CALIFORNIA BEARING RATIO TEST

AIM
To determine CBR of undistributed or laboratory remoulded specimens compacted dynamically
or statically either soaked or unsoaked state.

INTRODUCTION
Definitions:-
The California Bearing Ratio (CBR) is the ratio of the force per unit area required to penetrate a
soil mass with a standard circular piston at the rate of 1.25mm/min to that required for
corresponding penetration in the standard material. It is conducted in the laboratory for
evaluating the suitability of the sub grade and the materials used in sub base and base of the
flexible pavements. The loads required for a penetration of 2.5mm and 5mm are determined.
Load which has been obtained from the test on crushed stone (Standard stone / material), is
called the standard load. The standard material said to have a California Bearing Ratio of 100%.
(See appendix B for standard loads at specified penetrations.)The penetration load is expressed
as a percentage of the standard loads at respective penetration level of 2.5mm or 5mm.
CBR value = Penetration load X 100
Standard load
The CBR value is determined corresponding to both penetration levels. The greater of these
values is used for the design of the pavement.
Utility:-The CBR values in conjunction with certain empirical curves based on experience is
used for the design of flexible airport and high way pavements.

TEST APPARATUS
1. CBR mould- Inner diameter 150mm and height 175mm Volume (2250cc)with detachable
metal collar 50mm high and detachable base plate 10mm thick
2. Metal spacer disc – Inner diameter 140mm and 47.7mm high provided with detachable
handle.
3. Metal hammers 2.6 kg weight, drop 310mm.
4. Metal hammers 4.89 kg weight, drop 450mm
5. Expansion measuring system – metal tripod fitted with dial gauge.
6. Surcharge weight : One annual metal weight 2.5 Kg and slotted weight 147 mm diameter
(2.5kg each) and 53mm diameter central hole
7. Piston – 50mm diameter and 100mm long.
8. Loading frame – capacity 5t capable of deformation rate 1.25mm/min.and fitted with a
proving ring of required capacity.
9. Dial gauge.
10. Facility for measuring water content.
11. Soaking tank, straight edge and filter paper.

TEST PROCEDURE
1. Soil used should passed through IS 20mm sieve
2. Preparation of test specimen.
a) Undisturbed specimens – the mould filled with cutting edge is pushed into the soil
gently, by digging away the soil from outside the mould.
b) Remould specimens – about 5 kg soil is first mixed with the required
amount of water .Prepare the mould by fixing the collar and base plate and
oil their inside.
Static compaction: Place a filter paper at the bottom of the mould. Fill the mould with
wet soil sufficient to give the desired density. Place the spacer disc on leveled soil. Compact
statically till the top of the disc is flush with the rim of the mould. Remove the disc and place a
filter paper on top of the soil.
i. Dynamic compaction: The spacer disc is first placed in the mould. Over spacer a filter
paper is kept. Compact the soil dynamically at maximum dry density using light or
heavy compaction procedures. Remove the extension collar and trim the soil carefully.
Fix at the top second base plate onto the specimen. Loosen the bottom base plate,
invert the mould and remove the spacer disc using the handle.
ii. Weigh the specimen along with the mould and base plate. Take samples of loose soil
for determination of moisture content.
iii. Surcharge: Surcharge weights equal to the estimated weight of the pavement within
2.5 kg, but not less than 5 kg are to be placed on the soil in the mould.
 iv. Sample is now ready for the unsoaked test. For a soaked test, the mould is to be
immersed in water (after taking the necessary achievements and taking the initial
reading) for 96hours in a soaking tank. Take the final dial gauge reading for swelling.
v. Take out the sample, drain for 15min before test.
vi. Penetration: Load is applied after placing the mould on the loading machine by using
penetration rate of 1.25mm/min. Use a seating load of 4kg which is not considered for
the final calculations. Record load readings at 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0,
7.5, 10.5 and 12.5mm.

CALCULATIONS
i. Load penetration curve: Plot a smooth curve relating load (kg) and penetration (mm) . The
curve in the most cases is concave upward in the initial portions. A correction is applied by
drawing a tangent to the curve at the point of greatest slope. The corrected curve is this tangent
plus the convex portion of the original curve with the origin move to the tangent cuts the
horizontal axis.
ii. Calculation of CBR: From the corrected load penetration curve obtain the loads at
2.5mm and 5mm penetration. A ratio of the corrected loads VS the standard expressed in
percentage is the CBR. Usually the CBR corresponding to 2.5mm penetration is greater than
that corresponding to 5mm penetration and the former CBR is taken as the CBR. However,
if the latter is greater, the test is to be repeated on fresh sample and if the test also gives a similar
result than the CBR corresponding to 5.0mm, penetration is taken as the CBR value.

OBSERVATIONS
Condition of specimen at test: Undisturbed/disturbed/soaked/unsoaked
Type of compaction: Static/ dynamic/ Light/ Heavy
Diameter of mould =
Height of mould =

Volume of sample = πr2h

Dry density, γd = weight of soil in mould
volume of mould
Weight of soil to be taken =
Weight of container + wet soil =

Weight of container + dry soil =

Weight of container =

Water content, W (%) = weight of water x 100

weight of dry soil
Net water content =
CBR = Test load x 100
Standard load
Penetration mm Standard load (Kg)
2.5 1370
5 2055

Penetration Proving Ring Reading Load (Kg)

0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
5
5.5
6
6.5
 7
7.5
8
8.5
9
9.5
10
10.5
11
11.5
12
12.5
RESULT
CBR value for the specimen =
Net water content =