CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL Graphical CBR

ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

VEB3042: CIVIL
ENGINEERING LAB 3
Highway Laboratory Testing 9TH
MAY 2021
  California bearing capacity test was first developed by the California
Division of Highways in 1929 as a means of classifying the suitability of a
soil for use as a subgrade or base course material in highway

California construction.

Bearing Capacity  It measures the shearing resistance of a soil under controlled moisture

(CBR) and density conditions. The test yields a bearing-ratio number, but this

INTRODUCTION number is not a constant for a given soil but applies only for the tested
state of the soil.
BS1377 : Part 4 : 1990, AASHTOT193-63 , ASTM D1883-73 gives methods
of determining the CBR of an aggregate.
California Bearing
Ratio (CBR) Test
  
CBR is the ratio expressed in percentage of force per unit area required to
penetrate a soil mass with a standard circular plunger of 50 mm diameter at the
rate of 1.25 mm/min to that required for corresponding penetration in a
standard material.

California
Bearing Capacity • The ratio is usually determined for penetration of 2.5 and 5 mm .

(CBR) • If, the CBR value at a penetration of 5.0 mm is larger than 2.5, the test should
be redone. If a second test yields also a larger CBR number at 5.0 mm
penetration, the CBR. for 5.0 nom should be used.
 CBR types:
1). Unsoaked
2). Soaked

The second specimen is soaked for a period of 4 days with a surcharge approximately
equal to the pavement weight used in the field, normally the surcharge weight is
equal to or less than 4.5 kg.
California • It gives information concerning expected soil expansion beneath the pavement
Bearing Capacity when the soil becomes saturated.
• It gives an indication of strength loss from field saturation.
(CBR)
Swell readings need to be noted during soaking, especially at the end of soaking
period.
  This test evaluates the relative quality of subgrade, subbase, and base soils for
TEST OBJECTIVE pavements by measuring its strength.
 2.5mm or
5mm

CBR
test   unit   load
   (%)  =    ×  100
CBR standard   unit   load
DETERMINATION Standard force-penetration relationship for 100% CBR
Penetration (mm) Force (kN)
2 11.5
2.5 13.2
4 17.6
5 20.0
6 22.2
8 26.3
 Automatic compactor CBR testing Machine Drying Oven

APPARATUS

Electronic Balance Mold, surcharge, perforated plate, and frame

 1. Prepare approximately 4.5 kg of fine-grained material to the optimum moisture content
of the soil as determined by the appropriate compaction effort. If it is desired to cure the
soil for a more uniform moisture distribution, mix the soil with the necessary percentage
of moisture and store in a sealed container for about 12 to 24 hours prior to the test.
2. Weight the mould less base plate and collar.
3. Clamp the mould to the base plate, insert the spacer disk in the mould and cover with a
piece of filter paper.
4. Compact the soil according to BS 1377 using an automatic CBR/Proctor compactor. Take
PROCEDURE a final representative water content sample from the remaining soil.
5. Remove the collar and trim the specimen smooth and flush with the mould. Using fine-
grained soil, patch any holes formed when scarping the specimen flush with the mould.
For coarse-grained soils, use any soil particles for patching which are smaller than the
hole.
6. Remove the base plate and spacer disk, weight the mould + compacted soil, and
determine the wet unit weight.
7. Place a piece of filter paper on the base plate, invert the specimen, and attach the base
plate so the soil is in contact with the filter paper on the base.
  For unsoaked specimens, do steps 9 to 13 next.
 Place the mould with baseplate containing the sample, with the top face of the
sample exposed, centrally on the lower platen of the testing machine. Place the
appropriate annular surcharge discs on top the sample.
 Fit, into place the cylindrical plunger and force measuring device assembly with the
face of the plunger resting on the surface of the sample. Apply a seating force to the
plunger, depending on the expected CBR value, as follows.
 For CBR value up to 5% apply 10 N
 For CBR value from 5% to 30%, apply 50 N
PROCEDURE  For CBR value above 30% apply 250 N
 Record the reading of the force measuring device as the initial zero reading (because
the seating force is not taken into account during the test) or reset the force
measuring device to read zero.
 Start the test so that the plunger penetrates the sample at a uniform rate of 1
mm/min. Record readings of the force gauge at intervals of penetration of 0.25 mm,
to a total penetration not exceeding 7.5 mm.
 If a test is to be carried out on both ends of the sample, raise the plunger and level
the surface of the sample by filling in the depression left by the plunger and cutting
away any projecting material. Check for flatness with the straightedge.
 CBR Number General Rating Uses

0-3 Very poor

RESULT 3-7 Poor to fair Subgrade
Subgrade
INTERPRETATION 7-20 Fair Subbase
20-50 Good Base, Subbase
>50 Excellent Base
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