Using ultrasonic wave reflection to monitor false set of cement paste

The standard mechanical penetration approach for monitoring cement paste stiffening (Vicat needle method, ASTM C191) does not distinguish responses associated with false set of cement paste caused by secondary gypsum formation. The objective of this research is to determine whether ultrasonic wave reflection, using a testing set up with high measurement sensitivity, could be used to monitor false set of cement paste. Penetration resistance, P-wave, and S-wave reflection coefficients were measured on cement pastes with water-to-cement ratio 0.5. The S-wave reflection coefficient showed a sharp and abrupt linear drop associated with secondary gypsum formation, thereby indicating that S-wave ultrasonic wave reflection can be used to monitor false set of cement pastes. False set could not be distinguished in penetration resistance or P-wave UWR test data.