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CBR Test

This experiment determines the California Bearing Ratio (CBR) of soil samples under controlled density and moisture conditions. The CBR test measures the strength of compacted soil or other materials by measuring the penetration of a piston into a sample at specific loads. Samples are tested both soaked and unsoaked, with unsoaked samples tested immediately and soaked samples submerged for 96 hours before testing. The CBR values are calculated based on the loads required for 0.1 and 0.2 inches of penetration and compared to standard values used to design pavement thickness. For this test, the CBR values were 66.71% at 0.1 inches and 67.44% at 0.2 inches, indicating the soil strength is suitable

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337 views

CBR Test

This experiment determines the California Bearing Ratio (CBR) of soil samples under controlled density and moisture conditions. The CBR test measures the strength of compacted soil or other materials by measuring the penetration of a piston into a sample at specific loads. Samples are tested both soaked and unsoaked, with unsoaked samples tested immediately and soaked samples submerged for 96 hours before testing. The CBR values are calculated based on the loads required for 0.1 and 0.2 inches of penetration and compared to standard values used to design pavement thickness. For this test, the CBR values were 66.71% at 0.1 inches and 67.44% at 0.2 inches, indicating the soil strength is suitable

Uploaded by

zainjoiya
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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EXPERIMENT # 4

CBR TEST

Job
To determine the Shearing Resistance of soil under controlled density and moisture condition

Reference
ASTM D 1883-99: Standard Test Method for CBR of Laboratory-Compacted Soils

Objective of the experiment


This test method determines the California Baring Ratio for pavement subgrade, subbase, and
base course materials from laboratory compacted specimens. The test method is intended for
the determination of strength of materials having maximum particle size less than in. This
test method provides the determination of CBR of a material at optimum moisture content or
a range of moisture content from a specified compaction test and a specified dry unit weight.
CBR test is performed on Soaked and Unsoaked samples. Unsoaked samples are prepared
and tested on time. While soaked samples are placed in water for 96 hours and then tested.
The purpose of test on soaked samples is to find the CBR for worse conditions.

Significance of CBR
The CBR is the most commonly used method to evaluate the strength of a subgrade soil, and
base coarse material for design of thickness for highways and airfields. The CBR test is
penetration test meant for the evaluation of subgrade strength of roads and pavements. The
results obtained by CBR are used with empirical curves to determine the thickness of
pavement and its component layers. This is the most widely used method for the design of
flexible pavements.
Apparatus

Mold with complete accessories


Spacer disk
CBR testing machine
Rammer
Filter paper
Surcharge weights

Zain Ul Abbas

Tn-16

Swelling apparatus
Oven
Balance
Straight Edge
Soaking tub

Definition of CBR
It is the ratio of force per unit area required to penetrate a soil mass with standard circular
piston at the rate of 1.25mm/min to that required for the corresponding penetration of a
standard material.

Procedure
1. Approximately 18 kg soil pass of 19mm sieve and retain of sieve no. 4 is taken
2. Moisture and dry density curve is obtained by Standard Proctor Test
3. Optimum Moisture Content (OPC) is obtained from the graph between moisture
content and dry density
4. Prepare the sample by adding optimum moisture content and then compact the soil in
five layers by applying 10, 30 and 65 blows respectively in three CBR molds using 10
lb rammer having 18 in. height of fall. The compacted densities of the three
specimens range from 95 percent to 100 % of the maximum dry density already
determined by the T 180 compaction test.
5. Soaking: Place the swell plate with adjustable stem on the soil sample in the mold and
apply sufficient annular weights to produce an intensity of loading equal to the mass
of sub-base and base courses and surfacing above the tested material, but not less than
4.54 kg (10 lbs) . Place the tripod with dial indicator on top of the mold and make an
initial dial reading
6. Immerse the mold in water to allow free access of water. Place the sample in water for
96 hours
7. Make a dial reading on soaked specimen and calculate swell as a percentage of initial
sample height
8. Remove the sample from tank and allow to drain for 15 minutes
9. Penetration Test: Place the mold on the loading frame and adjust its potion until the
piston is centered on the specimen
10. Seat the penetration piston with a 44 N (10 lb) load, and set both the load dial and the
strain dial to zero. This initial load is considered as the zero load when determining
the stress-penetration relationship
11. Place the surcharge weights on the specimens equal to that used during soaking.
Apply load at a rate of 1.3 mm / min and record the load for penetration of 0.025 in,
0.05 in, 0.075 in, 0.10 in and so on up to 0.5 inches

Zain Ul Abbas

Tn-16

12. Stress strain curve: Plot curves between load and penetration for each specimen.
Apply the corrections to the curves if required. Take the readings of load for 0.1 in
and 0.2 in. penetration and find CBR for both penetrations. The greater values is the
required CBR for that specimen. Also find the dry density for each specimen

Comments
CBR at 0.1" =
CBR at 0.2"=

667.1
1000

100 = 66.71

1011.61
1500

100 = 67.44

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

Zain Ul Abbas

Tn-16

Observations and Calculations


CBR

Penetration
(in)
0.025
0.05
0.075
0.1
0.125
0.15
0.175
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5

Zain Ul Abbas

Proving Ring
Dial Reading
14.25
39.6
68.2
98.06
117.8
129.4
139.6
148.7
170.7
183.8
202.2

Piston Load
(lb)
290.83
808.2
1391.9
2001.31
2404.18
2640.32
2849.1
3034.82
3583.82
3751.18
4126.71

Area of Piston
(in2)
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3

Penetration
Stress (psi)
96.94
269.4
463.97
667.1
801.39
880.11
949.7
1011.61
1161.27
1250.39
1375.57

Tn-16

1600

1400

1200

Load (lb)

1000

800

600

400

200

0
0

0.1

0.2

0.3

Penetration (in)

0.4

0.5

0.6

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