LABORATORY UDOT/TTQP AASHTO T 193

CALIFORNIA BEARING RATIO OF SOILS

FOP FOR AASHTO T 193
02 Scope
This method of test covers the determination of the
California Bearing Ratio (CBR) of soils at
optimum moisture content.
03 Significance
This test method is used to evaluate the potential
strength of soils, including recycled materials, for
use in roadway and airfield pavements. The CBR is
an integral part of several flexible pavement design
methods.
Where the effect of compaction water content on
CBR is small, such as cohesionless, coarse-grained
materials the CBR may be determined at the
optimum water content of a specified compactive
effort.
Where the effect of compaction water content on
CBR is unknown or when its effect is to be
accounted for, the CBR is determined for a range of
water contents. See AASHTO T 193 for this
procedure.
Apparatus
04 • Mold(s): Cylindrical-shaped steel mold(s), 7.0
±0.018 inches in height, inside diameter of
6.0 ±0.026 inches. The mold shall be provided
with a collar extension, approximately
05
2.0 inches in height. The mold and collar
assembly shall be so constructed that it can be
fastened firmly to a perforated metal base
plate. Perforations in the base plate shall have a
diameter not exceeding 1/16 inch.
• Spacer-disc: A metal disc, 2.416 ±0.01 inches
in height with a diameter of 515/16 ±1/32 inches,
to be used as a false bottom in the mold during
compaction.
06 • Compaction equipment: Mechanical
equipment suitable to compact a solid
specimen in a 6-inch diameter mold according
to AASHTO T 99 or T 180.
• Scale or Balance: Capacity of at least 11 kg
(25 lb), sensitive to 5 g (0.01 lb).

T 193 Laboratory 6-1 November 2005

LABORATORY UDOT/TTQP AASHTO T 193

07
• Apparatus for measuring expansion: A
perforated metal swell plate with an adjustable
stem, a tripod dial mount, and a dial gauge
08
with divisions of 0.001 inch. The swell plate
shall have a diameter of 5⅞ ±1/16 inch.
Perforations in the swell plate shall have a
diameter not exceeding 1/16 inch.
09
• Weights: One annular metal weight with a
center hole 2⅛ inches in diameter and several
slotted metal weights, all 5⅞ inches in
diameter and weighing 5 ±0.10 lb. The weights
shall be suitable for applying a surcharge load
on the surface of the soil specimen during
soaking and penetration.
10
• Penetration piston: A metal piston of circular
cross-section, at least 4 inches in length and
with a diameter of 1.954 ±0.005 inch (area of 3
in2). The piston shall be long enough to
penetrate the specimen with the surcharge
weights in place.
• Soaking tank: A soaking tank suitable for
maintaining the water level 1 inch above the
top of the sample.
11
• Loading device: A laboratory testing machine
or screw jacks and frame arrangement capable
of applying a uniformly increasing load up to
10,000 lb., suitable to force the penetration
piston into the specimen at a uniform rate of
0.05 inch per minute.
The loading device shall be fitted with a
proving ring or other load indicating
equipment, suitable for reading loads in 10 lb.
increments.
12
• Drying oven: A thermostatically controlled
oven capable of maintaining a temperature of
230 ±9° F.
• Miscellaneous: Tools such as mixing pan,
spoon, spatula, straightedge, etc.
13 Sampling and Sample Reduction
• Obtain a sample of sufficient size for the
specified procedure according to AASHTO T 2.
• Reduce to a test sample size of at least 35 kg
(75 lbs) according to AASHTO T 248.

T 193 Laboratory 6-2 November 2005

 LABORATORY UDOT/TTQP AASHTO T 193

Sample
14 • Prepare the sample according to AASHTO
T 99 or T 180 except that if material larger
than ¾ inch is present, that material shall be
removed and replaced with an equal amount of
material passing the ¾ inch but retained on the
No. 4 sieve. Material for replacement shall be
obtained from the original representative
sample. Recombine the material thus prepared
and mix thoroughly.
15 Moisture Density Relations
• From the prepared sample, select a
representative portion of approximately 11 kg
(25 lbs).

