DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS

AND HIGHWAYS
Bureau of Research
and Standards
Online Comprehensive Materials Testing
Technology Seminar
ENGR. JEFFERSON ALBERT P. AN
 Module 1- Soil and Soil Aggregates
CALIFORNIA BEARING RATIO (CBR)
What is CBR Testing?
• CBR Testing (California Bearing Ratio) is primarily undertaken
to provide data for road pavement design. It was first
developed by the California State Highway Department.
• It is a penetration test which is used to evaluate the subgrade
strength primarily of roads, pavements and foundations.
• The CBR test often forms part of the overall site investigation
and is useful for determining the thickness of materials
needed for the proposed construction.
Reference: https://www.ems-geotech.co.uk/cbr-testing/
 Module 1- Soil and Soil Aggregates
CALIFORNIA BEARING RATIO (CBR)

This method covers the determination of the bearing ratio of soil when
compacted and tested in the laboratory by comparing the penetration load
of the soil to that of a standard material. Basically the test involves
measuring the resistance of soil to penetration by a standard cylindrical
piston, expressed as a percentage fraction of a standard resistance which
was originally measured in tests on a good quality crushed rock.

Thus, to say that a soil or aggregate has a CBR value of 20 means that in
the condition tested, the resistance to penetration of the standard piston
was 20% of the standard resistance of a compacted crushed stone (1360.8
kg load at a penetration of 2.54).
Module 1- Soil and Soil Aggregates
CALIFORNIA BEARING RATIO (CBR)
 Module 1- Soil and Soil Aggregates
CALIFORNIA BEARING RATIO (CBR)

CBR Requirement for Commonly Used Items

Item 200 Aggregate Sub-base Course 30 Minimum
Item 201 Aggregate Base Course 80 Minimum
Item 202 Crushed Aggregate Base Course Same as Item 201
Item 203 Lime Stabilized Road Mix Base 100 Minimum
Course
Item 204 Portland Cement Stabilized Road Same as Item 203
Mix Base Course
Item 300 Aggregate Surface Course 80 Minimum

NOTE: Please always refer to Blue Book for the standard specifications of different
Items of Works
Module 1- Soil and Soil Aggregates
CALIFORNIA BEARING RATIO (CBR)
Module 1- Soil and Soil Aggregates
CALIFORNIA BEARING RATIO (CBR)
Module 1- Soil and Soil Aggregates
CALIFORNIA BEARING RATIO (CBR)
Module 1- Soil and Soil Aggregates
CALIFORNIA BEARING RATIO (CBR)
 Module 1- Soil and Soil Aggregates
CALIFORNIA BEARING RATIO (CBR)

Laboratory Testing Procedure

Video Presentation
 Module 1- Soil and Soil Aggregates
CALIFORNIA BEARING RATIO (CBR)

SAMPLE COMPUTATION
 Module 1- Soil and Soil Aggregates
CALIFORNIA BEARING RATIO (CBR)
Density Determination
Number of Blows 10 30 65 Number of Blows 10 30 65
Test sample ID A B C Test sample ID 1 2 1 2 1 2

1. Compacted + 10190 10672 10958 4. Wet sample + can, g 563 645 618 542 581 594
sample mold, g

2. Mold, g 5,456 5,462 5,455 528 604 580 509 545 557
5. Can + OD sample, g
3. Sample, g, (1-2) 4,734 5,210 5,503 6. Dry Sample, g (5-8) 407 461 447 384 404 420

Compute Wet Unit Wt. kg/m3 2228 2452 7. Moisture, g, (4-5)

2590 35 41 38 33 36 37
first the MC Dry Unit Wt. kg/m3 2048 2256 2378 8. Can, g 121 143 133 125 141 137
Note :Allowable variation from 9. MC, %, (7/6) * 100 8.6 8.9 8.5 8.6 8.9 8.8
optimum is plus or minus 0.5%. If
10. Average, MC % 8.8 8.6 8.9
variation exceeds allowable, discard
specimen and mold another to meet MC after penetration, %
requirements. (Average)
 USE: Calibration Factor of 5.2
Module 1- Soil and Soil Aggregates
CALIFORNIA BEARING RATIO (CBR)
Penetration
Test sample : 10 blows Test sample : 30 blows
Date & Time : Molded 09/03/2021 Date & Time : Molded 09/03/2021
(inch)
Tested 09/07/2021 Tested 09/07/2021
LOAD ÷3 LOAD ÷3
Dial Reading Total pounds psi Corrected psi Dial Reading Total pounds psi Corrected psi

