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EFFECT OF ECCENTRICITY AND TILTING IN COAXIAL

CYLINDER VISCOMETERS WHEN TESTING CEMENT PASTE
Jon E. Wallevik
Ph.D. student
The Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Trondheim, NORWAY
jon.wallevik@bygg.ntnu.no

Olafur H. Wallevik
Head of Concrete Division
The Icelandic Building Research Institute
112 Keldnaholt, ICELAND
Tel.: +354 570 7300
Fax: +354 570 7311
wallevik.o@rabygg.is

ABSTRACT
Often, there is some eccentricity and tilting in a coaxial cylinder viscometer. The
question is how and when such disorientation begins to have effect on the
measured rheological values in cement paste, fresh mortar or fresh concrete. This
paper sets out to describe the effect of this phenomenon when measuring yield
value and plastic viscosity in cement paste.
Key words: viscometer, cement paste, eccentricity, tilting, rheology

INTRODUCTION

In the final stage of developing a new version of a coaxial cylinder viscometer, ConTec
viscometer Series 4 (see figure 4b), tests on cement paste were done. These tests were carried
out prior to final adjustments on its inner cylinder (see figure 1). The objective of this paper is
to determine the necessity of doing such adjustments and hence looking at possible reduction
in manufacture costs. This viscometer is a smaller version of the BML viscometer[1,2], and is
limited to measurements of particle suspensions with maximal particle size of 5 mm
(maximum particle size can be up to 10 mm by using wide gap system, not theoretically
a)

b)

Figure 1. Schematic figure of coaxial viscometer, a) without and b) with tilting and eccentricity.

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recommended). The reader can also see the underlying physics for such coaxial cylinder
viscometer in Tattersall and Banfill[3].
Relative to the instrument, only the inner cylinder is tilted (denoted as in figure 1b). But
relative to outer cylinder, as far as the inner cylinder is exposed to testing material, the
cylinder is also eccentric (denoted as in figure 1b). Additionally, since the inner cylinder
consist of ribs, then there is possibility of different bending for different ribs. An exaggerated
figure of this phenomenon is shown in figure 1b. To increase the effect of this geometrical
defect, the gap size r was reduced by decreasing the outer radius ro (see figure 1a).
For comparison, tests results obtained by a commercially available viscometer, the BML
Viscometer[1,2] on equivalent cement paste (see figure 4a) are used in this paper. This
instrument has been thoroughly tested and calibrated on medium (oil) with known rheological
properties and is considered accurate in comparison to the ConTec viscometer, since the
latter is meant to be cheaper and a more mobile version. Like the ConTec viscometer, it is a
coaxial cylinder viscometer used to measure rheological values for coarse particle
suspensions, such as cement paste or grout, mortars and cement-based repair materials.

MATERIALS

Ordinary Portland cement from Norcem A/S, Norway was used. The fineness of the cement
is approximately 360 m2/kg. The chemical analysis of the cement is given in table 1.
Table 1. Chemical composition of cement (% weight).
SiO2
20.5

Al2O3
4.58

Fe2O3
3.37

CaO
63.0

Free lime
0.6

SO3
2.56

MgO
2.39

Na2O
0.35

K2O
0.99

Loss of ig.
2.31

Tap water was tempered at room temperature for at least 24 hours (also to stabilize/reduce the
air content in the tap water).

TESTING PROCEDURE

The mixing procedure was based on ASTM C 305 with Hobart A200 as a mixer.
Mixing and testing procedure (for both viscometers) was as follows:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)

Water and cement placed in the mixing bowl.

Mixed at low speed for 30 sec.
Mixer stopped for 30 sec (hand mixed at the bottom of the bowl).
Speed increased to medium (30 sec).
Mixer stopped for 30 sec (hand mixed at the bottom of the bowl).
Mixed at medium speed for 90 sec.
The first viscometers test 6 min after water addition.
The second viscometers test 10 min after water addition.

The total testing time from filling to emptying the material container is normally 3 to 4
minutes. During this period the material tested is exposed to direct movement for 50
seconds. The measuring system (inner cylinder) used on both instruments was M-160, which
requires about 2-3 litres of testing material, depending on the effective height of the inner
cylinder and radius of the outer cylinder.