• Determine the maximum dry density and

optimum moisture content of the material
according to AASHTO T 99 or T 180. (Consult
agency specifications for determining which
method is applicable).

CBR Specimen Preparation

16 1. From the prepared material, select three or
more samples of approximately 6.8 kg (15 lb)
Note 1: Some laboratories may each, and mix with sufficient water to obtain
prefer to test only one specimen the optimum moisture content. If the soil is
which would be compacted to clay with hard dry lumps, the moistened
maximum dry density at optimum
moisture content as determined by
material shall be placed in air tight containers
the FOP for AASHTO T 99/T 180. and allowed to cure for approximately 24
hours.
17 2. These specimens will be used for compaction
at separate compactive efforts. Consult agency
specifications for the required range of
compactive effort. Follow the remaining
procedures for each of the specimens.
18 3. Clamp the 6-inch diameter mold to the base
plate, and determine the mass of the assembly
including two filter papers.
4. Insert the spacer disc. Place one filter paper on
top of the disc and install the removable collar.
19 5. Compact the soil into the mold using the
applicable rammer, number of layers, and
number of blows required to achieve the
desired level of compactive effort.

T 193 Laboratory 6-3 November 2005

 LABORATORY UDOT/TTQP AASHTO T 193

6. Obtain samples at the beginning and end of the

compaction procedure to determine the
moisture content in accordance with AASHTO
T 265.
20 7. Following compaction, remove the extension
collar and carefully trim the compacted soil
even with the top of the mold. Release the
mold from the base and remove the spacer
disc. Place the second filter paper on the
perforated base plate, invert the mold and
specimen, and clamp the perforated base plate
to the mold with the filter paper in contact with
the compacted specimen.
21
8. Determine the mass of the specimen, filter
papers, and mold with base plate. Subtract the
mass of the mold, base plate, and filter papers,
and record.
22
9. Attach the extension collar to the mold and
place the perforated swell plate with adjustable
stem on the surface of the specimen. Apply
annular weights to produce a surcharge within
5 lb of the anticipated mass of the base course
and pavement (at least 10 lbs must be applied).
Take initial measurements for swell by placing
the tripod on the mold and adjustable stem and
reading the dial gage.
23
Note 2: A shorter soaking period
10. Immerse the assembled mold, swell plate, and
is permissible for A-1-a and A-3 annular weights in water allowing free access
soils if tests show that a shorter 24 of water to the top and bottom of the specimen.
period does not affect the test Allow the specimen to soak for 96 hours. (See
results, but in no case shall the 25 Note 2). Be sure the water level is maintained
soaking period be less than 24 approximately 1 inch above the top of the
hours. specimen during this period. At the end of the
soaking period, take final swell measurements
and determine the swell as a percentage of the
initial height of the specimen (116.43 mm).
26 11. Remove the free water from the top of the
specimen and allow draining downward for 15
Percent swell = (Change in height / 116.43mm) x 100 minutes. Care shall be taken not to disturb the
surface of the specimen during removal of
water and draining.
12. Remove the extension collar, annular weights,
and perforated plate. Determine the mass of the
specimen and mold with base plate.