0.0125 2.9 15 5 4.0 21 7

0.0250 6.3 33 11 8.7 45 15
0.0375 11.5 60 20 14.4 75 25
0.0500 17.3 90 30 21.9 114 38
x CF x CF
0.0750 34.6 180 60 44.4 231 77
0.1000 75.0 390 130 92.3 480 160
0.2000 288.5 1500 500 340.4 1770 590
0.3000 432.7 2250 750 490.4 2550 850
0.4000 525.0 2730 910 568.3 2955 985
0.5000 588.5 3060 1020 614.4 3195 1065

Corrected psi Corrected psi

CBR at 0.1 = x 100 = CBR at 0.1 = x 100 =
1000 1000

Corrected psi Corrected psi

CBR at 0.2 = x 100 = CBR at 0.2 = x 100 =
1500 1500
 USE: Calibration Factor of 5.2
Module 1- Soil and Soil Aggregates
CALIFORNIA BEARING RATIO (CBR)
Test sample : 65 blows Test sample :
Penetration
Date & Time : Molded Date & Time : Molded
(inch)
Tested Tested
LOAD ÷3 LOAD
Dial Reading Total pounds psi Corrected psi Dial Reading Total pounds psi Corrected psi

0.0125 6.9 36 12
0.0250 13.3 69 23
0.0375 20.2 105 35
0.0500 31.7 165 55
x CF
0.0750 63.5 330 110
0.1000 118.3 615 205
0.2000 398.1 2070 690
0.3000 568.3 2955 985
0.4000 634.6 3300 1100
0.5000 646.2 3360 1120

Corrected psi Corrected psi

CBR at 0.1 = x 100 = CBR at 0.1 = x 100 =
1000 1500

Corrected psi Corrected psi

CBR at 0.2 = x 100 = CBR at 0.2 = x 100 =
1500 1500
 Module 1- Soil and Soil Aggregates
CALIFORNIA BEARING RATIO (CBR)
SWELL VALUES
Dial Reading, in. (96 h)

# Blows Initial Reading Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Swell

I 10 0.05 0.07 0.08 0.12 0.16 2.39%
II 30 0.04 0.05 0.07 0.10 0.14 2.18%
III 65 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.08 0.1 1.31%

Change in length in in. during

% Swell = soaking x 100
4.584 in.

Change in Length=
Reading in Day 4 minus
Reading in Day 1

Maximum Dry Density, kg/m3 2320

Optimum Moisture Content, % 8.8

 Module 1- Soil and Soil Aggregates
CALIFORNIA BEARING RATIO (CBR)
1200

CBR@0.2 > CBR@0.1,

retest the sample. If CBR Value at 10 blows
1000
latter is still larger, use with Correction:
its value
800 PSI @ 0.1= 130
PSI @ 0.2= 500
LOAD (PSI)

600
Corrected PSI @ 0.1= 400
Corrected PSI @ 0.2= 690
400
CBR @ 0.1 = (400/1000)x 100
= 40%
200 CBR @ 0.2 = (690/1500)x 100
= 46%
PENETRATION (mm)

0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6

0 0.1 0.2
 Module 1- Soil and Soil Aggregates
CALIFORNIA BEARING RATIO (CBR)
1200

CBR@0.2 > CBR@0.1,

retest the sample. If CBR Value at 30 blows
1000
latter is still larger, use with Correction:
its value
800 PSI @ 0.1= 160
PSI @ 0.2= 590
LOAD (PSI)

600
Corrected PSI @ 0.1= 490
Corrected PSI @ 0.2= 790
400
CBR @ 0.1 = (490/1000)x 100
= 49%
200 CBR @ 0.2 = (790/1500)x 100
= 53%
PENETRATION (mm)

0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6

0 0.1 0.2
 Module 1- Soil and Soil Aggregates
CALIFORNIA BEARING RATIO (CBR)
1200
CBR@0.2 > CBR@0.1,
retest the sample. If
CBR Value at 65 blows
1000 latter is still larger, use
with Correction:
its value

800 PSI @ 0.1= 205

PSI @ 0.2= 690
LOAD (PSI)

600
Corrected PSI @ 0.1= 520
Corrected PSI @ 0.2= 900
400
CBR @ 0.1 = (520/1000)x 100
= 52%
200 CBR @ 0.2 = (900/1500)x 100
= 60%
PENETRATION (mm)

0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6

0 0.1 0.2
 Module 1- Soil and Soil Aggregates
CALIFORNIA BEARING RATIO (CBR)
10 BLOWS 30 BLOWS 65 BLOWS
CBR Values 46 53 60
Dry Density, kg/cu.m 2048 2256 2378

CBR Value at 100% MDD, where MDD= 2,320 kg/cu.m.

70

60

50
CBR VALUE

40
The CBR Value of
30
the Sample at
20
100% MDD is
10
approximately 56%
0
2000 2050 2100 2150 2200 2250 2300 2350 2400
DRY DENSITY
END OF SLIDES
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