The relationship between the compressive strength of cement mortar and the chemical composition and fineness of cement

Includes bibliography.The purpose of this research was to determine a method whereby predictions of compressive strength could be made with regard to the chemical composition and fineness of Portland cement. Tests were performed on cement paste and mortar to determine which mixture would yield the most accurate, reproducible results. Paste was found to have a high degree of variation due to its mechanism of failure. Mortar, on the other hand, yielded reproducible and accurate results. In an attempt to prevent the high variations in the compressive strength of the paste, the paste was evacuated in a special evacuation chamber. The evacuation removed a large volume of air but did not alleviate the variations in the paste strength