Experiment No.

1
CALIFORNIA BEARING RATIO

1. Objective(s):
The activity aims to introduce to the students the standard method of determining the strength of base, subbase and
sub grade material using the California Bearing Ratio.
2. Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs):
The students shall be able to:
Connect the CBR value in the determination of the thickness of sub grade soil for a specific wheel load.
Determine the California bearing ratio in a given soil sample.
describe the methods of how the California bearing test is performed

3. Discussion:
The California Bearing Ratio test (CBR) was developed by the California Division of Highways as a method
of classifying the soils for suitability for use in highway construction, especially for the classification of base coarse
materials for the support of flexible pavements. Shortly after the start of World War II the US Army Engineers
adopted the CBR test for use in design and construction of bases for airfield runways. The army engineers greatly
improved the test procedure by substituting a dynamic method of compacting the soil and this change is now
accepted as the standard procedure.

The CBR test is a measure of the shearing resistance of the soil under controlled density and moisture
conditions. Therefore the test cannot be considered as a classification test since the results are not constant for
given soils but dependent on such factors as density and moisture content as well as size and shape of the grains.

The CBR value is expressed as a percentage of the unit load required to force a piston into the soil divided
by the unit load required to force the same piston to the same depth into a standard sample of compacted, crushed
stone.

CBR = test unit load x 100

Standard unit load

The standard unit load obtained from the average of a large number of tests on different crushed stones
and are as follows:

Penetration (in) mm Unit load (psi) MPa

(0.1) 2.5 (1000) 6.895
(0.2) 5.0 (1500) 10.342
(0.3)7.5 (1900) 13.100
(0.4) 10.0 (2300) 15.858
(0.5) 12.5 (2600) 17.926

The CBR usually selected is at 0.1-inch penetration. If the CBR 0.2-inch penetration is greater than at the
0.1 inch penetration, the test should be rerun if the check test gives similar results. The value for the 0.2-inch
penetration is used. The CBR test can also be made in place on

4. Resources:
1. CBR Mold
2. Hammer
3. Spacer disk
 4. Apparatus for measuring expansions
5. Dial indicators
6. Surcharge weight
7. Penetration piston
8. Loading device
9. Soaking tank
10. Drying oven
11. Miscellaneous tools such as mixing pans
12. Spoons, straight edge, balance, drying oven
13. Desiccator and drying can
5. Procedure:
Sample Preparation:

1. Air-dry and pulverize approximately 100 Ib of material, screen through a inch sieve, weigh the material
retained and discard this material. Replace the wasted material with an equal weight of material passing
the inch sieve and retained on the inch sieve.
2. Determine the optimum moisture content of the material using the modified AASHO Method (see
Compaction Test) with the following exceptions.
a. Use inch maximum size material instead of the inch material.
b. Use the CBR compaction mold (with 2 inch spacer disk in bottom) instead of the 1/30 cu ft mold
c. Compact material with 55 blows per layer instead of 25
d. Compact in 5 layers instead of 3 layers. The compacted specimen should consist of 5 one-inch
layers
e. Use fresh material for each compaction sample instead of pulverizing and recompacting the same
material
3. Conduct the control compaction test with a sufficient number of specimens to definitely establish the
optimum moisture (water), content for 100 percent of modified AASCO density. At least 4 to 5 specimens
should be compacted with water contents within plus or minus 2 percent of the optimum moisture content
so that the optimum condition can be rigidly established.
Note: Height of fall of the hammer must be carefully controlled and the blows uniformly
distributed over the specimen
4. Upon establishing the optimum moisture content, mix about 30Ibs (13.64 kg) of the air-dried material with
enough water to bring the moisture content to the optimum value determined in step (2) and (3). Cover the
material with a damp cloth to prevent the loss of moisture while preparing the specimens.
5. Number and weigh the three CBR molds and attach extension collars and base plates. Insert one of the 2
(250 mm) spacer disks on the base plate of each mold and place a 6 inches (150 mm) diameter filter paper
or wire mesh on top of each disks.
6. Compact the soil- water mixture into the CBR mold in accordance with the procedures stated in step 2 and
3 and Compaction Test of previous experiment

Note:

1. Prior to compaction of the soil mass, take a representative sample of 20 to 50 gm of soil samples
from the top and bottom layers of each mold for water content determination.
2. Remove the extension collar and carefully trim the compacted soil. Even with the top of the mold
by means of a straight edge or knife patch with smaller size material any holes that may have
developed in the surface by the removal of coarse material. Remove the weight of the mold and
compacted soil.
3. Place a disk of filter paper or wire mesh on the base plate, invert the mold and compacted soil,
and clamp the base plate to the mold with the compacted soil in contact with the filter paper. The
 sample is now ready for soaking.

