Exp o 7

15 2720-1part Xv
Date

CALIFORNIA BEARINGRATIO TEST

AM:
To determmine ot CBR of undisturbed or laboratory remolded specimens compacted dynamically or statically

either soaked or unsoaked state.

INTRODUCTION:

Detinitions
soil mass
The Califormia bearing ratio (CBR) is the ratio ofthe force per unit area required to penetrate a

in
required for corresponding penetration
with a standard circular piston at the rate of 1.25 mm/min. to that

crushed stone (Standard material). 1s

the standard material.Load which has been obtained from the test on

called the standard load.

Ratio of 100 %. (See appendix B for standard
The standard material is said to have a California Bearing
loads at specified penetrations)

Historical background
in 1938
The California Bearing Ratio (CBR) test was developed by California State Highway department
Just after World War II. The
for evaluating soil subgrade and base course materials for flexible pavements.
U.S. crops of engineers adopted the CBR test for use in designing base courses for airfield pavements.

empirical strength number, which cannot be accurately related to

The test is arbitrary and the results give an

any of the fundamental parameters governing shear strength. However, the deformation of the soil specimen
have been made to correlate CBR values to certain properties
being predominantly shear strength. Attempts
like plasticity index, modulus of resilience and bearing capacity.

Utility
with certain empirical curves based on experience is used for the design of
The CBR values in conjunction
flexible airport and highway pavements.
s e ENTRATON

UNCHAROE

TEST SET UP FOR CBR

 OBSERVATIONS:

Soil dentificatun.
Condition of specinen at iest dsturbCd RemOulded Saked/Unsoakod

Type of compaction Stattc Dyianic Tght/ lleavy

Surcharge weight.
Diameter otthe nmvuid, d-

Height ofthe mould, h..

Height of Spacer Disk
Volume
Density=
Mass
Percentage of Water =

Penetration test

Penetration Proving Ring Reading

0.5 Load (kg)

1.0

1.5

2.0
2.
3.0
4.0
5.0

10.5
12.5
 IESLAPLARATUS

CRR ould
Inner diameter 15Om and height 17Smm (Voiume 2250cc) with detachable rmetal
llar Smm high

lsacer dise- Inner diameter ta0mmm and 47.7mm high, provided with detachable handle
fetal hammers [a] 2.6kg weigh, drop 31Omm.

b] 4.89 kg weight, drop 450mm

ENpansion measurnng system- metal tripod fitted with dial gauge
Suurcharging weight: One annular metal weight 2.5kg and slotted weight 147mm diameter

(2.Skgeach) and 53mm diameter central hole.

Piston- 50mm diameter and 100mm long

Loading frame Capacity 5t capable of deformation rate 1.25mm/min and fitted with a proving ring

of required capacity.
Dial gauge.
10. Facility for measuring water content.

11. Soaking tank, straight edge and filter paper

TEST PROCEDURE

.
Soil used should pass through IS20mm sieve.

. Preparation of test specimen.

in the soil gently by
specimens:- The mould filled with cutting edge pushed
is to
a) Undisturbed

outside the mould.

digging away the soil from
the mould
fixed with the required amount of water. Prepare
b) Remould specimens: About Skg soil is
-

their inside.
by fixing the collar and base plate and oil
mould. Fill the mould with wet soil
Static compaction: Place a filter paper at the bottom of the
-

i)
disc leveled soil. Compact statically till the top
the desired density. Place the spacer
on
sufficient to give soil.
a filter paper on top of the
is flush with the rim of the mould. Remove the disc and place
of the disc
a filter paper is kept.
the disc is first placed in the mould. Over spacer
spacer
i) Dynamic compaction:-
at maximum dry density using light or heavy compaction procedures.
Compact the soil dymamically
Fix at the top second base plate on to the
extension collar and trim the soil carefully.
Remove the
the handle.
the mould and remove the spacer disc using
Loosen the bottom base plate, invert
specimen.
See Appendix A for specification)
the mould and base plate. Take
the samples of loose soil for
cWeigh the specimen along with
determination of moisture content.
but not
to the estimated weight of the pavement within 2.5kg,
Ci) Surcharge- surcharge weighs equal
the soil in the mould.
C8s than 5kg are to be placed on
 e) Sampie is now
Teady for the unsoak cd test,
For a soaked test, the mouid is to be immerseri ii water
(Atter taking the
necessary achievements and taking the initial reading
for 9o nouTS n a
sOaking tank. Take the final dial
gauge reading for swelling. Take out the Sampie,
ot
for 1Smin before test.

)Penetration: -

L0ad is applied after placing the mould on theloading machine by using penetrau
rate ot .25mm/min. Use a
secating load of 4ku, which is not considered for the final calculations.
load readings at
Kecor
0,0.5,1.0,1.5,2,2.5.3.0,4.0,5.0,7.5,10.5 and 12.5mm.
PRECAUTIONS:
1. All relevant precautions taken in the compaction test should be complied within CBR test also.
The level of water in the soaking tank should be 2.5cm above the
top of the sample.
For a soaked test the base plate should be perforated. A filter paper is to be placed over the base berore

the sample is fixed over this.

