CALIFORNIA BEARING RATIO TEST

Introduction :

The California Bearing Ratio test, usually called CBR test is an empirical
test developed in California USA for determining the Relative Bearing Ratio &
expansion characteristics under known surcharge weight of base sub-base and
sub grade soils for the design of roads, payments & runways. The CBR test is
used extensively in selection of materials & control of subgrades.The test can be
performed in the laboratory on prepared samples or in-situ on location. It is
important to appreciate that this test , being of an empirical in nature, is valid
for the application for which it was developed i.e., the design if highway base
thickness.
The California bearing ratio (CBR) is a penetration test for evaluation of the
mechanical strength of natural ground, subgrades and base courses beneath new
carriageway construction.It was developed by the California Department of
Transportation before World War II. 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 CBR test is fully described in BS 1377 soils for civil engineering
purposes part 4, compaction related tests and in part 9 in-situ test. The CBR
rating was developed for measuring the load-bearing capacity of unimproved
airstrips or for soils under paved airstrips.The harder surface the higher the CBR
rating. A CBR of 4.75 equates to turf or moist clay, while moist sand may have
a CBR of 10. High quality crushed rock has a CBR over 80.The standard
material for this test is crushed California limestone which has a value of
100,meaning that it is not unusual to see CBR values of over 100 in well
compacted areas.
 OBJECTIVE:

1. To determine the California bearing ratio of a soil sampe by conducting a

load penetration test in the laboratory.
2. To evaluate the strength of a subgrade soil, sub base and base course
material for design of thickness for highway.
Theory :

Flexible Pavement :
It typically consist of asphalt concrete placed over granular base or sub-base
layers supported by the compacted soil,referrerd as the sub-grade.

Stress Distribution in Flexible Pavement :

Load distribution characteristics depends upon
- Materials
- Layer Thickness

CBR Test :
1. The California Bearing Ratio devised by engineers of the California
Division of Highways in nine years period to 1938.
2. The California bearing ratio (CBR) is a penetration test for evaluation of
the mechanical strength of road subgrades and base courses
3. The test is performed by measuring the pressure required to penetrate a
soil sample with a plunger of standard are
4. The measured pressure an equal penetration on a standard crushed rock
material.

The ratio of the force per unit area required to penetrate a soild mass with
standard penetration plunger at a uniform rate of 1.25 mm/min, to the
correcponding penetration load of the standard material or crushed stoned is
called CBR.
CBR : (%) = Test load x 100% / Penetration load (standard material)
 CBR APPARATUS :

1. CBR Accessory Set

2. CBR mould sets & components

3. CBR spacer Disc

4. Penetration Piston
5. CBR Surcharge Weights

6. CBR Swell Plate

7. CBR Swell Tripod

8. CBR Filters 9. CBR Cutting Edge

 PROCEDURE :

1. Firstly, Place the mould, containing the samples with baseplate in

position but with the top face exposed , on the lowerplaten of the testing
machine
2. Then, Put the plunger under a force of 50 N for a CBR value of up to
30% or 250N for a CBR value of 30% to 300%.
3. After that, allow the plunger to penetrate the samples at a uniform rate of
0.5 mm/min.
4. Then, take readings of the force at intervals if penetration of 0.25mm to a
total penetration not exceeding 7.5mm
5. After the penetration test have been completed, remove the samples from
the mould
 DATA AND CALCULATION :
Unsoaked test :
S/N Top Penetration (mm) Top Force Plunger Machine Constant
(KN) (KN)
1 0.5 49 4.6
2 1.0 62 5.82
3 1.5 75 7.03
4 2.0 84 7.88
5 2.5 92 8.63
6 3.0 100 9.38
7 4.0 114 10.69
8 5.0 129 12.10
9 6.0 139 13.04
10 7.0 148 13.88
11 8.0 158 14.82
12 9.0 169 15.85
13 10.0 183 17.16

Top penetration Converted Force on Standard CBR x CBR value

(mm) Plunger (KN) 9.81/1000
2.5 8.63 13.44 64.21
5.0 12.10 20.16 60.02
Avg = 62.11

BOTTOM PENETRATION :

S/N Bottom Force Plunger Machine constant

penetration(mm) (Kn) (Kn)
1 0.5 24 2.25
2 1.0 37 3.47
3 1.5 48 4.5
4 2.0 58 5.44
5 2.5 63 5.91
6 3.0 67 6.28
7 4.0 71 6.66
8 5.0 79 7.41
9 6.0 84 7.88
10 7.0 92 8.63
11 8.0 102 9.57
12 9.0 112 10.51
13 10.0 122 11.44
Bottom peneteration:

Top penetration Converted force on Standard CBR x CBR value

(mm) plunger (Kn) 9.81 x 1000
2.5 5.91 13.44 43.97
5.0 7.41 20.16 36.76
Avg= 40.36

Calculation :
(Top penetration )

2.5 mm penetration :
Standard CBR value : 1370 kg
= 1370 x 9.81/ 1000
=13.44 KN

Converted Force on Plunger = 8.63 kN

CBR value (2.5mm) = 64.21%

5.0 mm penetration Test :

Standard CBR Value = 2055kg
=2055kgx9.81 /1000
=20.16 KN
Converted Force on Plunger = 12.10 kN
CBR Value (5.0 mm) = 60.02%
(Bottom Penetration)

2.5mm penetration :
Standard CBR value = 1370 kN
=1370 x 9.81/1000
=13.44
Converted Force on Plunger = 5.91 kN
CBR value(2.5mm) = 43.97%

5.0mm penetration Test =

Standard CBR value = 2055kg
=2055 x 9.81/1000
=20.16 kN
Converted force on plunger = 7.41kN
CBR value(5.0mm) =36.76%
 DISCUSSION :

During the experiment, it was observed that the load gauge reading increased
steadily as the plunger penetrated into the compacted soil in the mould until a
stage was reached when the penetration does not add to the load gauge reading,
meanwhile this particular stage was quickly reached when the mould was
inverted which reflected in the table of values.Also, it was observed that the
2.5mm penetration gave the larger CBR value as against the value obtained for
the 5mm penetration.
 CONCLUSION :

In conlusion, the CBR value was determined and the value was obtained as
follows for top 60.02% and for bottom 40.36%. Since the CBR value is above
the acceptable minimum standard (40) then it can be said to be suitable for use
as subgrade and subase since it is about 60%.