T 193 Laboratory 6-4 November 2005

LABORATORY UDOT/TTQP AASHTO T 193

13. Immediately conduct the penetration

procedure.
Penetration Procedure
27 1. Place annular weights on the surface of the
specimen equal to the surcharge maintained
during the soaking period. To prevent
displacement of soft materials, seat the
penetration piston with a 10 lb. load after one
surcharge weight has been placed on the
specimen. After seating the penetration piston,
place the remainder of the surcharge weights
around the piston.
28 2. Seat the penetration piston with a 10 pound
load, and set both the stress and strain gages to
zero. This initial load is required to insure
satisfactory seating of the piston and shall be
considered as zero load when determining the
stress-strain relationship. (The mass of the
penetration piston is considered negligible).
3. Apply the load on the penetration piston so that
29 the rate of penetration is 0.05 inch per minute.
Take load readings to the nearest 10 pounds at
penetrations of 0.025, 0.050, 0.075, 0.100,
0.125, 0.150, 0.175, 0.200, and 0.300 inches.
(Load readings at 0.400 and 0.500 inches may
also be taken if desired). Note the maximum
load and penetration if it occurs before 0.300 (or
0.500) inches.
30
4. Remove the soil from the mold. If required, take
a sample to determine the moisture content of
the upper 1 inch soil layer according to
AASHTO T 265.
Calculation
31 The California Bearing Ratio shall be calculated as
follows (See examples on pages 6-7 through 6-9):
• Using the load data, plot a stress-strain curve
for each specimen with the resistance to
penetration (lbs) as the ordinate and the inches
of penetration as the abscissa. (If the load-
penetration curve is concave upward initially,
the zero point shall be adjusted by extending
the straight-line portion of the curve downward
to the point at which it intercepts the abscissa.
All penetration values shall also be adjusted
accordingly).

T 193 Laboratory 6-5 November 2005

LABORATORY UDOT/TTQP AASHTO T 193

• The corrected load values for each specimen

32 will be noted at penetrations of 0.100 and
0.200 inches.
• Convert the corrected load values to pounds
per square inch (psi) by dividing the load (lb)
by the cross-sectional area (in2) of the
penetration piston.
• Divide the calculated strength values for 0.100
33
and 0.200 inch penetration by the standard
loads of 1000 and 1500 psi respectively,
multiplying the ratios by 100 to convert to
whole percentages (see formula at left).
• Generally, the CBR value at 0.100 inch
penetration is selected. If the value at
0.200 inch penetration is greater than that at
0.100 inch, the test must be re-run. If the retest
gives similar results, the value at 0.200 inch
penetration shall be reported.
34 Report
• Report on standard agency forms.
• CBR percent at 0.100 or 0.200 inch penetration.
• Compactive effort (blows per layer).
• Compaction method used (AASHTO T 99 or
T 180).
• Moisture content as molded.
• Swell (percent of original height).
• Soil description.
• Sample and project identification.
Tips! 35

• At all times, except during

processing, keep the test
sample in covered
containers to avoid moisture
loss due to evaporation.
• Frequently change the water
in the soaking tank to
minimize contamination of
test specimens during the
soaking period.

T 193 Laboratory 6-6 November 2005

LABORATORY UDOT/TTQP AASHTO T 193

36
Correction of stress-strain curve
If there is an initial concave upward portion of the curve, correction is made by
extending the straight-line portion downward to where it intercepts the abscissa. The
load values for 0.100 and 0.200 inches penetration are corrected accordingly.
(Correction and calculation shown is for load at 0.100 inch penetration)

900

800

700

600
Corrected
load value
500 of 460 lbs

Strength (psi) for corrected

400 load at 0.100 inch penetration:
460
= 153 psi
3.00
300
CBR at 0.100 inch penetration:
200 153
= 15.3, say 15%
1000

100

0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6

Penetration (in)

T 193 Laboratory 6-7 November 2005

LABORATORY UDOT/TTQP AASHTO T 193

37
Load Penetration Values for 3 Compactive Efforts

12 Blows 32 Blows 65 Blows

1300

1200

1100

1000

900

800
Load (lbs)

700

600

500

400

300

200

100

0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6
Penetration (in)

T 193 Laboratory 6-8 November 2005

 LABORATORY UDOT/TTQP AASHTO T 193

38
Dry Density vs. CBR for 3 Compactive Efforts
Moisture Density Relations:
Maximum Dry Density: 103.5 pcf
Optimum Moisture Content: 18.6 %
Compactive Effort
12 Blows per Layer – 94.5 pcf (91.3 % of max)
32 Blows per Layer – 99.3 pcf (95.9 % of max)
65 Blows per Layer – 104.0 pcf (100.5 % of max)

25

CBR at 95% of
maximum dry
20
density = 18 %

15

10
90 95 100 105 110

Dry Density as Molded (pcf)

T 193 Laboratory 6-9 November 2005

LABORATORY UDOT/TTQP AASHTO T 193

T 193 Laboratory 6-10 November 2005