The various process involved in any concreting operation involves the following stages.
- Mixing
- Transporting
- Placing
- Consolidating
As concrete passes from one stage to another, it starts to lose its plasticity characteristics. If after placing it is not disturbed for a longer time period, then it starts to become stiffening. As a result concrete changes its state from plastic to rigid. The time taken by concrete to change its state from plastic to rigid is called setting time of concrete.
WHAT IS INITIAL AND FINAL SETTING TIME OF CONCRETE?
The initial and final setting time of concrete is an arbitrary value and is evaluated by a test named Penetrometer Test.
The time taken by the concrete to show a penetration resistance value of 3.43MPa is termed as initial setting time.
The time taken by the concrete to show a penetration resistance value of 26.97 MPa is termed as final setting time.