TASK DETAILS:
Background and Introduction
California Bearing Ratio (CBR) is defined as the ratio of the force per unit area required to penetrate a
soil mass with a circular plunger of approximately 50 mm diameter at the rate of 1.27 mm/min.
to that required corresponding penetration of a standard material. The ratio is usually determined
for penetrations of 2.54 and 5.08 mm. where, the ratio at 5.08 mm is consistently higher than
that as 2.54 mm; the ratio at 5.08 mm is used. It is a good substitute for heavy field tests and a
simple internationally accepted test for design of flexible pavements.
This test method covers the determination of the CBR (California Bearing Ratio) of pavement sub-
grade, sub-base, and base/course materials from laboratory compacted specimens at optimum
water content or a range of water content from a specified modified compaction test and a
specified dry unit weight. The dry unit weight is usually given as a percentage of maximum dry
unit weight from the compaction test. The test method is primarily intended for but not limited
to, evaluating the strength of cohesive materials having maximum particle sizes less than 19
mm.
For tests performed on materials compacted to one water content, three specimens are prepared. The
specimens are compacted using three different compactive efforts to obtain unit weights both
above and below the desired unit weight. After allowing specimens to take on water by soaking,
or other specified treatment such as curing, each specimen is subjected to penetration by a
cylindrical rod. Results of stress (load) versus penetration depth are plotted to determine the
CBR for each specimen. The CBR at the specified density is determined from a graph of CBR
versus dry unit weight.
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Apparatus and Equipment
1. Loading Machine (Figure 1) — consists of a movable head or base that travels at a uniform rate of
1.27 mm/min for use in forcing the penetration piston into the specimen, penetration piston and gages.
2. Mold—the mold shall be a rigid metal cylinder with an inside diameter of 6 +/- 0.026 in. (152.4 +/-
0.66 mm) and a height of 7 +/- 0.018 in. (177.8 +/- 0.46 mm).
3. Spacer Disk—a circular metal spacer disc having a minimum outside diameter of 515⁄16 in. (150.8
mm. The spacer disc shall be 2.416 +/- 0.005 in. (61.37 +/- 0.127 mm) in height.
4. Rammer.
5. Expansion-Measuring Apparatus—an adjustable metal stem and perforated metal plate.
6. Weights—One or two annular metal weights having a total mass of 4.54 0.02 kg and slotted
metal weights each having masses of 2.27 +/- 0.02 kg to simulate the effect of overlying pavement
weight.
Figure 1: CBR mechanical loading frame
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Testing Procedure
Conduct a control compaction test with a sufficient number of test specimens to definitely establish
the optimum water content for the soil and record its maximum dry unit weight.
1. Take about 5 kg of a soil sample passing sieve 19 mm and mix with the optimum moisture content.
2. Compact three specimens from soil prepared to within 0.5 percentage points of optimum water
content and using the specified CBR compaction to reach 100%, 95%, and 90% of maximum dry unit,
each layer being compacted using 56, 25, and 10 blows respectively.
3. Place a surcharge of weights on the specimen sufficient to produce an intensity of loading equal to
the weight of the base material.
4. Seat the penetration piston with the smallest possible load, but in no case in excess of 44 N. Set both
the stress and penetration gages to zero.
5. Apply the load on the penetration piston so that the rate of penetration is approximately 1.27
mm/min.
6. Record the load readings at penetrations of 0.64 mm, 1.27 mm, 1.91 mm, 2.54 mm, 3.18 mm, 3.81
mm, 4.45 mm, 5.08 mm, 6.36 mm, 7.62 mm, 10.16 mm and 12.70 mm.
Data and Calculations
• Calculate the penetration stress in MPa and plot the stress- penetration curve.
• Using the corrected stress values taken from the stress penetration curve for 2.54 mm and 5.08 mm
penetrations, calculate the bearing ratios for each by dividing the corrected stresses by the standard
stresses of 6.9 MPa and 10.3 MPa respectively, and multiplying by 100.
𝐶𝐵𝑅=𝐶𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑∗100%
• Calculate the bearing ratios for the maximum stress. If the penetration is less than 5.08 mm
interpolating the standard stress, the bearing ratio reported for the soil is normally the one at 2.54 mm
penetration.
• When the ratio at 5.08 mm penetration is greater, rerun the test. If the check test gives a similar
result, use the bearing ratio at 5.08 mm penetration.
• Plot the CBR versus molded dry unit weight relation and determine the design CBR at the
percentage of the maximum dry unit weight requested.
𝐶𝐵𝑅𝑎𝑡 2.54=………………………..
𝐶𝐵𝑅𝑎𝑡 5.08=………………………..
CBR Value = ………………………..
❖ Print and attach your stress- penetration curve to this worksheet
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