DETERMINATION OF CALIFORNIA BEARING RATIO

AIM: California bearing ratio (CBR) test is a penetration test developed for the evaluation of
sub-grade strengths for roads and pavements. The results obtained by these tests are
used in conjunction with empirical curves based on experience for the design of
flexible pavements.
APPARATUS: 1) CBR mould 150 mm dia. x 175 mm high with collar and base plate.
2) Space disc
3) Hammer
4) Expansion measuring apparatus
5) Adjustable stem with perforated plates
6) Tripod
7) Load frame
8) Penetration plunger.
9) Dial gauge
10) Filter paper
11) Proving ring 10 kg capacity.

PROCEDURE: 1) The dry density for remoulded specimens shall be either field density or
the maximum dry density .Take about 10 kg of soil sample. Add water
corresponding to optimum moisture content and mix thoroughly.
2) Place the spacer disc over the base plate in the mould and put filter paper
on the top of the spacer disc.
3) Compact the soil-water mixture into the mould in this layer, each being
given 55 blows of the 2.5 kg hammer.
4) Remove the extension collar and trim the compacted soil even with the
top of the mould by means of a straight edge. Remove the perforated box
plates and spacer disc and take weight of the mould and the compacted
soil specimen.
5) Place a filter paper on the perforated base plate, invert the mould and
place it on the base plate and compact it.
6) Take soil sample in aluminium container for moisture content
determination.

7) Place the mould on the lower plate of the load frame. Put surcharge
weights, sufficient to produce an intensity of loading equal to the weight
of the base material and permanent on the specimen. Seat the plunger in
the angular hole under a load of 4 kg. To establish the full contact. Set the
stress and strain gauges to zero. The initial load applied to the plunger
shall be considered as the zero load when determining the load penetration
relation. Apply load on the penetration plunger so that the penetration is
approximately 1.25 mm per minute and take readings. After completion of
the test, take soil sample for water content determination.

OBSERVATIONS: Empty Mould Weight of SPT apparatus= 2.190kg

Trial
No.

Mould+Sample
Weight (kg)

3.805

3.86

3.975

4.03

4.12

4.11

Empty Box
weight (g)

Box+Moist Soil
weight (g)

45.831
51.812
33.919
46.193
31.272
47.202
30.94
42.78
41.786
58.2
34.296
46.064

55.45
63.718
43.025
60.981
42.855
59.054
63.04
55.593
45.908
65.59
58.642
60.753

Trial
No.

Sample
Weight (kg)

Unit weight
(g/cc)

Dry Density
(g/cc)

1.615

1.71

1.57

1.67

1.77

1.61

1.785

1.89

1.638

1.84

1.95

1.654

1.93

2.04

1.68

1.92

2.03

1.637

Box+Dry Soil
Weight (kg)
(after 24 hours)
54.65
62.7
41.729
59.314
41.283
57.5
58.132
53.663
45.185
64.295
53.39
57.799
Ws
(g)
8.819
10.888
7.81
13.121
10.021
10.298
27.192
10.877
3.346
6.095
19.364
11.735

Moisture
Content
9.81
12.85
15.385
17.894
21.425
24

1.7

Dry Unit wt. (g/cc)

1.68
1.66
1.64
1.62
1.6
1.58
1.56
0

10

15
20
Moisture Content (%)

25

30

Optimum Moisture Content=21.425%

Maximum dry unit weight=1.68 g/cc

Penetration (mm)
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
5
6
7
8
9
10
12.5

Dial (load)
1.85
2.5
3
3.4
3.8
4.2
4.6
4.8
5
5.2
5.6
6
6.4
6.8
7.2
8

Load (kN)
46.25
62.5
75
85
95
105
115
120
125
130
140
150
160
170
180
200

Load (kg)
4.715
6.371
7.645
8.665
9.684
10.703
11.723
12.232
12.742
13.252
14.271
15.291
16.31
17.329
18.349
20.387

25.00

Load(kg)

20.00

15.00

10.00

5.00

0.00
0

10

15

Penetration(mm)

RESULTS: CBR (at 2.5 mm) = Test load/1370 * 100

= 968.4/1370 * 100
= 70.68 %
CBR (at 5 mm) = Test load/2055 * 100
= 1325.2/2055 * 100
= 64.48 %
70.68% shall be taken as the CBR.

SIGNIFICANCE: Field in place CBR tests are used for evaluation and design of flexible
pavement components such as base and sub-base course and sub-grade
and for other applications (such as unsurfaced roads) for which CBR is
the desired strength parameter. Soils and flexible pavement components
at the same location may exhibit significantly different load deflection
relationship. No method presently exists to evaluate the precision of a
group of non-repetitive plate load tests on soils and flexible pavement
due to the variability of these materials.