THE HONG KONG

POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY
Department of Civil and Structural Engineering Transport and Highways Engineering Laboratory

California Bearing Ratio Test 1. Introduction:This method covers the determination of the California Bearing Ratio (CBR) of a soil, which is obtained by measuring the force and penetration when a cylindrical plunger of cross sectional area 1935 mm2 is made to penetrate the soil at a given rate. The test shall be carried out on material, passing the 20 mm BS test sieve. The moisture content of the soil shall be chosen to represent the design conditions for which the test results are required. Alternatively, where a moisture range is to be investigated, water shall be added as required to previously air dried soil in which soil aggregations greater than the 5 mm BS test sieve have been broken down. Thorough mixing is essential. Plunger is made to penetrate the soil sample at a rate of 1 mm/min to a maximum depth of 7.5 mm.(Fig. 1). Method of test is set out in B.S. 1377. An initial seating force is applied to the p1unger. Neglecting the seating force, the force at subsequent penetrations are recorded and plotted on a force-penetration curve. The standard curve was obtained by the Californian originators of the tests from tests on crushed limestone, a very good base material. The loads required to produce penetrations of 2.5 mm and 5.0 mm are expressed as percentages of standard loads of 13.24 kN and 19.96 kN respectively. The higher of these percentages is the CBR value of the soil.

2. Apparatus:CBR test machine, 2.5 kg rammer, CBR mould(including mould body, extension collar and base plate), C-spanner, Base plate tool and Straight edge..etc. (Figure 4)

3. Procedures Weigh the mould body with base plate. Divide the prepared quantity of soil into three portions. Attach the extension collar to the mould. (Figure 5) Stand the mould assembly on solid base. Place the first portion of soil into the mould and compact it using the 2.5 kg rammer, so that after 62 blows the layer occupies about one-third of the height of the mould. Ensure that the blows are evenly distributed over the surface. Repeat using the other two portions of soil in turn (62 blows for each layer). (Figure 6) Remove the extension collar by using the C-spanner and trim the soil level with the top of the mould by the steel straightedge. (Figure 7 10) Weigh the mould, soil and base plate. Place the mould with the sample centrally on the testing machine. (Figure 11) Place the appropriate surcharge discs on top of the sample. Apply a seating force to the plunger, depending on the expected CBR value, as follows.
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For CBR value up to 5% apply 10 N For CBR value from 5% to 30%, apply 50 N For CBR value above 30% apply 250 N Reset the reading of the force-measuring device to zero(because the seating force is not taken into account during the test). Start the machine and record readings of the force gauge at intervals of penetration of 0.25 mm, to a total penetration not exceeding 7.5 mm, then stop the machine. Remove the base plate by using the Base plate tool and C-spanner. (Figure 12) Take out the soil by the Extruder. (Figure 13) Take a sample of the soil to determine the moisture content. (Figure 14 & 15)

4. Reporting of results Plot each value of force as ordinate against the corresponding penetration as abscissa and draw a smooth curve through the points. The normal type of curve is convex upwards as shown by the curve labeled Test 1 in Figure 3, and needs no correction. Penetrations of 2.5mm and 5mm are used for calculating the CBR value. Take the higher percentage as the CBR value. But sometimes the initial part of the curve is concave upwards and a correction is necessary. The correction consists of drawing a tangent to the curve at its steepest slope and producing it back to cut the penetration axis. This point is regarded as the origin of the penetration scale for the corrected curve. (Figure 3) CBR shall be reported to the nearest 1% for CBRs up to 30, to the nearest 5% for CBRs between 30 and 100, and to the nearest 10% for CBRs over 100. The report shall also include relevant details of the method of compaction, dry soil density and the moisture content after test. 5. Lab. Safety Please refer to the Lab. Safety regulations.

6. Reference BS1377:Part4. (Determination of the CBR, Rammer compaction with specified effort)

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Appendices : CBR Test Data :(Typical laboratory CBR values for British soils compacted at their natural moisture contents) Type of soil Heavy clay Plasticity Index % CBR % (Well drained *) 70 2 60 2 50 2.5 40 3 Silty clay 30 5 Sandy clay 20 6 10 7 Sand (Poorly-graded) Non-plastic 20 Sand (Weal-graded) Non-plastic 40 Sandy gravel Non-plastic 60 * Water table at least 0.6 m below formation level CBR % (Poorly drained) 1 1.5 2 2 3 4 5 10 15 20

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CBR Test (Unsoaked)

Date : ______________ Mould No : _____________________

Sample No : ______________ Soil Type : __Sandy Clay _

Vol. of Mould : ____________________ (152 dia. X 127 mm High)

Table 1 :-

Test Data :Surcharge (kg)

Penetration of Plunger (mm) Gauge Reading Force on Pluger (kN) Corrected Force (kN)

Mass of mould + Base plate + Soil (g) Mass of mould + Base plate (g) Mass of Soil (g), m Moisture Content (%) (From table 2) Bulk Density (Mg/m3) Dry Density (Mg/m3) Maximum CBR (%) (p=m/2305) (100p/100+w)

0.00 0.25 0.50 0.75 1.00 1.25 1.50 1.75 2.00 2.25

0.00

2.50
Table 2 :2.75 3.00 3.25 3.50 3.75 4.00 4.25 4.50 4.75

Tin Number Mass of Tin + Wet Soil (g) Mass of Tin + Dry Soil (g) Mass of Tin (g) Mass of Moisture (g) Mass of Dry Soil (g) Moisture Content of Sample (%), w

5.00
5.25 5.50 5.75 6.00 6.25 6.50 6.75 7.00 7.25 7.50
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