Civil Engineering Department

TABLE OF CONTENT

BIL CONTENT PAGE

1.0 TEST NAME 3

2.0 OBJECTIVE 3

3.0 SCOPE OF TEST 3

4.0 INTRODUCTION 4

5.0 PROCEDURE 5-7

6.0 APPARATUS
8-9

7.0
RAW DATA 10-11

8.0 ANALYSIS DATA

12-13

9.0 DISCUSSION 14

10.0 CONCLUSION
15

11.0 REFERENCE
16

1|PageSHARIFAHZAIHASRABTEWANMUNIR
Civil Engineering Department

I declare that this report “California Bearing Ratio” is the result of my own report except as cited in
the references.

Signature : ………………………….

Name : Sharifah Zaihasra Binti Wan Munir

Date : 24 August 2011

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Civil Engineering Department

1.0 . Test :
 California Bearing Ratio
2.0 . Objective :
 To determine the resistance of a standard piston penetrating a compacted soil specimen
at a rate of 1.25 mm/minute. The force applied during the penetration process thus the
termed as the percentage of force needed to achieve a similar penetration rate on a
standard test sample. The test is conducted to a soil sample which passes through a 20
mm standard sieve. The ratio of force taken from the test is used in the design of
pavement thickness.

3.0. Scope of test :

 The thickness of flexible pavement relies on the amount of traffic load applied in terms
of standard moving live load , the material used in each pavement layers and the soil
bearing strength which termed the California Bearing Ratio (CBR). The CBR value
changes according to the moisture level in subgrades. Therefore , CBR value must be
determine at a stage which the water content of a soil specimen is at an optimum level.

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4.0 . Introduction :

As we know flexible pavement is any kind of pavement that is not constructed

using concrete. There are some functions of flexible pavement which is in it subgrade ( layer
). Subgrade is a layer of natural soil or filled soil, ready to receive the pavement material on
it. For the success full construction of the road , it is necessary that the sub-grade should not
never be over stresses. It is because the stress intensity in the sub-grade should not be of the
magnitude that may cause excessive deformation in the sub-grade. The reason all of this is
because the strength properties of the soil sub-grade should not be evaluate. In pavement
design assumes sub-grade as the strength or the basis for designing the pavement.

This CBR test is one of the test that can be used to measure strength properties
of the soil sub-grade. This test also empirical and are useful in their correlation in the design.
In other word this CBR test also useful to determine the resistance of a standard piston
penetrating a compacted soil specimen at a rate of 1.25 mm/minute. The force applied during
the penetration process thus the termed as the percentage of force needed to achieve a similar
penetration rate on a standard test sample. The test is conducted to a soil sample which
passes through a 20 mm standard sieve. The ratio of force taken from the test is used in the
design of pavement thickness.

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5.0. Procedure

Figure 1.0 Figure 1.1

1) The soil sample is crushed to 2) 6 kg soil is weighted and water was mix
disintegrate it by means of a hammer it at a required amount (95 % from the
necessary and filter through a 20 mm optimum water content ) .
standard sieve. Any remaining foreign
debris on the sample will be discard.

Figure 1.3 Figure 1.4

3) It was mix thoroughly and will be 4) CBR cylindrical mould were weighted
divided into 5 parts. with its base plate and collar. Grease on
the fixture thread was apply before
assembling them.

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Figure 1.5
Figure 1.6
5) Soil sample was put into the mould part by
6) The collar and trim off soil should be
part and its will be compacted using its rule.
removed after the final compacted.

Figure 1.8
Figure 1.7
7 ) The mould were weighted with the 8 )The collar were attached to the mould once
compacted soil and the bulk density and dry again and the moulds were placed in the static
loading frame of the CBR testing machine.
density was determine.

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Figure 1.9 Figure 1.10

9) An annular surcharge load of 4.5 kg were
10) The stress and strain dial gauge were set up
applied on top of the sample. to read zero (o)

12) All the step above were redo for the bottom
11)The displacement rate of the piston
part of sample
plunger to a penetration rate of 1.25
mm/minute were set. Each reading were taken
at an intervals of 0.25 mm penetration until it
reaches a certain penetration reading not
exceeding 7.0 mm.

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6.0 . Apparatus

Figure 1.11 Figure 1.12

 CBR cylindrical mould  4.5 kg rammer

Figure 1.13 Figure 1.14

 weight  C-spanner

Figure 1.16
Figure 1.15
 Moisture content apparatus
 Spatula
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Civil Engineering Department

Figure 1.17 Figure 1.18

CBR loading machine Hammer

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Civil Engineering Department

7.0 . Raw data

CBR table 1
o BULK AND DRY DENSITY

Mass of CBR mould ( m1 ) gm 2683

gm 7864
Mass of CBR mould + Mass of compacted
specimen. ( m2 )

gm 5226
Mass of compacted specimen ( m3 = m2 – m1 )

m3 1.48 × 10-3
Volume of mould (V)

Mg/m3 3.53× 106

Bulk density, pb = m3 / v

Mg/m3 3.37× 106

Dry density , pd = 100 pb / (100 + w )

CBR table 2

o WATER CONTENT

gm 57
Mass of container ( m1)

gm 122
Mass of container + Mass of wet soil sample ( m2 )

gm 119
Mass of container + Mass of the dry soil sample ( m3)

gm 3
Mass of moisture ( m4 = m2 – m1 )

gm 62
Mass of dry sample ( m5 = m3 – m1 )

% 4.8 %
Moisture content , W = 100 × (m4 /m5 )

