Abstract:
Cement is the core ingredient of concrete and mortar. It is clear that the binding property of concrete
is mainly due to cement. Quality tests are performed on cement to determine the strength and quality
of the cement used in construction. It helps to determine the use of cement for various purposes based
on its strength and quality. The purpose of this study is to compare laboratory tests of different types
of cement that are locally available and widely used in the Bahir Dar area. As a result, this research
analyzed and compared the properties of eight different cements: Derba (OPC & PPC), Dangote
(OPC & PPC), Mugher OPC, East (PPC), Kuyu (PPC), and National (PPC). The cement samples
were collected from the retailing shops based on the questionnaires collected from cement users. The
following tests were conducted on cement in the laboratory, Consistency, Fineness, Setting
Time, Soundness, and Strength Test. statistically analysis software SPSS one way ANOVA used to
analyses the mean significant difference of each cement types in this study. The null hypothesis and
alternative hypothesis are used. Thus, the following results were obtained from the test. All of the
cement brands evaluated had a standard consistency that between the ASTM specifications of 26%
and 33%. This indicates that the consistency of all of the cement brands tested is normal and
acceptable. The entire OPC and PPC cement samples brand satisfies the ES1177-1:2005 standard
requirements for initial and final setting time. From the tests conducted soundness on the cement
paste samples, individual expansion of the various samples were found within the range of 0.5 mm to
25.75 mm. The cement samples tested except Kuyu cement the expansion rate are within the maximum
limit of the required standard as it specifies ES1177-1:2005. The percentage of cement passing in 75
micro sieves in all cement types range of 99.04 to 99.28. All cement brands fineness of cement does
not have significant difference between them. The 28-day compression strength of concrete produced
by OPC cement, Dangote OPC Cement has the highest compressive strength than the other similar
grade OPC cement. Similarly concrete produced by PPC cement, at the age of 28 days compressive
strength, National PPC cement has the highest strength than the other similar grade PPC cement
brand; besides, all the cement brands except Dangote PPC brand attained t he target mean strength
of 33.5MPa for concrete at the age 28 days. The 28-day compression strength of Mortar, produced by
OPC Cement of, Dangote OPC cement has the highest strength than the other similar grade cement.
A mortar produced by PPC cement, at the age of 28 days compressive strength, National PPC cement
has the highest strength than the other similar grade cement brand. All OPC and PPC cement brands
produced mortar except Dangote PPC and East PPC cement brand attained the ES1177-1:2005
standard specifies the minimum of compressive strength value 42.5 & 32.5MPa respectively.
Keywords: Cement, Setting Time, Soundness, Fineness, Compressive Strength,