressive strength testing follows IS 4031 Part 7 procedures.

Flow Table Test Summary (IS 4031 Part 13 & 7):

flowchart LR
    A[Masonry Cement + Standard Sand] --> B[Planetary Mixer]
    B --> C[Flow Table Test]
    C --> D{Flow %}
    D -->|110 ± 5%| E[Acceptable Consistency]
    D -->|Outside Range| F[Adjust Mix or Repeat Test]

This ensures consistent mortar workability per IS 4031 Part 13 scope.

IS 4031 Part 13 — Sampling and Selection of Test Specimens for Water Retentivity of Masonry Cement

Key Points from Clause 2 (Sampling & Selection):

• Sampling Method: Follow IS 3535-1986 for sampling hydraulic cement.
• Sample Preparation: The cement sample must be thoroughly mixed to ensure homogeneity before testing.
• Representative Sample: Must conform to the relevant cement type standard.

Additional Specifications:

• Test Apparatus: As per IS 10850-1984, the apparatus assembly for water retention tests must meet specified standards.
• Standard Sand: Use standard sand as specified in the relevant IS code for cement testing.

Summary Table: Sampling & Specimen Selection

Note:

• No direct formulas are specified in IS 4031 Part 13 for sampling.
• Sampling ensures representative and uniform test specimens for reliable water retentivity measurement.

flowchart TD
    A[Start: Cement Batch] --> B[Sampling as per IS 3535-1986]
    B --> C[Mix Sample Thoroughly]
    C --> D[Prepare Test Specimens]
    D --> E[Test Water Retentivity (IS 4031 Part 13)]
    E --> F[Use Apparatus per IS 10850-1984]
    F --> G[Record Results]

IS 4031 Part 13: Temperature and Humidity Specifications

• Temperature Control

  • Moulding room, dry materials, and water must be maintained at 27 ± 2°C (Clause 3.1).
  • This ensures consistent cement testing conditions.

• Humidity Control

  • Relative humidity of the laboratory shall be 65 ± 5% (Clause 3.1).
  • Maintains moisture equilibrium for accurate test results.

• Sampling

  • Cement samples must be taken per IS 3535-1986 (Clause 2.1) to ensure representativeness.

• Equipment Standards

  • Flow table and accessories must conform to IS 5512-1983 (Clause 5.5).
  • Standard weights as per Clause 5.3 for consistency in testing.

Summary Table

flowchart LR
    A[Maintain Temp: 27 ± 2°C] --> B[Consistent Cement Testing]
    C[Maintain RH: 65 ± 5%] --> B
    D[Sample per IS 3535-1986] --> B
    E[Use IS 5512 Flow Table] --> B
    F[Use Standard Weights] --> B

This ensures reliable and reproducible cement testing results under standardized environmental conditions.

IS 4031 Part 13 - Standard Sand for Masonry Cement Testing

Key Specifications (from IS 650-1966):

• Grading: Standard sand is natural sand, washed and dried, with particle size distribution strictly controlled.
• Fineness Modulus: Approximately 2.75.
• Particle Size Range: Mainly 150 µm to 600 µm.
• Silt Content: Less than 1% to avoid affecting mortar properties.
• Water Retentivity: Tested per IS 10850-1984 to ensure consistent water holding capacity.

Mortar Mix (Clause 6.2):

• Mix Ratio: 1 part masonry cement : 3 parts standard sand by weight.
• Consistency: Adjust water to achieve a flow of 110 ± 5% on the flow table (IS 5513).

Testing Apparatus:

• Use apparatus conforming to IS 10850-1984 for water retention.
• Use planetary mixer and flow table as per IS 4031 Part 7 and IS 5513 respectively.

Summary Table for Standard Sand Properties

flowchart LR
    A[Standard Sand] --> B[Washed & Dried]
    B --> C[Particle Size 150-600 µm]
    B --> D[Silt < 1%]
    A --> E[Used in Mortar]
    E --> F[Mix 1:3 Cement:Sand]
    F --> G[Flow Test: 110 ± 5%]
    E --> H[Water Retentivity Test]

This ensures repeatable mortar properties for masonry cement strength and durability testing.

IS 4031 Part 13 (1988) - Apparatus Specifications Summary

• Flow Table & Accessories (Clause 5.5):
  Must conform to IS 5512-1983. This includes the flow table, flow cone, and related accessories used for consistency testing of cement paste.

• Water Retention Test Apparatus (Clause 5.1):
  Assembly must conform to IS 10850-1984. This ensures standardized equipment for testing water retention in cement pastes.

• Vacuum Setup (Clause 6.1):

  • Maintain vacuum of 50 mm Hg using a mercury relief column and manometer.
  • Use a perforated dish on a greased gasket with wetted filter paper.
  • Apply vacuum via stopcock; check for leaks and suction before testing.

• Balance Requirements (Clause 5.2):

  • Balance must be precise and conform to accuracy standards for weighing cement and materials.

Key Apparatus Parameters

flowchart LR
    A[Mercury Relief Column] --> B[Manometer (50 mm vacuum)]
    B --> C[Stopcock]
    C --> D[Funnel with Perforated Dish]
    D --> E[Wetted Filter Paper]
    E --> F[Vacuum Applied to Sample]

This setup ensures standardized suction for water retention tests per IS 4031-13.

IS 4031 Part 13 (1988) – Water Retention Test for Masonry Cement

Key Points from the Test Procedure:

• Scope (Clause 1.1): Defines the procedure to measure water retentivity of masonry cement.

• Apparatus:

  • Water retention test apparatus must conform to IS 10850:1984.
  • Flow table and accessories must conform to IS 5512:1983 (Clause 5.5).

• Sampling & Specimen Selection: Follow standard sampling methods (Clause 2).

Typical Test Procedure Outline:

1. Prepare standard sand as per IS 650 (Specification for standard sand).
2. Mix cement paste with water and sand.
3. Place paste on flow table (IS 5512).
4. Perform flow test to determine flow value.
5. Water retention calculation:

[ \text{Water Retention (%)} = \frac{\text{Flow value of cement paste with sand}}{\text{Flow value of cement paste without sand}} \times 100 ]

Important References:

This test ensures masonry cement retains adequate water for proper hydration and workability.

IS 4031 Part 13: Calculation and Expression of Results

Key Formulas

• Water Retention Value (Clause 7.1):

[ \text{Water Retention Value} = \frac{A}{B} \times 100 ]

Where:

• ( A ) = Flow after suction (ml)
• ( B ) = Flow immediately after mixing (ml)

Specifications Summary

• Balance (Clause 5.2):
  Must meet accuracy and sensitivity requirements suitable for weighing cement and materials (typically ±0.01 g or as specified).

• Standard Weights (Clause 5.3):
  Use calibrated standard weights for balance calibration.

• Flow Table & Accessories (Clause 5.5):
  Must conform to IS 5512:1983 for dimensions, material, and operation.

Notes

• Water retention value indicates mortar's ability to retain water after suction, critical for workability.
• Flow measurements (A and B) are taken using the flow table apparatus.

flowchart LR
    Start[Mix Mortar] --> MeasureB[Measure Flow Immediately (B)]
    MeasureB --> Suction[Apply Suction]
    Suction --> MeasureA[Measure Flow After Suction (A)]
    MeasureA --> Calc[Calculate Water Retention = (A/B)*100]
    Calc --> Result[Express Result as %]

This concise summary aids in accurate calculation and reporting per IS 4031 Part 13.