CALIFORNIA BEARING RATIO(CBR)

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the California Bearing Ratio of a given soil sample.

DEFINITION: It is the ratio of force per unit area required to penetrate a soil mass with
standard circular piston at the rate of 1.25 mm/min. to that required for the corresponding
penetration of a standard material.

C.B.R. = (Test load/Standard load) /100

It was developed by the California Department of Transportation before World War II. The
CBR rating was developed for measuring the load-bearing capacity of soils used for building
roads. The CBR can also be used for measuring the load-bearing capacity of unimproved
airstrips or for soils under paved airstrips. The basic site test is performed by measuring the
pressure required to penetrate soil or aggregate with a plunger of standard area. The measured
pressure is then divided by the pressure required to achieve an equal penetration on a standard
crushed rock material.

The specifications for CBR test are described in Indian Standard code 2720 part 16-
1979. The CBR test is described in ASTM Standards D1883-05 (for laboratory-prepared
samples) and D4429 (for soils in place in field), and AASHTO T193. The CBR test is fully
described in BS 1377: Soils for civil engineering purposes: Part 4, Compaction related tests,
and in Part 9: In-situ tests.

The following table gives the standard loads adopted for different penetrations for the standard
material with a C.B.R. value of 100%

Penetration of plunger (mm) Standard load (kg)

2.5 1370

5.0 2055

7.5 2630

10.0 3180

12.5 3600

The test may be performed on undisturbed specimens and on remoulded specimens

which may be compacted either statically or dynamically

Department of civil Engg, NIT Raipur

APPLICATIONS:

The basic operations for conducting the CBR test are the same regardless of variations in soil
conditions and types of construction. The test essentially measures the soil resistance to
penetration prior to reaching its ultimate shearing value. It is not exactly a measure of the
shearing modulus since the confining effects of the molds to exert some influence. The CBR
is designated as a ratio in percent from 0 to 100 with a crushed well-graded (pausing through
the 3/4-inch sieve) limestone serving as the 100 percent material.

APPARATUS REQUIRED:

1. Cylindrical mould with inside dia 150 mm and height 175 mm, provided with a detachable
extension collar 50 mm height and a detachable perforated base plate 10 mm thick.
2. Spacer disc 148 mm in dia and 47.7 mm in height along with handle.
3. Metal rammers. Weight 2.6 kg with a drop of 310 mm (or) weight 4.89 kg a drop 450 mm.
4. Weights. One annular metal weight and several slotted weights weighing 2.5 kg each, 147
mm in dia, with a central hole 53 mm in diameter.
5. Loading machine. With a capacity of at least 5000 kg and equipped with a movable head or
base that travels at an uniform rate of 1.25 mm/min. Complete with load indicating device.
6. Metal penetration piston 50 mm dia and minimum of 100 mm in length.
7. Two dial gauges reading to 0.01 mm.
8. Sieves. 4.75 mm and 20 mm I.S. Sieves.
9. Miscellaneous apparatus, such as a mixing bowl, straight edge, scales soaking tank or pan,
drying oven, filter paper and containers.

Department of civil Engg, NIT Raipur

PROCEDURE:
PREPARATION OF SAMPLE:
The test may be performed
(a) On undisturbed soil specimen
(b) On remoulded soil specimen
(a) On undisturbed specimen:

Undisturbed specimen is obtained by fitting to the mould, the steel cutting edge of 150 mm
internal diameter and pushing the mould as gently as possible into the ground. When the mould
is sufficiently full of soil, it shall be removed by under digging. The top and bottom surfaces
are then trimmed flat so as to give the required length of specimen.

(b) On remoulded Specimens:

The dry density for remoulding should be either the field density or if the subgrade is to be
compacted, at the maximum dry density value obtained from the Proctor Compaction test. If it
is proposed to carry out the CBR test on an unsoaked specimen, the moisture content for
remoulding should be the same as the equilibrium moisture content which the soil is likely to
reach subsequent to the construction of the road. If it is proposed to carry out the CBR test on
a soaked specimen, the moisture content for remoulding should be at the optimum and soaked
under water for 96 hours.

