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CALIFORNIA BEARING RATIO (CBR) TEST

1.0 INTRODUCTION

The California Bearing Ratio (CBR) was developed by California division of highways as
a method of classifying and evaluating soil-sub-grade and base course materials for
flexible pavements. The CBR test is currently used in pavement design for both roads and
airfield pavement. In some methods CBR is used directly and in some others it is
converted to Resilient Modulus MR using relationships.

MR= 1500 x CBR (ibs/in2 )


MR= 10304 x CBR (Kpa)

The laboratory CBR Test measures the shearing resistance of a crushed aggregate or soil
under controlled moisture and density conditions. The test yields bearing ration number
that is applicable for the state of crushed aggregates or soil as tested. The CBR is obtained
as the ratio of the unit stress required of effect a certain depth of penetration of the
piston(1935mm) into a compacted specimen of crushed aggregate or soil at some water
and density to the standard unit stress required to obtain the same depth of penetration on
a standardsample of crushed stone. Thus,

Test unit stress


CBR= Standard unit stress x 100

The CBR is usually base on the load ratio for penetration of 2-5mm. if the CBR value at
the penetration of 5.0mm is larger , the test should be repeated. If a test yields a larger
value of CBR at 5.0 mm penetration then this larger value should be adopted. The CBR
test are usually made on test specimens at optimum moisture content (OMC) for the
crushed aggregate or soil as determined from modified compaction test.

CBR is used to rate the performances of soils used as bases and sub grade. The following
tables gives typical rating:

CBR General Rating Uses


0.3 Very poor Sub-grade
3-7 Poor to fair Sub-grade
7-20 Fair Sub-base
20-50 Good Base of sub-base
>50 Excellence base

2.0 OBJECTIVE
To determine the CBR value of the given crushed aggregate/soil sample

3.0 APPARATUS

1. CBR equipment consisting of 152.4 mm diameter and 178 mm height, An


extension collar of a diameter 51 mm, spacer disk of 150.8mm diameter and 61.4
mm height.
2. Mechanical compaction rammer 50.8 mm die, 2.49 kg and capable of free fall of
305 mm.
3. Surcharge weight to simulate the effect of overlaying pavement weight.
4. CBR machine: A compression
machine, which can operate at a
constant rate of 1.3mm/min. A
metal piston of 1935mm2 is
attached to it.

Figure 1: CBR Test Equipment


4.0 PROCEDURE

1. CBR equipment consisting of 152.4 mm diameter and 178 mm height, An


extension collar of diameter 51 mm, spacer disk of 150.8 mm diameter and 61.4
mm height.
2. Mechanical compaction rammer 50.8 mm die, 2.49 kg and capable of free fall of
305 mm.
3. Surcharge weight to simulate the effect of overlying pavement weight.
4. CBR machine: A compression machine, which can operate at a constant rate of
1.3 mm/min. A metal piston of 1935mm2 is attached to it.
5. The representative crushed aggregate/soil sample is sieved through 20 mm sieve.
About 5 kg of crushed aggregate/soil is taken and mixed with optimum moisture
content (OMC).

6. Clamp the mould to the base plate, attach the extension collar and weight. Insert
the spacer disk into the mould and place a coarse filter paper on the top of the disk.
7. Compact the aggregate /soil water mixture into the world in 3 equal layers to give
a height of 127 mm compact each layer in the 10 blows, 30 blows and 65 blows
for each sample.

8. Determine the water content of the crushed aggregate /soil mixture.


9. Remove the extension collar, and using on straight edge, trim the compacted
crushed aggregate/soil even with the top of the mould surface. Remove the spacer
disk and weight the mould with sample.
10. Place the mould with crushed aggregate/soil on the CBR machine and place the
surcharge weight. Seat the penetration piston, set the dial gauges for load and
penetration.
11. Apply the loads to the penetration piston at the rate of 1.27mm/min and record the
load at 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 7.5, and 10.0mm penetration
respectively.

5.0 CALCULATION

CBR:
Plot the load deformation curve for each specimen. In some cases the initial penetration
takes place without a proportional increase in the resistance to penetration and the curve
may be concave upward. To obtain the true stress-strain relationships, correct the curve
having concave upward shape near the origin by adjusting the location of the origin by
extending the straight the portion of the stress strain curve down ward until it intersects
with x-axis.

