ASTM C1874-20

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: C1874 − 19 C1874 − 20
Standard Test Method for
Measuring the Rheological Properties of Cementitious
Materials Using a Coaxial Rotational Rheometer
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C1874; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope Scope*
1.1 This test method is used to measure the rheological properties such as plastic viscosity and yield stress of cementitious
materials with particles up to 1 mm in diameter.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of
regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C125 Terminology Relating to Concrete and Concrete Aggregates
C219 Terminology Relating to Hydraulic and Other Inorganic Cements
C305 Practice for Mechanical Mixing of Hydraulic Cement Pastes and Mortars of Plastic Consistency
C1005 Specification for Reference Masses and Devices for Determining Mass and Volume for Use in the Physical Testing of
Hydraulic Cements
C1602/C1602M Specification for Mixing Water Used in the Production of Hydraulic Cement Concrete
C1738/C1738M Practice for High-Shear Mixing of Hydraulic Cement Pastes
C1749 Guide for Measurement of the Rheological Properties of Hydraulic Cementious Paste Using a Rotational Rheometer
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in this test method, refer to Terminology C125 and Terminology C219.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 shear rate, n—the rate of change of the shear strain with time.
3.2.1.1 Discussion—
The shear strain (1) is the relative in-plane displacement of two parallel layers in a material body divided by the separation
-1
distance, in units of s .
3.2.2 shear stress, n—Thethe component of stress that causes successive parallel layers of a material body to move, in their own
planes (that is, plane of shear), relative to each other, in units of Pa.
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C01 on Cement and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C01.22 on Workability.
Current edition approved Dec. 15, 2019June 1, 2020. Published January 2020July 2020. Originally approved in 2019. Last previous edition approved in 2019 as
C1874 – 19. DOI: 10.1520/C1874-19.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Alex Olivas, Michelle A. Helsel, Nicos Martys, Chiara F. Ferraris, Raissa Ferron, “Rheological Measurement of Suspensions Without Slippage: Experimental and Model”
NIST-TN 1946, Dec. 2016 - dx.doi.org/10.6028/NIST.TN.1946.The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end of this standard.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
C1874 − 20
3.2.3 relative viscosity, n—the ratio between the viscosity of a material and the viscosity of a reference material as a function
of shear rate, both viscosities measured using the same rheometer and with the same procedure.
4. Summary of Test Method
4.1 This method allows the measurement of the shear stress of cementitious paste or mortar, using a rotational rheometer with
various spindle geometries. The plastic viscosity and yield stress are determined per the Bingham model.
4.2 As cementitious slurries are thixotropic, the shear history has an impact on the rheological measurements; mixing the
-1
sample, for instance 200 s for 60 s, is needed to ensure correct preparation of the sample, prior to the measurements.
4.3 This mixing procedure is followed by the measurements of the shear stress evolution as a function of the shear rate in the
-1 -1
range of 0.1 s0.1 to to 50 s . Before the standardization of the rheometer, the shear rate needs to be measured in terms of
rotational speed in units of rad/s.
5. Significance and Use
5.1 Rheological properties provide information about the workability of cementitious paste or mortar. This test method may be
used to measure flowability of a cement paste or the influence of a specific material or combination of materials on flowability.
5.2 As rheological properties are sensitive to sample heterogeneities, special care is needed using this procedure so that
sedimentation, particle migration away from the spindle or slippage at the surface of the spindle and container, is avoided.
6. Interferences
6.1 Rheological properties may be sensitive to sample preparation (mixing method) and testing procedure (shear history, for
example), so a comparison of properties obtained using different procedures is not recommended, unless relative viscosity is
considered.
6.2 Paste or mortar mixtures that are very fluid are prone to sedimentation and may produce erroneous data using this procedure.
Such sedimentation is especially likely in shear thinning and thixotropic mixtures. Paste or mortar mixtures that are too viscous
may result in a torque that exceeds the capability of the instrument.
6.3 Paste or mortar mixtures may have a shear stress versus shear rate that does not follow the Bingham model, such as in a
shear thinning or thickening behavior. In this case, this test method shall not be used.
6.4 Larger cementitious materials particles or sand particles may lead to jamming if the gap between the shearing surfaces is
too small and thereby increase the shear stress. This gap needs to be selected considering the particle size of the material to be
tested.
