INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Concrete construction works in North Cotabato, Philippines are rapidly

increasing due to the necessity of development of significant number of

infrastructure as well as the increasing number of business in the different

municipalities in North Cotabato. Due to a huge demand of cement for making

concrete structures, there are 6 cement manufacturing companies that are

members of CEMAP (Cement Manufacturer’s Association of the Philippines)

supplying in the market with different brand names.

Selection and utilization of suitable materials for any construction work,

during design and execution is pertinent. Failure of concrete structures is

usually attributed to incorrect selection of materials amongst other factors.

(McGinley and Choo, 1990)

Cement, a binding substance used in construction that sets, hardens,

and adheres to other materials, binding them together. Cement is used with

fine aggregates to produce concrete (Bhunamatidas and Kalidas, 2003). Most

construction companies rely on their experience, availability and cost in

selecting the brand of cement to be used in the construction and rely often at

the expense of quality. More so, that the quality information presently available

on the bag of different brands of cement as given by the producers is

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inadequate to enable assessment of the behaviour of cement mix. For

instance, the setting behaviour of the cement is not highlighted on the

container of these cements. Poor quality cement has been implicated as one

of the major causes of incessant building collapses in Mindanao, particularly in

North Cotabato.

Objective of the Study

The main objective of this study is to compare what is the most

beneficial brand of cement that can be used in North Cotabato. Specifically it

aims:

a) To test the compressive strength of concrete mixed with different

brands of cement.

b) To test the flexural strength of concrete mixed with different brands

of cement.

c) To test the physical and chemical composition of the cements.

d) To evaluate the cost of the cements.

Scope and Delimitation

The study is limited to the evaluation of the best cements that is

available in the market and the physical characteristics of concrete with

different brands of cement.

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Significance of the Study

This research is not only timely but may also serve as basis for many

contractors to select the appropriate cement for their construction works. This

research can also help to utilize and reduce the cost of projects and to

maintain the durability and quality of the material used.

Operational Definition of Terms:

The following terms were defined operationally for better understanding

on the study.

Cement - is a powder of gypsum, silicon and lime that creates strong mixture

if added water.

Concrete - is the mixture of cement, fine and course aggregates and water.

Curing - a method of putting water to the samples after it is harden to attain its

100% strength 28 days.

Composition - the nature of something's ingredients or constituents; the way

in which a whole or mixture is made up.

Fineness - affects hydration rate and thus the rate of strength gain of cement.

Soundness - the property of hardened cement paste undergoing large

change in volume after setting without delayed destructive expansion.

Compressive Strength- the resistance of a material to breaking under

compression.
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Flexural Strength - also known as modulus of rupture, or bend strength,

or transverse rupture strength is a material property, defined as

the stress in a material just before it yields in a flexure test.