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THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

Since both the BML and the ConTec viscometer are designed[1,2] in such way that the bottom
and the top effects are eliminated, a two-dimensional flow can confidently be assumed in the
x1 x 2 plane (see figure 2). Also, since the ratio of the outer cylinder vs. inner is small in the
viscometer ( = ro ri = 1.08), it is justified to assume plane Couette1 flow like figure 2 shows.
Each measurement is applied in equilibrium conditions only so it is reasonable to assume
steady state flow (a equilibrium shear stress at each rate of shear). The assumed velocity
profile then becomes:
u i = u i ( x j , t ) = u1 ( x 2 )
U 0 = ro is the speed of the upper plate (figure 2) and is the angular velocity of the
outer cylinder in rad/s. Surfaces of both inner and outer cylinder contain vertical ribs to
ensure necessary boundary condition, i.e. minimizing the risk of slippage at the cylinder
walls: u1 (0) = 0 u1 (r ) = U 0 .
By using the above assumption in solving the governing equation, one gets the following
velocity profile:
u1 ( x 2 ) = U 0 x 2 r

x2

x3

(1)

U0
u1 ( x 2 ) =

U0
x2
r

U0
x2
x1

x1
Figure 2. Assumption of Couette flow in the ConTec viscometer.

The testing is based on a Bingham behavior of cement-based materials where the material
flow properties are characterized by its shear viscosity:

+ 0 if 12 = 0
~ =
&
if 12 = < 0

(2)

~ : Shear viscosity of Bingham fluid [Pas].

: Plastic shear viscosity [Pas].
0 : Yield value [Pa].
1

M. Couette, a French scientist, was a pioneer in the analysis of shear flow between parallel plates and
rotating cylinders.

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ij = p ij + ~&kk ij + 2~ (&ij &kk ij / 3) : The general stress tensor[4] [Pa].

p : Hydrostatic pressure [Pa].
~ : Bulk viscosity of Bingham fluid [Pas].
&ij = (u i , j + u j ,i ) / 2 : The strain rate tensor [1/s].
& = (2&ij &ij )1 / 2 : Rate of shear [1/s].
The bulk viscosity ~ is usually never taken into consideration, because of constant density
assumptions: d dt = &kk = 0 . Here such an assumption is not necessary since the
divergence is automatically zeroed due to the assumed velocity profile (this result applies
also for circular Couette flow). Using equation (1), the general stress tensor and the rate of
shear becomes;
0 p
~ U 0 r 0
p

=
(3)
p
p 0 = U 0 r
0
0
0 p
p
0
0

& = U 0 r = U 0 r

(4)

In measuring plastic viscosity and yield value in the Bingham fluid it is important to avoid
plug, i.e. it is important to have ~ = + 0 & , but not ~ since such a state represents
solid material behavior (a plug). Using this viscosity in equation (3), then applying equation
(4) and rearranging one gets:
= 0 + &

(5)

Same results as above can be achieved for circular Couette flow in a cylinder coordinate
system, but the derivations are a bit more complicated and beyond the scope of this paper.
This equation is used to derive the well-known Reiner-Rivlin equation[3]:
=

r
T 1 1 0
2 2 ln o
4 h ri ro
ri

(6)

T : Torque measured at inner cylinder [Nm]

h : Height of inner cylinder [m]
Ultimately, equation (6) is then used to calculate the Bingham parameters ( o and ) from
measured values (T vs. ) in the ConTec and the BML viscometer.

GEOMETRICAL MESUREMENTS

In the BML Viscometer, the ratio = ro / ri is usually about 1.16, but for the ConTec
Viscometer in the particular test, it is = 1.0809 with standard deviation of 0.0053. The

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average radius of the inner cylinder is ri = 84.7mm, with standard deviation 0.4mm. Gap size
measurements were made at each rib at different heights, i.e. z = 18, 100 and 150mm, in
which z is the vertical distance from the bottom of the inner cylinder to the point of
measurement (figure 1b). Figures 3a and b show plots of gap difference between outer and
inner cylinder ( r = ro ri ) and inner radius ri for each rib respectively. The capital letters
stand for location of each rib.

a)

b)
A

8,00 mm

85,50 mm

7,50 mm

B
85,00 mm

7,00 mm
K

84,50 mm

6,50 mm
84,00 mm

6,00 mm
J

5,50 mm

F
G

83,50 mm

18 mm
100 mm
150 mm

F
G

18 mm
100 mm
150 mm

Figure 3. Deviation of individual ribs in the inner cylinder. a) The gap size r , b) the inner radius, ri .