4. Before soaking, a perforated metal disc fitted with an extension collar should be placed on the top of the

soil before the annular weights are placed. A filter paper should be placed on top of the soil above which

the disc is placed.

CALCULATIONS:

Load penetration Curve

and penetration (mm). The curve in the most cases is concave upward
Plot a smooth curve relating load (kg)
A correction is applied by drawing a tangent
to the curve at the point of the greatest
in the initial portions.
with the origin move
is this tangent plus the convex portion of the original curve

slope. The corrected curve

cuts the horizontal

axis.
po the tangent
Calculation of CBR
ii) The standard
curve obtain the
loads at 2.5mm and Smm penetration.
From the corrected load penetration
ratio of the corrected load
verses

taken from the tables in Appendix B. A

can be
loads for these penetrations Smm penetration and
CBR corresponding to
is the CBR. Usually the
the standard expressed in
percentage on fresh
the test is to be repeated
However, if the latter is greater,
the CBR. is taken
the former CBR is taken as to 5.0mm penetration
the CBR corresponding
result then
Se:uple and if the test
also gives a similar

as the CBR value.

soaked test):-
Expansion ratio (For

Exparsion ratio- (dr-d. / h) 100

RESULT: and 5.0Omm

penetration

reported for 2.5mm

should be
CBR vaueOr
for the specimen siu
the specimen

RRde for 2.5mm Penetration

 CBR value for 5mm Penetration =

DISCUSSION:

do in a sketch how the corrections for

initial concavity are done in load penetration
Why ar the surcharge weights added when the graph.
penetration test is done?
Why is soaked CBR test conducted on soil
samples?
What are the practical uses of the CBR values?
Make a sketch of a typical flexible pavement.

Make a sketch of the assembly for CBR test.

Can the CBR test be conducted on sand?
Explain how a field CBR test is conducted.

. Generally the CBR value corresponding to 2.5mm penetration will be higher than that
correspondin
to Smm penetration. Critically comment.
What are the precautions to be taken in a CBR test?
0
APPENDIX A: - Dynamic method of compaction for CBR test

Type of Mould No. of Hammer weight Fall No. of blows per

compaction volume layers kg Cm layer

Light 1000cc 2.6 31 25

2250cc 2.6 56

1000cc .89 45 25
Heavy
2250cc 4.89 45 56

APPENDIX B:- Standard loads

Penetration depth (mm) Standard load (kg) Unit load (kg/cm*)

1370 70
2.5
105
50 2055
2630 134
.5
10.0 3180 162
183
2.5 3600
 Date
Specific gravity and water a bsorption of course aggregate

ine the
ine the
wvater ab
water absorption of coarse aggregates as per IS: 2386 (Part 11)- 1963

ieter

A P P A R A T U S

nie basket - perforated, electroplated or plastic coated with wire hangers for suspending
balance
t from the

Water-tight for suspending the basket

container

Dry soft absorbent cloth -75cm x 45cm (2 nos.)

Shallow tray of minimum 650 sq.cm area

Air-tight container of a capacity similar to the basket

Ov
en

SAMPLE
A sample not less than 2000g should be used.

PROCEDURE
washed to remove finer particles and dust, drained and then it
iThe sample is thoroughly
in distilled water at a temperature between 22
placed in the wire basket and it is immersed

and 32°C.
removed by lift1ng the basket and allowing it to drop
1After immersion, the entrapped air is
times in 25 seconds.
for a period of 24+ hrs after wards
The basket and sample is remained immersed
drain for
should then be removed from the water, allowed to a
he basket and aggregates
is gentuy emptied from the basket on to one of the
minutes, after which the aggregates
it to second dry cloth
ty clothes and gently surface-dried with the cloth, transferring
a

e n the first would remove no further moisture.

aggregates is spread on the second cloth and exposed to the atmosphere away from

eCt SUniight till it appears to be completely surface-dry.

he ggregntes are weighed (Weight 'A').
DBSERVATION

A-B
Water absorption = X100%
B
results should be reported
Two such tests should be done and the individual and
mean

I III
SI No Determination No
of saturated surface-dried
Weight
sample in g (A)

2 Weight of oven dried sample is g (B)

3 A-B.X 100%
Water absorption= B

Average value
 Theaggregates are placed in an oven at a
temperature of 100 to 110°C for 24hrs
i It is removed from the oven, cooled and weighed (Weight B)

RESCLTS
 Ch
10sm
dia

3805m

dic

MACHINE
AGGREGATEIMPACT TESTING
Exp.No: 2 IS23861963(PART IV)
Date

DETERMINATIONOF AGGREGATEIMPACTVALUE

THEORY

The propety of a material to resist impact is known as toughness. Due to movement of vehicles on the road

the aggregates are subjected to impact resulting in their breaking down in to smaller pieces. The aggregates

should therefore have sufficient toughness to resist their disintegration due to impact. This characteristic is
measured by impact value test. The impact value is a measure of resistance to sudden impact or shock.

which may differ from its resistance to gradually applied compressive load.

