CBR (California Bearing Ratio) Test

1. Objective
The strength of the sub grade is the main factor in determining the required thickness of flexible
pavement for road and air field. The strength of subgrade, sub base and base course material are
expected in terms of CBR value

The main objective of determining these tests are

 To determine the CBR value of the soil

 To determine the penetration comparison with standard load

2. APPARTUS
 Molds 2250cc capacity with base plate, stay rod and wing nut
 collar
 Spacer Disc
 Metal rammer
 Expansion measuring apparatus with the adjustable stem, perforated
plates, tripod confirming and to weights
 Loading machine having a capacity of at least 5000kg and equipped with
a movable head or base that travels at a uniform rate of 1.25mm / min for
use in forcing the penetration plunger in to the specimen.
 Penetration plunger
 Dial gauge two numbers reading to 0.01mm.
 IS a sieve 37.50 or 22.50 or 19mm and 4.75mm.
 Miscellaneous apparatus such as mixing bowl, straight edge, scales,
soaking tank, drying oven, filter paper, dishes and calibrated measuring jar.
 3. Theory
California bearing ratio is the ratio of force per unit area required to penetrate in to a soil mass
with a circular plunger of 50mm diameter at the rate of 1.25mm /min.

There are two types of methods in compacting soil specimen in the CBR moulds

i. Static Compaction method.

ii. Dynamic Compaction method.

California Bearing Ratio (CBR) test is a simple strength test that compares the bearing capacity
of a material with that of a well-graded crushed stone. The test was originally developed by the
California Division of Highways in the 1930s, as part of a study of pavement failures. Its purpose
was to provide an assessment of the relative stability of fine crushed rock base materials. It is
now widely used for evaluating the stability or strength of sub-grade soil and other flexible
pavement materials for pavement design throughout the world. The CBR values obtained from
either laboratory tests or in-situ (field tests) have been correlated with flexible pavement
thickness requirements for highways and airfields. In this test, a plunger is made to penetrate the
soil, which is compacted to the prevalent dry density and moisture content anticipated in the field
(or to MDD and OMC as specified) in a standard mould (CBR mould) at a specified rate of
penetration. The resulting load-penetration curve is compared with that obtained for a standard
crushed rock material, which is considered an excellent base course material.
This method covers the laboratory determination of CBR of a compacted sample of soil- one
point method, which is the prescribed method in the pavement and materials design manual. The
CBR value is the resistance to a penetration of 2.54cm of a standard cylindrical plunger of 50mm
diameter, expressed as a percentage of the known resistance of the plunger of 2.54cm in
penetration in crushed aggregate (taken as 6.9mpa).

4. sample preparations
The CBR test shall be carried out on materials passing the 20mm sieve. If the soil contains
particles larger than this fraction retained on the 20mm test sieve shall be removed and weighted
before preparing the sample. If this fraction is greater than 25 percent the test is note applicable

The moisture content of the soil shall be chosen to represent the design condition for which the
test results are required

Take a portion of material large enough to provide about 6kg of material passing a 20mm sieve

Bring the sample to the required moisture content. The soil shall be thoroughly mixed and shall
normally be sealed and stored for at last 24hr before compacting in to mould
The specified effort of compaction shall correspond to the2.5kg hammer mtd-BS light or the
4.5kg hammer mtd-BS heavy.

3.4 Test procedure

Step 1: bring the sample to the required moisture content. The soil shall be thoroughly mixed
and shall normally be sealed

Step 2: divide the quantity of soil in to three or five equal portions.

Step 3: stand the mould assembly on a solid base like in a concrete floor or plinth

Step 4: place the first portion of soil in to the mould and compact it so that after 56 blows of the
appropriate rammer the layer occupies about or a little more than one-third (or one-fifth ) of the
height of the mould. We must ensure that the blows are evenly distributed over the surface

Step 5: : repeat the other two or four portions of soil in turn, so that the final level of the soil is
level about top of the mould body.
Step 6: take a sample from a compacted soil for determining moisture content.
Step7: remove the collar and trim the soil flush to the top of the mould with the scraper ,
checking with the steel straightedge

Step8: weight the mould soil in best plate

Step9: if a solid base plate have been used, this shall be removed from the mould and replace
with a perforated base plate.
Step10: fit the collar to the other end of the mould, packing the screw threads to obtain a water
tight joint.
Step11: place a filterpaper on top of a sample followed by the perforated swell plate. Fit the
required number of annular surcharge discs around the stem on the perforated plate.
Step12: the swell measuring device consists of the tripod and the dial gage are placed on the top
edge of the mould and the spindle of the dial gage is placed touching the top of the adjusted stem
of the perforated plate. Then the initial dial gage reading is recorded and Place the mould
assembly in soaking tank and keep it for four days (96 hours ).
Step13: mount the dial gauge on top of the extension collar, secure the dial gauge in place and
adjust the stem in perforated plate to give a convenient zero reading
Step14: place the mould with baseplate containing the sample with the top face of sample
exposed centrally on the lower platen of the testing machine.
Step15: place the appropriate annular surcharge disks on top of the sample.
Step16: fit in to place the cylindrical plunger on the surface of the sample.
Step17: apply a seating force on the plunger
Step18: record the reading of the loading ring as the initial zero reading
Step19: secure the penetration dial gauge in position. Record its initial zero reading or re set it to
zero
Step20: record readings of the force gauge at intervals of penetration of 64mm to a total
penetration not exceeding 768mm

5. Penetration Test (for soaked sample)

 After 96 hours of soaking take out the specimen from the water and remove the
extension collar, perforated disc, surcharge weights and filter paper.
 Drain off the excess water by placing the mould inclined for about 15 minutes and
weigh the mould.

