TEST PROCEDURE

Doc No : NT-TP-CBRS-2.19
Title:
Issue No : 2
DETERMINATION OF THE CALIFORNIA Rev : 1
BEARING RATIO nd
Effective Date : 02 Jan 2018

1.0 Purpose
1.1 To outline the steps taken to carry out the standard test for determination
of the California Bearing Ratio (CBR) of a compacted or undisturbed
sample of soil.

2.0 Scope
2.1 This test method covers the determination of the procedure for
determining the CBR value of the sample prepared by one of the method
described (whether or not it has been soaked).
2.2 The principle is to determine the relationship between force and
penetration when a cylindrical plunger of a standard cross-sectional area is
made to penetrate the soil at given rate. At certain values of penetration
the ratio of the applied force to a standard force, expressed as a
percentage, is defined as the California Bearing Ratio (CBR).

3.0 References
3.1 BS 1377: Part 4: 1990 Clause 7

4.0 Equipment

No. Description Capacity / Range

4.1 Test Sieves 20mm & 5mm
152mm dia. height 127mm, detachable
4.2 Cylindrical Metal Moulds
baseplate & extension
4.3 Metal Rammer 2.5kg / 4.5 kg
4.4 Steel Rod & Straightedge -
4.5 Spatula -
4.6 Digital Balance 25kg
4.7 Moisture Container -
4.8 Filter Papers 150mm
4.9 Perforated Baseplate -
Perforated Swell Plate with
4.10 adjustable stem to provide -
a seating for a dial gauge
4.11 Tripod -
4.12 Dial Gauge 25mm 0.01mm
4.13 Soaking Tank -
4.14 Annular Surcharge Discs 4.5 kg / 5.5 kg

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 TEST PROCEDURE
Doc No : NT-TP-CBRS-2.19
Title:
Issue No : 2
DETERMINATION OF THE CALIFORNIA Rev : 1
BEARING RATIO nd
Effective Date : 02 Jan 2018

4.15 Petroleum Jelly / Grease -

4.16 Cylindrical Plunger 50mm
4.17 CBR Compression Machine 50kN (1 ± 0.2mm/min)
4.18 Stopwatch -
4.19 Proving Ring 50kN

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 TEST PROCEDURE
Doc No : NT-TP-CBRS-2.19
Title:
Issue No : 2
DETERMINATION OF THE CALIFORNIA Rev : 1
BEARING RATIO nd
Effective Date : 02 Jan 2018

5.0 Flow chart for California Bearing Ratio testing process

Start

Visual
Inspection

No
Okay? Inform Client

Yes

CBR Test

Generate
Report

End

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 TEST PROCEDURE
Doc No : NT-TP-CBRS-2.19
Title:
Issue No : 2
DETERMINATION OF THE CALIFORNIA Rev : 1
BEARING RATIO nd
Effective Date : 02 Jan 2018

6.0 Sample preparation

6.1 The CBR test shall be carried out on material passing the 20 mm test
sieve. If the soil contains particles larger than this, the fraction retained on
the 20 mm test sieve shall be removed and weighed before preparing the
test sample. If this fraction is greater than 25%, the test is generally
considered unreliable in emulating site conditions, and such test results
must consequently be treated care.
6.2 Take a portion of material large enough to provide about 6 kg of material
passing a 20 mm sieve. (BS 1377-1-1990: 7.6.5.2)

6.2.1 The mass of soil, m1 (g)

M1 = Vm (100 + w) ρd
100
Where
W is the moisture content of the soil (%)
ρd is the specified dry density (Mg/m3)

6.3 After bringing it to the required moisture content the soil shall be
thoroughly mixed and shall normally be sealed and stored for at least 24 h
before compaction into the test mould.

7.0 Procedure
7.1 Compaction using 4.5kg Rammer
7.1.1 Weigh the moulds with baseplates attached to nearest 5g (m2).
7.1.2 Measure the internal dimensions of the moulds to 0.5 mm.
7.1.3 Attach the extension collar to the moulds and cover the baseplates
with filter paper.
7.1.4 The moist material (at OMC) is transferred to a mixing tray. It is
thoroughly but rapidly mixed and then covered by damp sack which
should be kept over the material until compaction is completed so
as to keep the moisture content as constant as possible.
7.1.5 Stand the mould assembly on a solid base, e.g. a concrete floor or
plinth.
7.1.6 Tamped full of material using the 4.5 kg rammer, five layers and 62
blows per layer. Each layer should occupy about or a little more
than one-fifth of the height of the mould. Ensure that the blows are
evenly distributed over the surface. The final level of the soil
surface should be about 6 mm above the top of the mould body.

