DATA SHEET

CALIFORNIA BEARING RATIO (CBR)

( TEST METHOD BS 1377 : PART 9 : 1990 )
PROJECT :
CONTRACTOR :
MATERIAL :
SAMPLE DESCRIPTION : DATE :

Proving ring : kN/Div = X 0.02

RESULTS

Penetration (mm) Dial Gauge Force (kN)

0.00 0 0.00
0.25 40 0.80
0.50 60 1.20
0.75 90 1.80
1.00 115 2.30
1.25 140 2.80
1.50 160 3.20
1.75 195 3.90
2.00 220 4.40
2.25 240 4.80
2.50 260 5.20
2.75 305 6.10
3.00 345 6.90
3.25 375 7.50
3.50 410 8.20
3.75 440 8.80
4.00 475 9.50
4.25 510 10.20
4.50 525 10.50
4.75 560 11.20
5.00 585 11.70
CALCULATIONS

Force = Dial gauge x 0.002

= 40 x 0.002

= 0.80 kN

𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒(𝑘𝑁)×100
Penetration of 2.5 mm =
13.2

5.20(𝑘𝑁)×100
=
13.2

= 39.39 %

𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒(𝑘𝑁)×100
Penetration of 5.0 mm =
20

11.70(𝑘𝑁)×100
=
20

= 58.50 %

SUMMARY

Penetration at 2.5 mm, CBR = 39.39 %

Penetration at 5.0 mm, CBR = 58.50 %

IN SITU CBR = 58.50 %

 A Graph of Force Applied to Plunger (kN) versus Penetration of
Plunger (mm)
14
Force Applied to Plunger (kN)

12

10

0
0 0.25 0.5 0.75 1 1.25 1.5 1.75 2 2.25 2.5 2.75 3 3.25 3.5 3.75 4 4.25 4.5 4.75 5

Penetration of Plunger (mm)

DISCUSSION

Generally, CBR test is used to determine the strength of a sub-grade, sub-base and base
course materials and to measure the pressure required to penetrate a soil sample with a
plunger of standard area. And from the experiment, the measured pressure divided according
to the pressure required in order to achieve an equal penetration on a standard crushed rock
material. Based on the graph plotted, the loading rises as the penetration of plunger increases.
It is noticeable that the harder the surface, the higher it will be for CBR. Besides, as the
penetration increases, the dial gauge of division also increases. And eventually the force
applied to the plunger also increases. According to the JKR Standard, it is necessary to take
the CBR value of penetration of 2.5 mm and 5.0 mm. From the data calculated, the CBR value
for penetration of 2.5 mm is 39.39 % and 58.50 % for penetration of 5.0 mm. In most cases,
CBR decreases as the penetration increases and the ratio at penetration of 2.5 mm is used
as the CBR value for design purpose. If the value of penetration of 5.0 mm is greater than 2.5
mm, then it is necessary to repeat the test for checking purpose. In this experiment, the value
for penetration of 5.0 mm is greater than 2.5 mm. Therefore, it is necessary to repeat the test
and if the result collected is the same as the previous result, then penetration of 5.0 mm is
used for the CBR design purpose.