INTRODUCTION

The California bearing ratio test is penetration test meant for the evaluation of subgrade
strength of roads and pavements. The result obtained by these tests are used with the empirical
curves to determine the thickness of pavement and its component layers. This is the most
widely used method for the design of flexible pavement. This experiment 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 is obtained as the ratio of the unit stress required of effect a certain depth of
penetration of the piston (1935 mm) into a compacted specimen of crushed aggregate/soil at
some water content and density to the standard unit stress required to obtain the same depth of
penetration on a standard sample of crushed stone. Thus:
𝑇𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠
CBR= **100
𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠

The CBR test are usually made on test specimens at optimum moisture content (OMC)
for the crushed aggregate as determined from the modified compaction test. The laboratory
CBR test measures the shearing resistance of a crushed aggregate under controlled moisture
and density conditions making the test yields bearing ratio number that is applicable for the
state of crushed aggregate as tested.

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OBJECTIVES
The California Bearing Ratio test is a laboratory testing method to estimate the bearing value
and the mechanical strength of highway sub-bases and subgrades. The test meant for the
evaluation of subgrade strength of roads and pavements. The results obtained by these tests are
used with the empirical curves to determine the thickness of pavement and its component
layers. This is the most widely used method for the design of flexible pavement. The test is
performed by measuring the pressure required to penetrate a soil sample with a plunger of
standard area. The measured pressure is then divided by the pressure required to achieve an
equal penetration on a standard crushed rock material.

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INSTRUMENTS /APPARATUS

1. CBR equipment consisting of an extension collar and spacer disk.

2. Mechanical compaction rammer.

3. Surcharge weight to simulate the effect of overlaying pavement weight.

4. CBR machine: A compression machine with metal piston attached.

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5. Crushed sand with metal tray.

6. Measuring cylinder.

7. Weight balance.

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PROCEDURE
The test sample was prepared as follows:

1) Used 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) The representative crushed aggregate/soil sample is sieved through 20 mm sieve. About

15 kg of crushed aggregate/soil is taken and mixed with optimum moisture content
(OMC) 5.5% (750ml) from weight of soil sample.

3) Divide the prepared quantity of soil into three portions.

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4) Clamp the mould to the base plate, attached the extension collar and weight. Insert the
spacer disk into the mold and place a coarse filter paper on the top of the disk.

5) The aggregate /soil water mixture into the world are compacted 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.

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6) Remove the extension collar by using the C-spanner and trim the soil level with thetop
of the mould by the steel straightedge.

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7) Weigh the mould, soil and base plate

8) The mold with crushed aggregate/soil are placed on the CBR machine and place the
surcharge weight seat the penetration piston, set the dial gauges for load and
penetration.

9) Start the machine and reset the reading of the force-measuring device to zero (because
the seating force is not taken into account during the test)

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10) The loads to the penetration piston are applying at the rate of 1.27mm/min and 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 are
recorded.

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RESULTS CALCULATION
Analysis
Type of the test: Soaked
OMC : 5% Yd Max : 0.080 g/cm³

Sample 1 2 3

No. of Blows 10 30 65

Empty wet of mould, W1 4075.8 4743.1 4278.8

Wet of mould + wet sample, w2 8553.6 9658.8 9378.9

Volume of sample, V (𝜋𝑟 2 ℎ) 0.060 0.060 0.060

(𝑊2−𝑊1) 74.63 85.00 81.93

Wet density y = 𝑉

Can no. A B C

Wet of empty can, A 44.6 46.4 46.8

Wet of can + wet sample, B 95.6 109.7 111.7

Wet of can + dry sample, C 92.4 106.3 108.0

( 𝐵−𝐶) 0.0669 0.0567 0.0604

Water content, W = (𝐶−𝐴)
x 100

𝑌 0.070 0.080 0.077

Dry Density, yD = (1+𝑊)

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Penetration
(mm) Load
Sample 1 Sample 2 Sample 3

Div. Corrected (KN) Div. Corrected (KN) Div. Corrected (KN)

0.0 0.524 0.450 0.272

1.0 1.064 3.224 0.828

1.5 1.412 4.130 1.482

2.0 1.634 4.882 2.164

2.5 2.022 5.764 3.370

3.0 2.242 6.884 4.768

3.5 2.540 7.812 6.210

4.0 2.898 8.842 8.404

4.5 3.296 9.916 11.092

5.0 3.732 10.948 13.172

5.5 4.138 11.862 15.682

6.0 4.502 12.224 18.402

6.5 4.748 14.306 20.604

7.0 5.144 15.160 22.890

7.5 5.582 16.264 25.250

8.0 6.002 17.300 27.230

8.5 6.476 18.196 28.812

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CBR

Sample No. No. of Blows Yd max (g/cm³) CBR (%)

