Characterization of the cement setting by acoustic near field

The cement setting has been characterized by the acoustic near-field method . The process consists in studying the variation of the resonance curve of a horn whose tip is immersed in the sample. The sensor design has been adju sted in order to make it sensitive to the viscosity, as well as to the sett ing and to the modifications of the mechanical properties. The experimental measurements agree with the results expected from modelling. They display the stages of the setting and highlight the shear threshold. (C) 1999 Elsev ier Science S.A. All rights reserved.