SCHOOL OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY,

ENGINEERING, MATHEMATICS, AND

PHYSICS

CV 311: Geotechnical Engineering

Year 3 – Bachelor in Civil Engineering

Title of Experiment: California Bearing Ratio test

Course Coordinator: Thomas Kishore

Name: Shivneel Karan Singh Date Performed: 21 March 2023

Student ID: S11198490 Due Date: 4 April 2023

Shivneel K Singh S11198490

 Experiment 4 – California Bearing Ratio Test
Introduction
The California Bearing Ratio (CBR) test is a frequently used test in the construction industry for
determining the mechanical strength of subgrade soils and base course material for pavement
design. The test gauges the soil’s ability to support loads by determining its resistance to
penetration by a plunger under conditioned moisture and density parameters. The test was
initially launched by the California Division of Highways in 1930s [1], and since then it has been
standardized by numerous national and international organizations including the American
Society for testing and Materials (ASTM) [2] and British Standards Institution (BSI) [3].
The CBR test is a crucial part of pavement design since it aids in assessing the soil’s strength and
deformation properties, which are important aspects in determining the thickness and kind of
pavement layer that are needed for a specific traffic load. The CBR value, which is based on the
results of the CBR test and compares the soil’s resistance to penetration by a standard plunger to
the resistance of a standard material under the same conditions [4].
The base course material’s performance under various traffic and climatic situations is predicted
using the CBR test, which is regarded as a reliable method. Engineers and geotechnical experts
frequently use it while designing and building flexible pavements.
Aim
The aim of the CBR test is to find the soil’s strength and load-bearing capacity for the designing
and construction of pavement.

Apparatus/ Materials Used

The following materials were used to conduct this experiment:
 Cylindrical mould, extension and a base plate
 Spacer disc
 Scale
 Metal rammers
 Miscellaneous items (brush, tray, straight edge, mixing bowl)
 Loading machine
 Filter paper
 Metal weights

Procedure
A representative soil was obtained and was conditioned till its maximum moisture content that
was determined during the proctor test. The spacer disk was placed over the base plate and the
filter paper was placed on top of the spacer disk then the extension was connected to the base

Shivneel K Singh S11198490

plate. The moist soil was compacted in three layers, with each layer was compacted by the
Rammer weighing 2.5kg dropped from a height of 31cm with a 56 number of blows. After
compacting each layer, the top has to be scratched off before another layer is added. Using a
straight edge, after the 3rd layer the extension was removed and the excess soil was scratched off.
The spacer disk was removed and the filter paper was placed on the base plate and the mould
was turned upside down. The metal weights of 2kg was placed on top of the soil. the plunger was
bought in contact with the surface of the soil. The dial gauge was set to zero. The load was
applied and the readings were recording at various penetrations depths.

Diagrams/ Experimental Setup

Figure 1: California Bearing Ratio Equipment

Figure 2: shows the soil sample is being mixed with water to achieve maximum moisture content

Shivneel K Singh S11198490

 Figure 3: Shows that the soil sample is getting compacted

Figure 4: Shows that after being compacted the excess soil is being removed from the top of the mould

Figure 5: Shows that the any loose soil particles from the mould is removed by the brush

Shivneel K Singh S11198490

 Figure 6: shows that the mould of compacted soil is fitted into the CBR machine

Data Sheet
Results
Optimum Water content (%) 13
Weight of empty mould (Kg) 3.055
Weight of mould + compacted specimen (Kg) 5.580
Weight of compacted specimen (Kg) 2.525
−3
Volume of specimen (m3) 1.4076 ×10
Bulk Density (Kg/m3 ) 1793.708
Dry Density ( Kg/ m 3 ) 1587.352
Table 1: Dynamic Compaction

No Penetration (mm) Proving dial reading Load (Kg) Axial Load (kg /cm2)
1 0.5 20 45.305 2.3079
2 1 17 38.509 1.9617
3 1.5 16 36.244 1.8463
4 2 15 33.979 1.7309
5 2.5 18 40.775 2.0771
6 3 21 47.571 2.4233
7 3.5 23 52.101 2.6541
8 4 24 54.366 2.7695
9 5 25 56.632 2.8849
10 7.5 26 58.897 3.0003
11 10 34 77.019 3.9235
12 12.5 43 97.406 4.9621
Table 2: Penetration

Shivneel K Singh S11198490

Calculations
 Load

Load=
( Proving dial reading∗5
225 )∗1000

9.81
20∗5
( )
225
¿ ∗1000=45.305 kg
225
 Axial load
Load ( Kg)
Axialload =
Area of the Plunger
45.305 2
¿ 2
=2.3079 kg /cm
19.63 cm
 Bulk density, ρ
ms + mw
ρ=
Vt
2.525 3
¿ −3
=1793.708 kg /m
1.4076 ×10
 Dry density, ρd

