Laboratory Tests at Geotechnical lab (Jadavpur University) during PG 1st Semester (August 2014

- December 2014)

California Bearing Test on Soil Sample

Description of Test :
Date of Testing 18.11.2014 Location Jadavpur University Soil Mech. Lab
Aim : To determine the CBR Value of Soil Sample both in Unsoaked & Soaked Condition
Apparatus : (1) Soil Sample
(2) Sample Mould (dia - 150 mm , ht- 175 mm ) with depressor block 40 mm (3) 4.55 kg
hammer (4) CBR Testing Machine with Plunger - 50 mm dia (5) Surcharge load - 5kg (6)
Weighing Scale (7) Water Reservoir
About 5 kg oven dried soil sample is taken . Then water is added as per OMC & the
sample is placed in mould ( 150 mm dia , 175 mm height ) . A depressor block 40 mm is
placed at bottom such that effective height of soil sample is 135 mm . The same is
compacted at OMC in 3 layers with a 4.5 kg hammer falling at a height of 450 mm ,
uniformly 55 times per layer . The weight of sample & mould is taken . Then it is placed in
CBR Machine & 5 kg of surcharge is placed on top of the sample. Then the machine is
started & a plunger 50 mm dia penetrates at 1.25 mm/minute . The proving ring reading at
certain intervals of dial gauge reading is taken , as per table below. The graph for load &
deflection is plotted & CBR found out for Unsoaked Condition . The mould is then taken
out , depressor block removed & sample turned upside down . Then the same is left to
soak in a reservoir filled with water for 96 hours (4 days) & the test is repeated on soaked
condition.
Soil type
Silty Clay / Clayey Silt with %
water content @ OMC - 13
Weight of Empty Mould (gm)
Weight of Mould & Compacted Soil Sample (gm)
13200.00
Proving Ring details
10 kN = 966 div
Diameter of Mould
150 mm
Dial Gauge LC 0.01 mm
17174.0
Height of Mould
175 mm
 Diameter of Plunger
Height of Depressor Block
Weight of 50 mm
40 mm
Compacted Soil
3974.00 (gm)
Effective Height of Soil
135 mm
Weight of Surcharge (gm)
5000.00
Results-
Sl No.
Unsoaked Condition Soaked Condition
(after 4 days in water)
Graph-
0.00

Dial Gauge
Penetration Reading
(mm)
Proving Ring Reading
Load
Proving Ring
Load Applied Applied (kg)
Reading
(kg)
Remarks
1 0 0.0 0 0.00 0 0.00 2 50 0.5 63 66.55 9 9.51 3 100 1.0 126 133.10 15 15.84 4 150 1.5 195
205.98 21 22.18 5 200 2.0 256 270.42 24 25.35 6 250 2.5 313 330.63 28 29.58 7 300 3.0 365
385.56 32 33.80 8 400 4.0 446 471.12 39 41.20 9 500 5.0 513 541.89 45 47.53 10 750 7.5 636
671.82 55 58.10 11 1000 10.0 735 776.40 62 65.49
12 1250 12.5 823 869.35 66 69.72
Load v/s Penetration
1000.00
900.00
800.00
700.00
Lo
600.00
a
500.00 d
Unsoaked Condition Soaked Condition
400.00
kg
300.00
200.00
100.00
0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0 9.0 10.0 11.0 12.0 13.0 14.0 Penetration in mm
Results from Graph-
 Load Load
correspondin
Condition
corresponding
g to to penetration
penetration of 5.0 mm (kg)
additional 3 samples & average value adopted.
of 2.5 mm (kg)
Standard
Standard Load at 2.5
Load at 5.0 mm (kg)
mm (kg)
CBR at 2.5 mm penetration (%)
CBR at 5.0 mm penetration (%)
Remarks
Unsoaked 320 535 1370 2055 23.36 26.03
Soaked 31 45 1370 2055 2.26 2.19 O.K
Discussion -
As per IRC , if CBR for 5 mm is greater than that of 2.5 mm , test should be repeated .
(1) Usually the CBR for 2.5 mm is higher than that of 5 mm . If the reverse occurs , the test is repeated &
even then if same results follow , the higher value for 5 mm is to be reported. (2) In case of multiple
tests , if deviation within individual results vary more than a prescribed imit , the tests should be
repeated on additional 3 samples & average value adopted.