The maximum deviation in radius of inner cylinder ri is only about 2% at location

z = 18mm and minimum deviation is 1% at z = 150mm (figure 3b). At first look, there
does not seem to be any geometrical defect on the inner cylinder, at least not anything to be
concerned about. However, the matter of concern here is not the deviation of the inner radii
for each rib, but rather the gap deviations at each location (figure 3a). The reason for this is
apparent in equation (4), where rate of shear mainly depends on the gap (difference) r . The
maximum gap deviation is 22% at z = 18mm and minimum 7% at z = 150mm.

a)

b)

Figure 4. The viscometers used. a) The BML viscometer. b) The ConTec viscometer 4.

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RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

To give a perspective on the size of the yield values and plastic viscosity, result from an
earlier work[5] on similar cement paste is shown in figure 5, where water/cement-ratio (w/cratio) was varied from 0.38 to 0.53. The mix with w/c = 0.38 was very stiff ( o ~ 1000 Pa)
and very viscous ( ~30 Pas).
Y ie ld va lu e ( P a )

12 min.

1.200
1.000

6 min.
0,38

800

0,4

600

0,43
400

0,47
0,5
0,53

200
0
0

10

15

20

25

30

P lastic viscosity (P a s )

Figure 5. Effect of water/cement ratio[5] without any additives.

Figure 6 shows the effect of eccentricity and tilting described in the previous chapter
(Geometrical measurements), on measured yield value in the ConTec viscometer compared
to the BML viscometer. It is apparent from the figure that the effect is minor or nil. The
estimated regression line from the measurements in the ConTec viscometer is given by
following exponential equation:
0 = 343441e 21.86

(7)

where the coefficient of determination is 0.997. Here is the water/cement ratio.

1000

y = 343441e-21,855x
R2 = 0,997

900

Yield value (Pa)

800
700
600
ConTec

500
400
300

BML

200
100
0
0,25

0,3

0,35

0,4

0,45

Water/cement ratio

Figure 6. Effect of eccentricity and tilting on measured yield value in the ConTec viscometer compared
to measured values with the BML viscometer.

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Figure 7 shows the effect of eccentricity and tilting on measured plastic viscosity in the
ConTec viscometer compared to the BML viscometer. This effect is such that the measured
value is increased by constant value about 1 Pas, in the approximate range of
(0.29,0.37) . But this difference reduces somewhat for larger water/cement values.
Values below 0.29 were difficult to obtain due to plug.

14

y = 916e-16,166x
R2 = 0,992

Plastic viscosity (Pa s)

12
10
8
6

ConTec

4
2
0
0,25

BML
0,3

0,35

0,4

0,45

Water/cement ratio

Figure 7. Effect of eccentricity and tilting on measured plastic viscosity in the ConTec viscometer
compared to measured values in the BML viscometer.

The estimated regression line in figure 7, for the ConTec viscometer, is given by:
= 916e 16.17

(8)

where the coefficient of determination is 0.992. By combining equation (7) and (8) one gets
the relationship between the measured yield value and the plastic viscosity as an exponential
equation:
0 = 34.01 1.35

(9)

Figure 8 shows the effect of eccentricity and tilting on measured yield value and plastic
viscosity in the ConTec viscometer compared to the BML viscometer.
The controlling mechanism here is not fully understood, however it can be explained with the
following hypothesis:
The conversion of kinetic energy (motion) to internal energy (temperature) of the cement
vv
paste due to the existence of shear viscosity (see equation (2)), is described with[6] : v .
v
I.e. transformation of kinetic energy ( v 2 2 ) to internal energy ( u ) exists because of
vv
friction ( : v ) in the cement paste (for those who are interested in this type of energy
transformation, there is an excellent text regarding the subject in Malvern[6]).