( 100+
ρd =
100
w)
ρ

¿ ( 100+13
100
)1793.708=1587.352 kg /m 3

 CBR (2.5mm)
Unit Standard Load for 2.5mm = 70 kg /m2

¿ Load corresponding¿ 2.5 mm penetration(Pr) ¿ 2.5 mm penetration( Ps)¿ ×100

Standard load corresponding ¿
2.0771
¿ ×100=2.967 %
70
 CBR (5mm)
Unit Standard Load for 5mm = 105 kg /m2

Shivneel K Singh S11198490

¿ Load corresponding¿ 2.5 mm penetration(Pr) ¿ 2.5 mm penetration( Ps)¿ ×100
Standard load corresponding ¿
2.8849
¿ ×100=2.747 %
105
Result Sheet
Graph of Penetration versus Axial load
6

5
Axial Load (kg/cm2)

2.88
3
2.08
2

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14

Penetration (mm)

Graph 1: Shows the graph of Penetration vs Axial load

Discussion
The CBR test is a compacted soil sample with a defined diameter and height is exposed to a load
applied at a controlled rate. The CBR value is calculated by dividing the test load required to
penetrate the soil to a specific depth by the standard load required to penetrate a standard crushed
rock material to the same depth. The results of the CBR test performed on the soil sample shows
that the soil has CBR values of 2.967% and 2.747%, respectively at penetration depths of 2.5mm
and 5mm. These numbers indicates that the soil may not be appropriate for supporting significant
traffic loads due to its low load-bearing capability [2].
Given the CBR value of 2.967% at a penetration depth of 2.5mm shows that a little load can be
supported by the soil, but the heavier loads can cause the soil to deform significantly. Based on
the CBR value of 2.747% found at a penetration depth of 5mm shows the soil’s load-bearing
capacity is considerably lower and therefore cannot be used as the subgrade layer of a pavement
structure.
Furthermore, the factors such as moisture content, density, human error and composition could
affected the low CBR values in the test. The soil’s moisture content has a big impact on how
much weight it can support, and a high moisture level can lower the CBR value. The strength of
the soil is also greatly influenced by its density; a less dense soil may have a lower CBR value.

Shivneel K Singh S11198490

The kind and size of the particles in the soil, as well as their composition can have an impact on
the soil’s deformation characteristics and load-bearing ability.
Conclusion
To sum up, the purpose of this experiment was achieved by determining the CBR values of the
given soil sample. The CBR values that was obtained were 2.967% and 2.747% at a penetration
depth of 2.5mm and 5mm respectively, indicating that the soil sample is relative brittleness, low
strength and load-bearing capacity. The low CBR results indicate that the soil samples might not
be appropriate for use as base material or subgrade for pavement. However, for assuring the
security and resilience of pavement structures, adequate selection and characterization of soil
materials based on their CBR values and other geotechnical parameters are crucial.
Sources of Error
The test is can be affected by variety of factors, which could produce errors or inaccuracies in the
results obtained. Firstly, the preparation of the soil sample while compaction or achieving the
maximum moisture content can impact the strength and load-bearing capacity. Secondly, the load
frame deflection, if the applied load exceeds the frame’s capacity, the load frame employed in the
test can deflect or bend. Lastly, due to human error, while reading the equipment, recording or in
calculations.

References

[1] pavement interactive, "California Bearing Ratio," [Online]. Available: https://pavementinteractive.org/reference-

desk/design/design-parameters/california-bearing-ratio/#:~:text=It%20was%20developed%20by
%20the,equipped%20to%20perform%20CBR%20tests.. [Accessed 28 Mar 2023].

[2] ASTM International, "Standard Test Method for California Bearing Ratio (CBR) of Laboratory-Compacted
Soils," 10 Dec 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.astm.org/d1883-21.html. [Accessed 28 March 2023].

[3] ELE International, "OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS," [Online]. Available:

https://www.ele.com/product/penetration-piston/0/NTdhMC85OTAxWDAyMjhfMiBPcGVyYXRpbmcgaW5zd
HJ1Y3Rpb25zLnBkZg==. [Accessed 28 Mar 2023].

[4] G. Kelly, "Developing Pavement Structural Deterioration Curves," 07 2018. [Online]. Available:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328143278_Concept_Paper_Developing_Pavement_Structural_Deteri
oration_Curves. [Accessed 04 04 2023].

Shivneel K Singh S11198490