1 10 0.070 16.99

2 30 0.080 49.205

3 65 0.077 45.69

CALCULATIONS

1) Wet density, y = (W2-W1)/ V

= (8553.6 g – 4075.8 g) / 0.060 m³
= 74.63 g/ m³
2) Water content, W = (B – C) / (C – A) * 100%
= (95.6 g – 92.4 g) / (92.4 g – 44.6 g) *100%
= 3.2 g / 47.8 g *100%
= 6.69 %  0.0669
3) Dry density, γd = γ/ (1+ W)
= 74.63 g/m³  0.075 g/cm³
= 0.075 g/cm³ / (1+0.0669)
= 0.070 g/cm³

4) CBR (%)
CBR2.5mm = ( Test unit stress / standard unit stress ) x 100%
= (2.022 kN / 13.2 kN) x 100%
= 15.32 %
CBR5.0mm= ( Test unit stress / standard unit stress ) x 100%
= (3.732 kN / 20kN) x 100%
= 18.66 %
CBR = (CBR2.5mm + CBR5.0mm) / 2

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 = (15.32 + 18.66) /2
= 16.99 %

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20

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Sample 1
Sample 2
10 Sample 3

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

CBR (%) vs yd max (g/cm3)

60

50 49.205
45.69
40

30

20
16.99

10

0
0.07 0.08 0.077

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DISCUSSION

According to the graph of the result, it is not a very smooth curve of the plotted graph.
Therefore, adjustment of the graph should be done in order to have a more accurate result.
Also, there is a difference between the standard CBR value and the experimental value, the
possible errors are listed as below:

1. Air void appears in the soil

In realistic, honestly, the volume of the air void cannot be neglected. No matter how
the compaction is perfect, the air void still exists. Moreover, the size of the aggregates
is different, the gap between the aggregate becomes void. Therefore, the effect of the
air void in the experiment cannot be determined correctly and hence affects the result.

2. Chemical composition of aggregate to the soil

Since there is mineral contains in the soil, for such quartz, plagioclase, microcline these
minerals are relatively stiffer than others. Then, the stiffness and the strength of the soil
will change. It is chemical composition of the aggregate to the soil that cannot be
determined. Thus, the result is affected. Moreover, the standard of the CBR value used
in laboratory is the British standard. As the soil is different everywhere in the world,
the characteristic of the soil is also different. Therefore, the value of the soil is different
from the experimental result since the soil used is not the same type.

3. The moisture content of the soil

According to the graph, as the moisture content increase, the CBR value decreases. The
moisture content in the experiment is only 5.5%, which is relatively low. Therefore, the
experimental value should be higher than the standard value.

4. Visual error of getting results

There may be mistakes to have an incorrect data. As the gauge reading isc hanging
every second, the reaction time of human may lead the mistaken of the experiment
result.

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5. Not smooth surface of the soil
The CBR value is measured the penetration of plunger and the load that is
recorded. Also, the compaction of the soil should be exactly perpendicular to the soil
surface to ensure the compaction is satisfied. As the surface of the soil is not smooth or
irregular in shape, the penetration of the soil cannot be recorded correctly and hence
affects the result.

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CONCLUSION

In the experiment, we finally found that the CBR values of soil in 2.50mm and 5.00mm are
15.32 % and 18.66 % respectively. Generally, the CBR value at 2.50 mm penetration will be
greater than that at 5.00 mm penetration and is such case takes the value at 2.50 mm as the
CBR value. If the CBR value corresponding to a penetration of 5.00 mm exceeds that of 2.50
mm, we need to repeat the test. The larger of the CBR at 2.50mm and 5.00 mm deformation
will betaken as the design CBR. So the actual CBR value of soil is 16.99 %. So when we use
these soils which CBR value is 16.99 %.

The suitable according standard specification for road works to make subgrade for earthwork
where material for the top 300 mm of subgrade shall have a minimum California Bearing Ratio
(CBR) as shown on the Drawings when compacted to 95% of the maximum dry density
determined in the B.S. 1377 Compaction Test (4.5 kg rammer method) under 4 days soaked
condition. (section 2, Standard Specification For Road Works). Also , Lower subbase where
lower subbase material shall be inorganic soil, sand, gravel, weathered or fragmented rock, or
a mixture of any of these materials, essentially free from vegetative and other organic matter
and expansive clay minerals. It shall have a maximum particle size of 75 mm or less, and shall
have a CBR value not less than that shown on the Drawings when compacted to 95% of the
maximum dry density determined in the B.S. 1377 Compaction Test (4.5 kg rammer method)
and soaked for 4 days under a surcharge of 4.5 kg.( section 4 , Standard Specification For Road
Works)

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REFERENCES

1. SK Khanna and CEG Justo. Highway engineering. Nem Chand & Bros, 1991.
2. Pavement Interactive. California Bearing Ratio. [Online; accessed 12-January-
2015]. 2007. URL: http: //www.pavementinteractive.org/article/california-
bearing-ratio/.
3. Wikipedia. California bearing ratio — Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
[Online; accessed 12-January-2015]. 2014. URL:
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=California_bearing_ratio&oldid=6353
97353.

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