 Place the mould on the lower plate of the testing machine with top face exposed
 To prevent upheaval of soil in to the hole of surcharge weights, place 2.5kg annular weights on
the soil surface prior to seating the penetration plunger after which place the reminder of the
surcharge weights.
 Set the plunger under a load of 4 kg so that full contact is established between the surface of
the specimen and the plunger.
 Set the stress and strain gauges to zero.
 Consider the initial load applied to the plunger as the zero loads.
 Apply the load at the rate of 1.25 mm / min.
 Take the readings of the load at penetration of 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 4, 5, 7.5, 10 and
12.5.
 Raise the plunger and detach the mould from the loading equipment.
 Collect the sample of about 20 to 50gms of soil from the top 30mm layer of specimen and
determine the water content
 Examine the specimen carefully after the test is completed for the presence of any oversize soil
particles, which are likely to affect the results if they happen to be located directly below the
penetration plunger.

Calculation

Data collection
Weight of sample = 6000g
Number of blows = 56
Water content 16%
 Sample A
Number of blow 56
Mould code K3/E12
Weight of mould 747g
Weight of mould and soil 11157g
Can code A7
Weight of can 20g
Weight of can and soil 108.5g
Weight of can and dry soil
Table -1: data for the test
𝑀𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙
 𝑘 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙 𝜌𝑏 = 𝑉𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑

Mass of soil = 11157g-7747g= 3410g

𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎(𝐴) = 𝜋𝑟 2
𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎(𝐴) = 3.14 ∗ (152.4/2)2
= 182.4𝑐𝑚2
Volume of mould =A*h
=182.4*11.6
=2116𝑐𝑚3
𝑀𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙 3410𝑔
 Bulk density of the soil 𝜌𝑏 = = =1.61g/𝑐𝑚3
𝑉𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 2116𝑐𝑚3

𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟
Water content (𝜔) = *100
𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑑𝑟𝑦 𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙
88.5−72.5
= 72.5 ∗ 100= 22.06%

100∗𝜌𝑏 100∗1.61
Dry density of the soil ρd = = =1.32
100+𝜔 100+22.06
The CBR value is calculated as,
𝑇𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠
CBR, % = 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 *100
9.81𝑚
46𝑘𝑔∗21.34∗ /1940𝑚𝑚2
𝑠2
CBR @ 2.56 = 6.9𝑁/𝑚𝑚2
*100
= 0.719*100
=71.9%

9.81𝑚
58𝑘𝑔∗21.34∗ /1940𝑚𝑚2
𝑠2
CBR @ 5.12 = 10.3𝑁/𝑚𝑚2
*100
= 0.607*100
=60.7%
9.81𝑚
85𝑘𝑔∗21.34∗ /1940𝑚𝑚2
𝑠2
CBR @ 12.80 = 18𝑁/𝑚𝑚2
*100
= 0.50957*100
=50.96%
CBR value at 2.54 > CBR value at 5.12 so select CBR value 71.9% at 2.54 penetration
 CBR TEST DATA SHEET
 Compacting moisture content = 16%
 Dry density =
 Condition of test specimen = soaked
 Swell, % =
 Surcharge weight = 44.5N
 Mould diameter =152.4mm
 Mould weight = 116mm
 Area of piston = 19.4𝑐𝑚2

Penetration Dial reading Calibration Penetration CBR value (%)

Depth in(mm) Col(2) factor(21.34) * Stress (KN/𝑚2 ) =col(4)/standard
Col(1) col(2) Col(3)*9.81N/𝑚2 /piston stress
Col(3) area(A)(1940𝑚𝑚2 ) in
Mpa
Col(4)
64 24 512.16 2.589
128 36 768.24 3.88
192 43 917.62 4.64
256 46 981.64 4.96 71.9
320 50 1067 5.39
384 52 1109.68 5.61
448 55 1173.7 5.93
512 58 1237.72 6.26 60.7
576 61 1303.57 6.59
640 64 1365.76 6.9
704 67 1429.77 7.23
768 70 1495.9 7.56
832 73 1557.82 7.87
896 76 1621.84 8.2
960 79 1685.86 8.52
1024 82 1749.88 8.85
1280 85 1813.9 9.17 50.96
Table 2: CBR data sheet table
 CBR data graph

10

8
penetration stress in Mpa

0
64 128 192 256 320 384 448 512 576 640 704 768 832 896 960 1024 1280
penetration depth in mm