AIM:

1. To determine the impact value of the road aggregates.

2 To assess their suitability in road construction on the basis of impact value.

APPARATUS:

The apparatus of the aggregate impact value test as per IS: 2386(Part IV) 1963 consists of

. A testing machine weighing 45-60kg and having a metal base with a plane lower surface of30cm
in diameter. It is supported on level and plane concrete floor of minimum 45cm thick. The machine

should also have provisions for fixing its base.

50mm and minimum thickness 6.3mm.
A cylindrical steel cup of internal diameter 102mm, depth
A metal hammer or tup weighing 13.5-14kg the lower end is cylindrical in shape, is 50mm long

2mm chamfer at the lower edge and case hardened. The hammer should
COmm in diameter with a

lide between vertical guides and be concentric with the cup. The free fall of the hammer
freely
should be within 38O+5mm.
Acvlindrical metal measure having internal diameter ot 75mm and depth 5Umm for measuring

and 230mm long, rounded at one end.

372ng rd i0mm in diameter
Abalanee ofcapacity >500g. readable and accurate up to 0.1g.
RSERATIONS

Sample Sampie2

of the dry sample taken= WI g

Total weight
Weight of portions passing 2.36mm sieve
W2
Aggregate impact value

(W2 W1)X 100

mean value.....
T20tC mpact
PROCEDURE:
The test sample: it consists
of aggregates sizes 10mm
heating at 100-1 10C for 12.Smm. The aggregates should he dried
a
period of 4 hours and cooled by

Sieve the material through 12.5 and 10Omm 1S

and retained
sieves. The aggregntes passing through 12.5
on t0mm sieve mm
siev
comprises the test material.
Pour the aggregates to fill about just 1/3
depth of measuring cylinder
Compact the material by
giving 25 gentle blows with the rounded end of
Add 2 more
layers in similar manner, tamping road
so
cylinder is full that
. Strike otf the surplus aggregate.
6. Determine the net weight of the
aggregate to the nearest g(W1)
Bring the impact machine to rest without
wedging or packing up in the level plate, block or floor, so
that it is rigid and the hammer
guide columns are vertical.
8. Fix the cup firmly in
position on the base of machine and place whole of the test
sample in it and
compact by giving 25 gentle strokes with
tamping rod.
9. Raise the hammer until its lower face is
380mm above the surface of the
aggregate sample in the cup
and allow it to fall freely on the
aggregate sample. Give 15 such blows at an interval of <
I second
between successive falls.
10. Remove the erushed aggregates from the cup and sieve it through to 2.36mm IS sieves until no

further significant amount passes in I minute. Weigh the fraction passing the sieve to an accuracy of
I g(W2). Also weigh fraction retained in the sieve.

11. Note down the observations in the proforma and computethe aggregate impact value. The mean of
two observation, rounded to nearest whole number is reported as the " aggregate impact value".

PRECAUTIONS:

I. Place the plunger centrally so that it falls directly on the arrogate sample and does not touch the walls
of the cyiinder in order to ensure that the entire load is transmitted on to the aggregates.

In the opcration of sieving the aggregates through 2.36mm sieves the sum of weights of fractions

original weight of specimen by than 1

sieve should not differ from the
more
retained and passing the

rod and not by hammering action.

properly by gently dripping tamping
the
he tamping is to be done
rod
surface of the aggregate taking care that the tamping
Also the tamping should be uniform over the

the wall of the mould.

Oes not frequently strike against

RESULT
ireate impact vaiuc .
DISCUSSION:

What is 1meant by toughness of the

aggregate?
2. How does toughness differ from compressive strength?
3. Which test simulates the field condition better
aggregate crushing value test or
impact value test?
4. What are uses of determining impact value?

5. Should a good quality road aggregate give higher impact value?

INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS:
Aggregate impact value is used to classify the stones in respect of their toughness property as indicated

below

Aggregate impact value Classification

<10% Exceptionally strong
10-20% Strong
20-30% Satisfactory for road surfacing

35% Weak for road surfacing

The Indian road congress had recommended the following values for different types road construction.

Type of pavement Maximum aggregate

Serial no
impact value (%)

Bituminous surtace dressing penetration 30

bituminous concrete and

macadam, carpet
course
cement concrete wear1ng
base course 35
Bitumen- bound- macadam,
40
course with bitumen surfacing
WBM base
course
45
base
Cement concrete