Abstract: A method of determining setting period of a chemically-active material is disclosed. The method comprises: continuously measuring an electrical property such as of the material to provide a time-dependence of the property, and using the time-dependence for defining a setting-start time and a setting-finish time. The setting-start time is defined as a time of onset of a fastest rise of the resistivity and the setting-finish time is defined as a time of local maximum of the resistivity.

Abstract: A method of determining setting period of a chemically-active material is disclosed. The method comprises: continuously measuring an electrical property such as of the material to provide a time-dependence of the property, and using the time-dependence for defining a setting-start time and a setting-finish time. The setting-start time is defined as a time of onset of a fastest rise of the resistivity and the setting-finish time is defined as a time of local maximum of the resistivity.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a strengthening process of a chemically active material having a liquid phase and a non-liquid phase, the method comprises: (a) continuously measuring at least one physical parameter characterizing the liquid phase; (b) extracting a time-dependence of the at least one physical parameter, so as to identify functional transitions in the time-dependence; and (c) using the functional transitions to determine a strengthening state of the chemically active material; thereby monitoring the strengthening process of the chemically active material.

Abstract: A method of forecasting strength of a chemically active material while hardening is disclosed. The chemically active material is characterized by at least one physical parameter. The method comprises: (a) measuring the at least one physical parameter over a predetermined time-interval, so as to obtain at least one series of measurements; (b) extracting a predetermined time-dependence of the at least one physical parameter over at least a portion of the predetermined time-interval; and (c) using the predetermined time-dependence of the at least one physical parameter to forecast the strength of the chemically active material at a future time.