THE MISSING LINK

LABORATORY EXPERIMENT NO.18

CALIFORNIA BEARING RATIO TEST [This was lifted from our Soil Lab Manual
where we usually do this experiment]

[This is the dying technical information about the CBR test]

California Bearing Ratio Test (CBR Test) is the ratio of force per unit area required to
penetrate a soil mass with standard circular piston at the rate of 1.25 mm/min. to that required for
the corresponding penetration of a standard material. It is a penetration test developed
by California State Highway Department (U.S.A.) for evaluating the bearing capacity of subgrade soil
for design of flexible pavement.

[CBR is equivalent to a building’s SBC (Soil Bearing Capacity). Therefore, you can design a
road that will carry a truck load equivalent to the 40 cubic meter truck that they are using today. And
because our roads are not made for the huge load of these 40cubic meter trucks, our roads sustain
cracks too early.]

The CBR Test is penetration test meant for the evaluation of subgrade strength of roads and
pavements. The results obtained by these tests are used with the empirical curves to determine the
thickness of pavement and its component layers. This is the most widely used method for the
design of flexible pavement.
[ But it is not limited to flexible pavements. It is suggested for flexible pavements because
flexible(asphalt) pavements are more vulnerable to foundation failure than rigid pavements
(concrete). Rigid pavement will be more reliable if careful study of its CBR is applied. ]

Tests are carried out on natural or compacted soils in water soaked or un-soaked conditions
and the results so obtained are compared with the curves of standard test to have an idea of the soil
strength of the subgrade soil.

OBJECTIVE
 To determine and evaluate the strength of a sub grade soil, sub base, and base course
material which are expressed in terms of their California Bearing Ratio value for design of
thickness for highways and airfield pavement.

APPARATUS
 CBR Equipment consisting of:
o 15.2 cm. Diam X 17.8cm. Height of Compaction mold
o Spacer disk, 15.1 cm. Diam. X 6.14 cm (or 5.1cm) height
 Compaction rammer (24.5 N or 44.5 N)
 Extensometer with dial gage to 0.01 mm.
 Compression machine with penetration piston
 Filter paper
 Tin cans
 Straightedge
 Cylindrcal Mold
 Surcharge weights
PROCEDURE
1. Weigh first the three cylindrical molds.
2. Prepare three specimens at Proctor Maximum Dry Density at which C.B.R. is required.
Maintain the specimen at optimum moisture content as required.
a. Note: The material used should pass 20mm IS sieve but should retained on 4.75mm
IS sieve.
3. Place the three specimens in the three cylindrical molds. Take about 2-3kg of soil and mix
thoroughly with the required water.
4. Each specimen must be compacted so that the densities of each range from 95%-100%
generally with 10,30, and 65 blows.
5. Weigh the mold with compacted soil and determine the bulk density and dry density.
6. Immerse the mold and the sample in the soaking water for four days (ignore this step in case
of unsoaked CBR). An initial reading of the dial is made when the sample is first placed in the
water. Then, the dial is read again to determine the amount of swell.
7. Take other samples and apply different blows and repeat the whole process.
8. After making the final reading of the dial, remove the sample and mold from the water and
allow them to drain for about 15 minutes before conducting the penetration test.
9. Place the mold assembly with a 10lb surcharge weight on the penetration test machine.
10. Set the penetration piston at the center of the specimen with the smallest possible load.
11. Set the stress and strain dial gauge to zero. Apply the load on the piston so that the
penetration rate is about 1.25mm/min.
12. Record the load readings at penetrations of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0,
12.5mm. Note the maximum load and corresponding penetration if it occurs for a
penetration less than 12.5mm.
13. Remove the mold from the piston. Take about 20 to 50g of soil and determine the moisture
content.

COMPUTATIONS
Solve the CBR number using the ff:
Test Unit Load
CBR = x 100 %
Standard Unit Load

Values Standard unit load to use in the equation above are given below.

PENETRATION STANDARD UNIT LOAD

mm in mps psi
  2.5 0.10    6.9   1000
  5.0   0.20   10.3   1500
  7.5   0.30   13.0   1900
  10.0   0.40   16.0   2300
  12.7   0.50   18.0 2600 
“NOTE: if the CBR value at 5.00 mm is larger than at 2.5 mm penetration, test should be
redone. If a second test yields also a larger CBR number at 5.00 mm penetration, the CBR for
5.00 mm should be used.”
[This is the part that is not being examined by the CBR operator. Repeating the test is
really very tedious then only to find out later that the result is the same. Besides, most CBR
results shows that the 5.00mm penetration is a better CBR value because the curve is
erroneous and must be corrected first before finalizing the reading. Unfortunately, this is the
part that most laboratory technicians do not do.]

The CBR number is used to rate the performance of solids primarily for use as bases and
subgrade beneath pavements of roads and airfields. The following table gives typical ratings.

CBR No. GENERAL RATING USES

  0-3 Very Poor Subgrade

  3-7 Poor to Fair Subgrade

  7-20 Fair Subbase

  20-25 Good Base, Subbase

  50 Excellent Base, Subbase

Curve 2

Curve 1

[ Usually the CBR readings produced a curve similar to CURVE 1 as presented in the figure but a true
CBR curve should be similar to CURVE 2. Therefore the curved produced in most CBR readings, more
often than nat, should be corrected first before declaring its true CBR value. Remember that the CBR
value is calculated by the ratio between the stress at the 2.5mm reading divided by 1000psi

2.5 mm reading∈ psi

CBR = x 100%
1,000 psi
Or by the ratio of the 5.00mm reading divided by 1,500 psi

5.00 mmreading ∈psi

CBR = x 100% which ever of this two is the highest will be the true CBR value
1,500 psi
provided that if the 5.00mm reading is higher, the test should be repeated for confirmation.]

How do you correct the curve?

Case no.1: The curve is on the right of zero as shown in the figure below. The curve should be conical
or one curve only. The lower part should be eliminated in such a way that the x-axis should be
crossed by the curve as a conical curve. The intersection of the x-axis and the curve should be moved
to the origin then the 2.5mm and 5.00mm penetration should be then compared.

True reading of
5.00mm penetration

True reading of
2.50mm penetration

Assuming the bended curve as a straight line is also acceptable.

Case no.2: If the erroneous curve is on the left of the y-axis all you need to do is correct the curve
and move it to the right then examine the actual readings.

The real problem here is that the Lab technicians cannot produce a curve as detailed as those
presented in the figure making it impossible to see if the curve is erroneous or not. The error
produced was due to human error in preparation and material handling which is normal in every
experiment.
Your mission as a final project requirement in exchange of your final
examination is to develop a user friendly and interactive excel
program that will;

1. Sense and Determine if a CBR curve needs to corrected or not.

2. If it is okay then the program will tell the user that the curve is
ok and recommend a CBR value.
3. If the curve is not ok, the program will correct the curve and
give the correct CBR value clearly informing the user that
correction was made and draw the right curve.
4. The program automatically compare the CBR on the 2.5mm
reading and on the 5.00mm.

Make you mark by developing a program which is

1. User friendly.
2. The program speak for itself and does not need your
explanation about its function.
3. The program is self sufficient.

CRITERIA for grading

1. Presentation 40 %
- Includes interaction and information provided for the user,
arrangement of ideas and guides for easy use.
2. Graphics 20%
-includes the color, effects used etc..
3. Accuracy of calculations 40%
-correctness of results, right formula used, usefulness of the
program.
Deadline of submission is last day of finals. Late will not be accepted.