6.5 Incorporation of air in the pastes and mortars during mixing reduces viscosity and increases flow.
6.6 The time of testing after initial contact of cement with water influences the results.
7. Apparatus
7.1 Rotational Rheometer—conforming to Guide C1749. The instrument imparts a controlled rotation speed to the spindle, Ω
in rad/s, and measures the resulting torque, Γ in Nm.
7.2 Spindle—The rotational tool used for testing (2) (see Note 1). The diameter of the spindle shall be such that the gap between
the spindle and the container follow Guide C1749 recommendation (see Notes 1 and 2).
NOTE 1—Acceptable shapes for the spindles are cylinders, vanes with four or more blades, and double helical. Unless standardization is properly done
(see Section 13), the raw data from the various spindles cannot be directly compared.
NOTE 2—The gap between the spindle and the container is calculated as the distance between the highest points on any surface protrusion.
7.3 Container—The rheometer container shall be made of stainless steel or a material that does not react with the cement. The
wall of the container shall have surface protrusions to prevent slippage. (2). The height and the diameter of the container shall be
adapted to the selected spindle, namely suitable diameter larger than the spindle to accommodate the paste or the mortar (see 7.2),
and the height shall be at least 20 mm 20 mm longer than the spindle.
NOTE 3—The additional 20 mm is to provide at least 10 mm space at the bottom and 10 mm cover at the top.
7.4 Cover at the Top of the Container—The container shall be covered with a vapor barrier or a water saturated material to
prevent evaporation of water from the paste or mortar. Care shall be taken to ensure that the water saturated material does not drip
water onto the sample.
7.5 Temperature Control System—the container temperature shall be controlled to the nearest 62 °C. The temperature may be
selected to reflect the conditions at which the material will be used (cold weather or hot weather concreting, for example).
This SRMs can be obtained from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (www.nist.gov). (NIST), 100 Bureau Dr., Stop 1070, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-1070,
http://www.nist.gov.
C1874 − 20
8. Reagents and Materials
8.1 Standard Material—A paste or fluid that has a linear correlation between the shear stress and the shear rate for a significant
-1 -1
range of shear rates (at least one order of magnitude, that is 1 s1 to to 10 s ) (see Note 4). The standard materials shall behave
like a Bingham material and shall have certified rheological properties obtained from fundamental procedures.
4 4
NOTE 4—SRM 2492, , Bingham Paste Mixture for Rheological Measurements, and SRM 2493, , Bingham Mortar Mixture for Rheological
Measurements, may be used for this purpose. SRM 2493 is a combination of SRM 2492 and 1 mm beads.
8.2 Water—Unless specified, use potable water as specified in Specification C1602/C1602M. When specified, use job-specific
water when performing a specific test series that is related to field application. Follow Specification C1602/C1602M in reporting
the type of water used.
9. Hazards
9.1 Warning—Fresh cementitious mixtures are caustic and may cause burns to skin and tissue upon prolonged exposure. The
use of gloves, protective clothing, and eye protection is recommended. Wash contact area with copious amounts of water after
contact. Wash eyes for a minimum of 15 min. Avoid exposure of the body to clothing saturated with the liquid phase of the
unhardened material. Remove contaminated clothing immediately after exposure.
10. Test Specimens
10.1 The matrix of materials and mix proportions depend on the purpose of the testing program. To evaluate field mixtures, use
materials and proportions based on the concrete mixture design without the coarse aggregate. The fine aggregates used in this test
method shall not contain particles larger than 1 mm.
10.2 Mix the paste according to Practice C1738/C1738M or the mortar according to Practice C305.
11. Preparation of Apparatus
11.1 Place the container in the rheometer as per in accordance with the manufacturer instructions.
11.2 Attach the spindle as per in accordance with the manufacturer instructions.
12. Conditioning
12.1 The rheometer temperature controller shall be turned on and set to the desired temperature at least 30 min before any
testing or standardization, to ensure that the temperature of the container has stabilized.
13. Standardization
13.1 Background—The standardization procedure essentially aims to establish the two constants K and K defined respectively
γ˙ τ
as the ratio of the shear rate γ˙ over the rotational speed Ω and as the shear stress τ over the torque Γ, using a standard material
(see 8.1).
13.2 Procedure to Determine the Two Constants K and K :
τ γ˙
13.2.1 Measure the torque, Γ, versus rotational speed of the standard material (see 8.1) using the following procedure:
13.2.1.1 Introdu
...