Soil Sample – The material used in the remoulded specimen should all pass through a 19 mm
IS sieve. Allowance for larger material may be made by replacing it by an equal amount of
material which passes a 19 mm sieve but is retained on a 4.75 mm IS sieve. This procedure is
not satisfactory if the size of the soil particles is predominantly greater than 19 mm. The
specimen may be compacted statically or dynamically.

I. Compaction by Static Method:

The mass of the wet soil at the required moisture content to give the desired density when
occupying the standard specimen volume in the mould is calculated. A batch of soil is
thoroughly mixed with water to give the required water content. The correct mass of the moist
soil is placed in the mould and compaction obtained by pressing in displacer disc, a filter paper
being placed between the disc & soil.

II. Compaction by Dynamic Method:

For dynamic compaction, a representative sample of soil weighing approximately 4.5 kg or

more for fine grained soils and 5.5 kg or more for granular soil shall be taken and mixed
thoroughly with water. If the soil is to be compacted to the maximum dry density at the
optimum water content determined in accordance with light compaction or heavy compaction,
the exact mass of soil required is to be taken and the necessary quantity of water added so that
the water content of soil sample is equal to the determined optimum water content. The mould

Department of civil Engg, NIT Raipur

with extension collar attached is clamped to the base plate. The spacer disc is inserted over the
base plate and a disc of coarse filter paper placed on the top of the spacer disc. The soil water
mixture is compacted into the mould in accordance with the methods specified in light
compaction test or heavy compaction test.

TESTING THE SAMPLE:

• The mould containing the specimen with the base plate in position but the top face
exposed is placed on the lower plate of the testing machine.
• Surcharge weights, sufficient to produce an intensity of loading equal to the weight of
the base material and pavement is placed on the specimen.
• To prevent upheaval of soil into the hole of the surcharge weights, 2.5 kg annular weight
is placed on the soil surface prior to seating the penetration plunger after which the
remainder of the surcharge weight is placed.
• The plunger is to be seated under a load of 4 kg so that full contact is established
between the surface of the specimen and the plunger.
• The stress and strain gauges are then set to zero. Load is applied to the penetration
plunger so that the penetration is approximately 1.25 mm per minute.
• Readings of the load are taken at penetrations of 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 4.0, 5.0, 7.5,
10.0 and 12.5 mm.
• The plunger is then raised and the mould detached from the loading equipment.

OBSERVATIONS:

• AMOUNT OF WATER TAKEN =

• WEIGHT OF THE SAMPLE TAKEN = 5
• FROM STANDARD TABLE ,1 DIVISION ON PROVING RING =
Penetration Dial Load Dial Corrected Load
Readings Penetration proving ring Load (kg)
(mm) reading

Department of civil Engg, NIT Raipur

CALCULATIONS:

Load at 2.5 mm = 21.375

Load at 5 mm = 28.5
C.B.R. of specimen at 2.5 mm penetrate =
C.B.R. of specimen at 5.0 mm penetration =
The C.B.R. values are usually calculated for penetration of 2.5 mm and 5 mm. Generally the
C.B.R. value at 2.5 mm will be greater that at 5 mm and in such a case/the former shall be taken
as C.B.R. for design purpose. If C.B.R. for 5 mm exceeds that for 2.5 mm, the test should be
repeated. If identical results follow, the C.B.R. corresponding to 5 mm penetration should be
taken for design.

Discussions:

Date of Experiment Evaluation

Date of Expt assessed Timely/Late Attendance /2
Performance /2
Signature of Teacher
Understanding /3
with date
Lab Quiz /2
Neatness /1
Remark
Total /10

Department of civil Engg, NIT Raipur