Determine the corrected load values at 2.5mm and 5.0 mm and determine the CBR by the
following relationship

Test unit stress


CBR= Standard unit stress x 100

Standard load at 2.5mm is taken 13.2kN and at 5.0mm it is on 20kN

Dry Density:
Weight of the empty mould = A gm
Weight of the mould + soil = B gm
Volume of soil sample = V

B−A
Weight density, γ = V
Water content w

γ
Dry Density, γd = 1+w

Plot the CBR vs Dry density and determine the CBR at 95% of maximum dry density and
repeat this value of CBR.

CBR vs Dry Density


70

60

50

40
CBR (%)

30

20

10

0
1.83 2.02 2.13
Dry Density (gm/cm^3)

Summary of Test Results

Sample No. No. of Blows 𝛄𝐝 (gm/𝒄𝒎𝟑 ) CBR (%)


1 10 1.83 19.09
2 30 2.02 61.41
3 65 2.13 40.02

CBR at 0.95 γdmax : 61.41%


95
× 2.13 = 2.02
100

CBR at 2.02 gm/cm3 = 61.41%

Sample No.1
1.472
𝐶𝐵𝑅1 𝑝𝑎𝑑𝑎 𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑢𝑘𝑎𝑛 2.5𝑚𝑚 = × 100% = 11.15%
13.2

3.818
𝐶𝐵𝑅2 𝑝𝑎𝑑𝑎 𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑢𝑘𝑎𝑛 5.0𝑚𝑚 = × 100% = 19.09%
20

∴ CBR for sample no.1 is 19.09%

Sample No.2

3.680
𝐶𝐵𝑅1 𝑝𝑎𝑑𝑎 𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑢𝑘𝑎𝑛 2.5𝑚𝑚 = × 100% = 27.88%
13.2

12.282
𝐶𝐵𝑅2 𝑝𝑎𝑑𝑎 𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑢𝑘𝑎𝑛 5.0𝑚𝑚 = × 100% = 61.41%
20
∴ CBR for sample no.2 is 61.41%

Sample No.3

0.69
𝐶𝐵𝑅1 𝑝𝑎𝑑𝑎 𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑢𝑘𝑎𝑛 2.5𝑚𝑚 = × 100% = 5.23%
13.2

8.004
𝐶𝐵𝑅2 𝑝𝑎𝑑𝑎 𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑢𝑘𝑎𝑛 5.0𝑚𝑚 = × 100% = 40.02%
20

∴ CBR for sample no.3 is 40.02%


Sample 1 2 3
No. of Blows 10 30 65
Empty wt. of mould, W1 (g) 16550 16700 16800
Wt of mould + wet sample , W2 (g) 20850 21450 21700
Volume of sample, V (𝒄𝒎𝟑 ) 2208.93 2208.93 2208.93
Wet density, 𝜸 = (W2-W1)/V , (𝒈⁄𝒄𝒎𝟑 ) 1.95 2.15 2.22
Can no. A B C
Wt. of empty can, A (g) 29.10 36.80 37.60
Wt. of can + wet sample , B (g) 101.70 111.20 72.10
Wt. of can + dry sample, C (g) 97.40 106.70 70.7
Water content , W% = [(B-C)/(C-A)] x 100 6.30 6.44 4.23

Type of The Test : Soaked / Unsoaked

OMC Date: 20/09/2017 OMC: 4.23%𝛾𝑑𝑚𝑎𝑥 : 2.13 𝑔⁄𝑐𝑚3


Dry density, 𝜸𝒅 = 𝜸/ (1+W) , (𝒈⁄𝒄𝒎𝟑 ) 1.83 2.02 2.13

(𝐖𝟏−𝐖𝟐)
Wet density γ = 𝐕

Sample 1

20850 𝑔 − 16550 𝑔
𝛾= = 1.95 𝑔/𝑐𝑚3
2208.93 𝑐𝑚3

Sample 2

21450 𝑔 − 16700 𝑔
𝛾= = 2.15 𝑔/𝑐𝑚3
2208.93 𝑐𝑚3

Sample 3

21700 𝑔 − 16800 𝑔
𝛾= = 2.22 𝑔/𝑐𝑚3
2208.93 𝑐𝑚3

(𝐁 − 𝐂)
𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐖% = × 𝟏𝟎𝟎%
(𝐂 − 𝐀)