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 TEST PROCEDURE
Doc No : NT-TP-CBRS-2.19
Title:
Issue No : 2
DETERMINATION OF THE CALIFORNIA Rev : 1
BEARING RATIO nd
Effective Date : 02 Jan 2018

7.1.7 Remove the collar and trim the soil flush with the top of the mould
with scraper, checking with the steel straightedge.
7.1.8 Weigh the mould, soil and baseplate to nearest 5g (m3).
7.1.9 A representative sample for moisture content is now taken from the
mixing tray.
7.1.10 The average of the two moisture content determinations taken
after the compaction.

7.2 Soaking
7.2.1 Place the filter paper on top of sample and fit perforated baseplates
on top of the moulds and invert the moulds.
7.2.2 Remove the baseplates from the moulds. Fit the collar to the end of
the mould, packing the screw threads with petroleum jelly to obtain
a watertight joint.
7.2.3 Place the mould in the empty soaking tank. The surface of the
moulded material which was against the baseplate should now be
facing upwards. Place a filter paper on top of the sample followed
by the perforated swell plate. Fit annular surcharge discs weighing
4.5 kg around the stem on the perforated swell plate.
7.2.4 Mount the dial gauge support on top of the extension collar, secure
the dial gauge in place and adjust the stem on the perforated plate
to give a convenient zero reading.
7.2.5 Fill the soaking tank with water to just below the top of the mould
extension collar. Start the timer when the water has covered the
baseplate.
7.2.6 Record reading of the dial gauge.
7.2.7 After 4 days of soaking, take off the dial gauge and its support,
remove the mould from the soaking tank and allow the sample to
drain for 15 min.
7.2.8 Carefully remove the surcharge discs, perforated swell plate and
extension collar.
7.2.9 If the sample has swollen, trim it level with the end of mould.

7.3 Penetration
7.3.1 Place the mould containing the sample, with the top face (originally
the bottom face) of the sample exposed, centrally on the lower
platen of the testing machine.
7.3.2 Place annular surcharge discs weighing 5.5 kg carefully on top of
the sample.
7.3.3 Fit into place the cylindrical plunger on the surface of the sample.

© Nattest Lab Sdn. Bhd. Page |5

 TEST PROCEDURE
Doc No : NT-TP-CBRS-2.19
Title:
Issue No : 2
DETERMINATION OF THE CALIFORNIA Rev : 1
BEARING RATIO nd
Effective Date : 02 Jan 2018

7.3.4 Apply seating force to the plunger, depending on the expected CBR
value.
7.3.5 Record the reading of the loading ring as the initial zero reading (or
reset the loading ring to read zero).
7.3.6 Secure the penetration dial gauge in position. Record its initial zero
reading, or reset it to zero).
7.3.7 Start the test so that the plunger penetrates the sample at a
uniform rate 1 mm/min.
7.3.8 Record readings of the force gauge at intervals of penetration of
0.25 mm, to a total penetration not exceeding 7.5 mm.
7.3.9 Take a sample of about 350 g from immediately below each
penetrated surface for determination of moisture content.

7.4 Calculation & Plotting

7.4.1 Calculate the force applied to the plunger from each reading of the
loading ring observed during penetration test.

Bulk Density, ρ (Mg/m3) = m3 – m2

Vm
Where
M3 is the mass of soil, mould and baseplate (g)
M2 is the mass of the mould and baseplate (g)
Vm is the volume of the mould body (cm3)

Dry Density, ρd (Mg/m3) = 100 x ρ

100 + w

Where
w is the moisture content of the soil (%)

Swell (%) S = k – L x 100

127

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 TEST PROCEDURE
Doc No : NT-TP-CBRS-2.19
Title:
Issue No : 2
DETERMINATION OF THE CALIFORNIA Rev : 1
BEARING RATIO nd
Effective Date : 02 Jan 2018

Where
S is the swell expressed as a percentage of the height of the
moulded material before soaking, i.e. 127 mm
k is the dial gauge reading after 4 days soaking
L is a dial gauge reading before soaking
7.4.2 Penetrations of 2.5 mm and 5.0 mm may be used for calculating
the CBR value. However, the CBR at 2.5 mm penetration is
generally used for assessing the quality of the material.
i. Record the plunger force value at 2.5 mm penetration from the
(corrected) force-penetration curve.
ii. Calculate the corresponding CBR values from the equation;

CBR value (%) = P x 100

13.2
Where

P is the plunger force (kN) at 2.5 mm penetration.

The CBR at 2.5 mm penetration is generally used for assessing

the quality of the material.

iii. Record the plunger force values at 5.0 mm penetration from the
(corrected) force-penetration curves.
iv. Calculate the corresponding CBR values from the equation;

CBR value (%) = P x 100

20.0
Where
P is the plunger force (kN) at 5.0 mm penetration.

7.4.3 Plot each value of force as ordinate against the corresponding

penetration as abscissa and draw a smooth curve through the
points.

8.0 Documentation
8.1 Official Report

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