Transportation Engineering Laboratory, IITG

EXPERIMENT NO.
NAME OF THE EXPERIMENT: California Bearing Ratio Test (CBR Test)
AIM OF THE EXPERIMENT: To Determine the California Bearing Ratio of laboratorycompacted soil samples.
TEST DESCRIPTION:
The California bearing ratio test is penetration test meant for the evaluation of sub grade
strength of roads and pavements. CBR value 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 with specified test conditions (with a
circular plunger of 50 mm diameter at the rate of 1.25 mm/min). The ratio is usually
determined for penetration of 2.5 mm and 5.0 mm. The CBR value is calculated by using
following formula.

Test load corresponding

CBR value= the chosen penetration(P t )

Standard load for the same penetratio n( Ps )

The greater of above two values is taken as the CBR value for the Sample. Generally, the
CBR value at 2.5mm penetration will be greater than at 5.0 mm.
Table 1: The standard loads adopted for different penetrations for the standard material
PENTRATION (mm)

STANDARD LOAD (Kg/Sq.cm)

TOTAL STANDARD LOAD Kg

2.5

70

1370

5.0

105

2055

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Fig.1 CBR test set-up

APPARATUS

REQUIRED:

1. Cylindrical mould with inside diameter150 mm and height 175 mm, provided with a
detachable extension collar 50 mm height and a detachable perforated base plate 10 mm
thick.
2. Spacer disc 148 mm in diameter and 47.7 mm in height along with handle.
3. Metal rammers. Weight 4.89 kg with a drop of 450 mm.
4. Weights. One annular metal weight and several slotted weights weighing 2.5 kg each, 147
mm in diameter, with a central hole of 53 mm in diameter.

Fig. 2 CBR apparatus

Fig. 3 CBR apparatus sketch

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Transportation Engineering Laboratory, IITG

Fig. 4 Other

accessories

required for the

CBR test

5. Loading machine. With a capacity of at least 5000 kg and equipped with a movable head
or base that travels at an uniform rate of 1.25 mm/min. Complete with load indicating
device.
6. Metal penetration piston 50 mm diameter and minimum of 100 mm in length.
7. Two dial gauges reading to 0.01 mm.
8. Sieves. 4.75 mm and 19 mm I.S. Sieves.
9. Miscellaneous apparatus, such as a mixing bowl, straight edge, scales soaking tank or pan,
drying oven, filter paper and containers.
RELEVANT CODES:
IS 2386 (Part XVI)-1987 Methods of Test for soil; Laboratory determination of CBR; Bureau
of Indian Standards
IS 9669-1980 (Reaffirmed 2002) Specification for CBR Mould and Its Accessories; Bureau
of Indian Standards
PROCEDURE:

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Transportation Engineering Laboratory, IITG

1. Preparation of test specimen

Remoulded specimen
The remoulded specimen is prepared at Proctors maximum dry density at which C.B.R is
required maintaining the specimen at optimum moisture content. The material used should
pass 19 mm IS sieve but it should be retained on 4.75 mm IS sieve. The specimen is prepared
by dynamic compaction.
2. Dynamic Compaction
(i)

About 5.5 kg of soil is taken and mixed thoroughly with the required water.

(ii)

Then the extension collar and the base plate are fixed to the mould.
The spacer disc is inserted over the base. The filter paper is placed on
the top of the spacer disc.

(iii)

The mixed soil is compacted in the mould using heavy compaction. For
compaction, the soil is compacted in 5 equal layers, each layer being given 55

blows by the 4.9 kg rammer.

3. The collar is removed and the soil is trimmed off.
4. Then the mould is turned upside down and the base plate and the displacer disc are
removed.
5. The mould with compacted soil is weighed and the bulk density and dry density is
determined.
6. Filter paper is placed on the top of the compacted soil (collar side) and the perforated
base plate is clamped on to it.
7. For Penetration Test
(i) The mould assembly is placed on the penetration test machine.
(ii) The annular weight of 2.5 kg is placed on the top surface of soil.
(iii)
The stress and strain dial gauges are set to read zero. The load is applied on
the piston so that the penetration rate is about 1.25 mm/min.
(iv) The load readings at penetrations of 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 4.0, 5.0, 7.5, 10 and 12.5
mm are recorded. The maximum load and corresponding penetration are noted down
if it occurs for a penetration less than 12.5 mm.
(v) The mould is detached from the loading equipment. About 50 g of soil is taken from
the top 3 cm layer and the moisture content is determined.
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Transportation Engineering Laboratory, IITG

(vi) The C.B.R. values are usually calculated for penetration of 2.5 mm and 5 mm.
Test load corresponding

CBR value= the chosen penetration(P t )

Standard load for the same penetration (Ps )

PRECAUTIONS:

Use hand gloves while removing containers from oven after switching
off the oven.

Wear safety shoes & goggles at the time of testing.

Before testing, machine should be properly checked.

After test clean the sieve by a smooth brush.

Keep all the exposed metal parts greased.

Equipment should be clean thoroughly before testing & after testing.

Care should be taken while handling with the heavy weights.

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