Sample 1

101.70 − 97.40
𝑊% = × 100% = 6.30%
97.40 − 29.10

Sample 2

111.20 − 106.70
𝑊% = × 100% = 6.44%
106.70 − 36.80

Sample 3
72.10 − 70.70
𝑊% = × 100% = 4.23%
70.70 − 37.60

𝜸
Dry Density, 𝜸𝒅 = (𝟏+𝑾)

Sample 1

Penetration Load
(mm)

1.95
𝛾𝑑 = 6.30
= 1.83 𝑔𝑚/𝑐𝑚3
[1 + ( 100 )]

Sample 2

2.15
𝛾𝑑 = 6.44
= 2.02 𝑔𝑚/𝑐𝑚3
[1 + ( 100 )]

Sample 3

2.22
𝛾𝑑 = 4.23
= 2.13 𝑔𝑚/𝑐𝑚3
[1 + ( 100 )]
Sample 1 Sample 2 Sample 3

Div. Corrected Div. Corrected Div. Corrected


0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1.0 15 0.69 13 0.568 2 0.092

1.5 16 0.736 25 1.150 9 0.414

2.0 22 1.012 45 2.070 15 0.690

2.5 32 1.472 80 3.680 15 0.690

3.0 42 1.932 116 5.336 30 1.380

3.5 51 2.346 151 6.946 55 2.530

4.0 61 2.806 190 8.740 86 3.956

4.5 71 3.266 224 10.304 125 5.750

5.0 83 3.818 267 12.282 174 8.004

5.5 94 4.324 305 14.030 223 10.258

6.0 104 4.784 335 15.410 268 12.328

6.5 113 5.198 364 16.744 314 14.444

7.0 123 5.658 400 18.400 365 16.790

To get corrected value:

Corrected value = Div x 0.046 kN/Div

Graph load deformation


20

18

16

14

12
sample 1
10
sample 2
8 sample 3
6

0
0 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 5.5 6 6.5 7

6.0 REFERENCES

1. American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. AASHTO


T-193-1990.
2. ASTM D1556-1982
3. The Asphalt Institute. The Asphalt Handbook
4. E.J. Yoder “Principles of –pavement design” John-Wiley & Sons, New York.
7.0 DISCUSSION

i. California bearing ratio (CBR) is used to rate the performances of soils used as bases
and sub grade as translate its strength in numerical form after compaction work done.
Therefore, the value is the degree of compaction of a bases and subgrade.

ii. In compaction theory, as we know that compaction work can be done efficiently
based on optimum moisture. To get the percentage of water content, proctor test need
to do for the sample with different water content. The same theory apply in CBR
value, value of water content can show the most optimal degree of compaction for
subgrade to get the highest value of CBR.

iii. If the soil too dry, it is not suitable for pavement construction because the soil will be
fragile into small pieces.

iv. Based on graph CBR against dry density, we can see that the highest CBR value is
when the optimum dry density

v. Error that might happened


 Gauge reading is difficult to do because it is too fast and sometimes the reader
failed to record the value
 Poorly compressed soil might cause compression load not uniform on the
surface. Also, the penetration on the soil will not balance
vi. Precaution steps
 Make sure the reading is taken accurately with the reading marks
 At least 2 people needed to read the dial gauges which is the first one is for
read penetration gauge and the other one to read load gauge.
 Make sure water and soil mixed perfectly so that tested soil is completely
uniform with water content
 Make sure the soil sample compact each layer perfectly. Like sample 1 with
10 blows, sample 2 with 30 blows and sample 3 with 65 blows
 Chunks of soil need to take it out from the source or crush it with hammer
before weighed it to prevent error

vii. In CBR test, we can get that when the load increase, the penetration to sample also
increase
viii. Even though we get two different value of CBR for every sample which is 11.05%
and 19.09% for sample 1, 27.88% and 61.41% for sample 2 also 5.23% and 40.02%
for sample 3, we just take the biggest value of CBR for every sample. Therefore, CBR
value for sample 1, sample 2 and sample 3 are 19.09%, 61.41% and 40.02%
respectively
8.0 CONCLUSION

In this experiment, we can see that CBR value at the penetration of 5.0 mm is larger than
CBR value at penetration of 2.5mm. CBR value for this experiment is 19.09% for sample
1, 61.41% for sample 2 and 40.02% for sample 3.CBR value upper than 20% can be
considered as base and sub-base. Therefore, sample 2 and sample 3 are suitable for design
pavement with the rating excellence and good.

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