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CBR table 3
o CBR TEST DATA

Penetration (mm) Top Bottom

Displacement Force Displacement Force
0.00 0 0 0 0
0.25 8 0.0069 10 0.0086
0.50 11 0.0094 14 0.0121
0.75 14 0.0121 16 0.0138
1.00 16 0.0138 19 0.0165
1.25 19 0.0165 20 0.0073
1.50 21 0.0181 23 0.0199
1.75 24 0.0208 25 0.0217
2.00 26 0.0226 26 0.0226
2.25 26 0.0226 39 0.0338
2.50 31 0.0269 31 0.0269
2.75 34 0.0294 33 0.0286
3.00 37 0.0321 35 0.0303
3.25 40 0.0346 36 0.0312
3.50 43 0.0373 38 0.0330
3.75 46 0.0399 40 0.0346
4.00 48 0.0416 41 0.0355
4.25 51 0.0442 43 0.0373
4.50 53 0.0460 45 0.0390
4.75 55 0.0477 47 0.0407
5.00 58 0.0503 49 0.0425
5.25 60 0.0520 51 0.0442
5.50 62 0.0537 53 0.0460
5.75 65 0.0564 55 0.0477
6.00 67 0.0581 56 0.0485

CBR 2.5 mm 0.0269

CBR 5.0 mm 0.0503

INTERPRETATION RESULT

The CBR values are usually calculated for penetration of 2.5 mm and 5 mm. Generally the
CBR value at 2.5 mm will be greater that at 5 mm and in such a case/the former shall be taken as
CBR for design purpose. If CBR for 5 mm exceeds that for 2.5 mm, the test should be repeated.
If identical results follow, the CBR corresponding to 5 mm penetration should be taken for
design.

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8.0. Analysis data

Mass of compacted specimen , m3 = m2 + m1

m2 = 7864 gm

m1 = 2638 gm

 7864 + 2638 = 5226 gm

Volume of mould (v) Πd2/4 × h

d = 0.122 m

h = 0.127 m

Π = 3.142

 ( 3.142 ( 0.1222 ) ÷ 4 ) × 0.127 = 1.48 × 10 -3

Bulk density , pb = m3 / V

m3 = 5226 gm

V = 1.48 × 10 -3 m3

 5226 ÷ 1.48 × 10 -3 = 3.53 × 10 -3 Mg / m3

Dry density , pd = 100 pb / (100 + W )

Pb = 3.53 × 10 -3 Mg / m3

W = 4.8 %

 100 (3.53 × 10 -3) ÷ ( 100 + 4.8 ) = 3.37 × 106 Mg / m3

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Mass of Moisture ( m4 = m2 – m3 )

m2 = 122 gm

m3 = 119 gm

 122 – 119 = 3 gm

Mass of dry soil sample = ( m5 = m3 – m1 )

m3 = 119 gm

m1 = 57 gm

 119 – 57 = 62 gm

Moisture Content , W = 100 × (m4 / m5 )

m4 = 3 gm

m5 = 62 gm

 100 × (3÷62) = 4.8 %

CBR value specimen of 2.5 mm and 5.0 mm penetration.

CBR 2.5 = Penetration Force at 2.5 mm × 100

13.24 KN ( Standard Force )

 0.0269 × 100 = 0.203

13.24

CBR 5.0 = Penetration Force at 5.0 mm × 100

19.96 KN ( Standard Force )

 0.0503 × 100 = 0.252

19.96

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9.0. Discussions

1. Discuss how CBR value is determined from a series of test done using different values of
water content.

 A series of test done using different values of water content is the resistance of a
standard piston penetrating a compacted soil is has a relationship with water content. If
more water content inside the soil so that it will make the density of soil increase.

2. What is the purpose of applying surcharge load during penetration test?

 The purpose of applying surcharge load during penetration test is measured the
consistency of penetration soil by specified dimensions is allowed to penetrate into a
sample of soil under on a load.

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10.0 Conclusions

The objective of this test is to determine the resistance of a standard piston

penetrating a compacted soil specimen at a rate of 1.25 mm/minute. The force applied
during the penetration process thus the termed as the percentage of force needed to
achieve a similar penetration rate on a standard test sample. The test is conducted to a soil
sample which passes through a 20 mm standard sieve. The ratio of force taken from the
test is used in the design of pavement thickness.
So , from our observations to this test we a get a result for 3 table which is table
1 is for bulk and dry density. Table 2 is for water content and the last table is for CBR
test data which is for top and bottom and under it has displacement and force. First of all
we should take a mass of CBR mould that is 2638 gm, after that the soil which are have
been compacted inside the mould also weighted : 7864 gm. The bulk density is 3.53 × 10
-3
Mg / m3 and the density for dry density is 3.37 × 106 Mg / m3. The next prosedur is for
water content. Same as before we also weight the mass of container 57 gm and the mass
of container and wet soil 122 gm, beside that mass of container and dry soil also weight
119 gm. The moisture content for it is 4.8 %.
The CBR value of specimen at 2.5 mm and 5.0 mm , we should divided
penetration force at 2.5 mm (0.0269) or 5.0 mm (0.0503) with it standard force and time
100 %. The sum for 2.5 mm is 0.203 and for 5.0 mm is 0.252.

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11 .0 . Reference

 Highway Engineering Modul C3010

 Lab sheet Highway Engineering
 Power point lecturer Politeknik Kuching Sarawak – concrete technology
 Buku Teks Kejuruteraan Awam Tingkatan 4

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