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800
700
Yield value (Pa)

600
BML
500
400
ConTec

300
200
100
0
0

10

15

Plasic vis cosity (Pa s)

Figure 8. Effect of eccentricity and tilting on measured yield value and plastic viscosity in the ConTec
viscometer compared to measured values in the BML viscometer.

vv
For both plane- and circular Couette flow one gets : v = & 2 + o& . One might suggest
that this transformation of kinetic- to internal energy increases with presence of this
geometrical defect, i.e. the overall friction in the system and on the inner cylinder, increases.
The rheometer in question would then register larger viscosity. Or in mathematical terms:
The energy transformation would go from
vv
(10)
: v = & 2 + o&
for non-defected rheometer to
vv
: v = & 2 + o& + A & 2 + B &

(11)

for defected one. A and B would be a form-functions depending mainly on the

geometrical defects in question, and (at least in the range [1 Pa s, 8 Pa s ] for our
case, i.e. in the range where A seems to be independent of ). The measured plastic
viscosity and yield value would then be + A and o + B for which in this paper one
would have A = 1Pa s and B 0 Pa .

FINAL REMARKS

The objective of this paper is to determine the necessity of doing any adjustments on the
ConTec viscometers inner cylinder in its end of production line. Now the main question is if
the form-functions in equation (11) are dependent on geometrical defects only or are also
dependent on and o . Indeed, the question is also whether or not equation (11) is valid at
all. If this equation is valid (and the hypothesis around it) and if the two above form-function
depend mainly on geometry, then the importance of any adjustment would be reduced since
increase in plastic viscosity would be a constant, depending only on geometry and not on
and o . In such case it would be easy to filter this increase with programming maneuver in
the software controlling the viscometer.

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If A and B are dependent on and o outside the range [1 Pa s, 8 Pa s ] then

adjustments on the ConTec viscometers inner cylinder would be desirable since
programming maneuver would be more difficult and possible more expensive than a direct
physical adjustment on the inner cylinder.
The next possible step from here on, could be purely theoretical one. I.e. solve the full
governing partial differential equations in cylinder coordinate system, with semi-circular flow
vv
for the defected geometry and then calculate : v directly. Such mathematical maneuver
would introduce an increase in numbers of independent variables for the velocity. I.e. the
velocity would now be dependent on r , and z instead of on r for the non-defected one.
Such increase would probably mean a numerical solution instead of analytically one, but
there is possibly a way around this by using the general curvilinear coordinate system.
This is only a brief introduction to the task of investigating the effects of eccentricity and
tilting on measured rheological values for fresh cement paste. Within the limitations of this
work, the measured plastic viscosity seems to increase, but the yield value is left unaffected.
Therefore, an adjustment on ConTec viscometers inner cylinder can be considered important
to assure accurate measurement of the plastic viscosity. The controlling mechanism here is
not fully understood and further investigation would certainly be feasible.
The aim of this paper is to give a scientist, working with cement paste and even mortar in a
coaxial cylinder viscometer (with small ), possibility to recognize the effect of this
phenomenon (i.e. effects of eccentricity and tilting). This report does, by no means, elucidate
the phenomenon fully, but it should give a starting point in considering this effect on
measured rheological value.

REFERENCES

[1] Wallevik, O., "The Rheology of Fresh Concrete and its Application on Concrete with and without Silica
Fume", Dr. Ing. thesis 1990:45, NTH, Trondheim, 1990, p. 185. (in Norwegian)
[2] Wallevik, O., Gjrv, O.E., "Development of a Coaxial Cylinder Viscometer for Fresh Concrete", Properties
of Fresh Concrete, proceedings of the Rilem Colloquium, Chapman & Hall, Hanover, October, 1990, pp.
213-224.
[3] Tattersall, G.H., Banfill, P.F.G., The Rheology of Fresh Concrete, Pitman Advanced Publishing
Program, 1983, pp. 14-15, pp. 54-57.
[4] Mase, G.E., Schaums Outline Series: Theory and Problems of CONTINUUM MECHANICS, McGrawHill Inc., 1970, p. 161.
[5] Wallevik, O., Jankovic, D., "Rheological Measurements on Fresh Mortar with a New Measuring System on
The BML Viscometer", NRS 96, Stavanger, June, 1996, p.3.
[6] Malvern, L.E., Introduction to the Mechanics of a Continuous Medium, Prentice Hall Inc., 1969, pp.
227-230.

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