A. Swell Test:

To simulate field conditions, the specimen is soaked under a surcharge weight which is equivalent to the weight
produced by the soil, base, or pavement, which will overlie the material in the completed structure. Three inches of
overlying material is assumed equal to 5 Ib (2.27 kg) surcharge load on the sample, the total surcharge weight shall
not be less than 100 Ib (4.54 kg)

1. Place the adjustable stem and perforated plate on the compacted soil specimen in the mold and apply
weight to produce a surcharge equal to the weight specified or required. And place the portable tripod with
gage (dial extensometer) on the rim of the mold and mark its location. Adjust stem of perforated plate,
record the initial dial reading and remove the tripod with gage.
2. Immerse the specimen in the water tank in four days (96 hrs) by maintaining a constant water level during
this period. Each day during the soaking period place the tripod clamp on the mold in its marked location
and record the dial reading and time.
3. After soaking period, remove the mold from the water, hold the surcharge weight and perforated plate
firmly in place, and pour the excess water from the surface and then let the specimen drain in a vertical
position for 15 minutes. Remove the surcharge weight, perforated plate and filter paper or wire mesh, and
weigh
4. Calculate the percentage of water absorbed by the specimen and the swell in percent of the initial height

B. California Bearing Ratio Test:

1. Place the surcharge load (weights) directly on the sample and center it under the penetration piston in the
loading apparatus and bring the penetration piston in contact with the soil through the annular surcharge
weight. Adjust the diameter gage for measuring the penetration so that its stem bears on the rim of the
mold and record the initial reading.
2. Apply the load smoothly so rate of penetration is 0.05 inch (n 1.27 mm) per minute. Check the rate of load
application by using a stopwatch. Record the load readings at penetrations 0.025 (0.64 mm), 0.050 (1.27
mm), 0.075 , (1.91 mm), 0.100 (2.54 mm), 0.125 (3.18 mm), 0.150 (3.81 mm), 0.175 (4.45 mm). 0.200
(5.05 mm), 0.300 (7.62 mm), 0.400 (10.16 mm) and 0.500 inch (12.70 mm)

Note: For manually operated loading machine, it may be necessary to take load readings at closer
intervals to control the rate of penetration.
3. Release the load, remove the mold from the loading machine, and remove surcharge weight and base
plate. Take 20-50 grams for moisture content from top and bottom of the specimen and record.

Course: CE510 Experiment No.: 1

Group No.: 2 Section: CE52FC1
Group Leader: EBUEN, JENNY AISHAIMA Date Performed: NOVEMBER 24, 2027
Group Members: Date Submitted: DECEMBER 7, 2017
1. DESPOSADO, KIM JOSHUA Instructor:
2. ESPEJON, MARVIN ENGR. JENNIFER L. CAMINO
3. FRANCISCO, MARK JEFFERSON
4. GAN, JOHN
5. GILE, RACHEL
6. Data and Results:
Description of Sample: Sandy
Sampled at: Rosario, Pasig City
CONDITION OF SAMPLE:

( ) SOAKED ( ) UNSOAKED

DAY DENSITY:

Before Soaking = 1.55 g/cm3 V=945.9722 m m3

After Soaking = 1.72 g/cm3 V=945.9722 cm3
Water Content = 20 g-sample oven-dried, reduced to 17 g. w=17.647%

SWELL (PERCENTAGE OF INITIAL HEIGHT) = 2.025% of 14.32 cm

SURCHARGE WEIGHT = 20 g

PENETRATION AREA OF
LOAD UNIT LOAD IN
NUMBER PENETRATION
mm kN Piston (in2) MPa
2.5 1.5 2 1.162502
5.0 3.5 2 2.712505
7.5 4.7 2 3.642507
10.0 6 2 4.650009
12.5 6.35 2 4.92126

CONDITION OF SAMPLE:

( ) SOAKED ( ) UNSOAKED

PENETRATION AREA OF
LOAD UNIT LOAD IN
NUMBER PENETRATION
Mm kN Piston (in2) MPa
2.5 1.3 2 1.007502
5.0 1.7 2 1.317503
7.5 2.3 2 1.782504
10.0 2.7 2 2.092504
12.5 3.0 2 2.325005

Proving ring number: 24 kN

7. Conclusion:

On this experiment, it can be concluded that he California Bearing Ratio test measures the shearing
resistance of the soil under controlled density and moisture conditions. However, as experimental data, results
cannot be acquired with accuracy with any theoretical value for it requires steady attention on monitoring the
penetration number and amount of load. Comparing the two samples soaked and unsoaked lighter load was
needed in order to penetrate the compacted sample from previous test due to its water content..

8. Assessment (Rubric for Laboratory Performance):

Performance Beginner Acceptable Proficient

Score
indicator 1 2 3
Identify the Designs an Designs an
procedures Fails to design an experiment satisfying experiment
involved in experiment following the minimum exceeding the
designing the procedures requirements of the requirements of the
experiment procedures procedures
Develops a protocol
Develops a protocol
to conduct an
Develop a protocol Fails to develop a to conduct an
experiment
to conduct an protocol to conduct experiment satisfying
exceeding the
experiment an experiment the minimum
minimum
requirements
requirements
Total Score
Mean score=(Total Score/2)
Percentage Score= (Total Score/6) x 100%

9. References

Budhu, M. (2008). Foundations and Earth Retaining Structures. New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons

American Society for Testing and Materials (1999). Standard Test Method for CBR of Laboratory Compacted Soils
(D1883). Pennsylvania: ASTM International