UNSOAKED CBR TEST

OBJECTIVE: To Calculate the unsoaked CBR value of given soil sample.

EQUIPMENT:
1. CBR mould with detachable collar, detachable base plate, A spacer disk,
2. Loading machine, Compaction rammer of 2.6 kg, Proving ring, Dial gauge,
3. Balance, filter paper, A tray and Measuring cylinder.
PROCEDURE:
1. We take 5 kg of soil sample and measure its hygroscopic water content ,and note
down the hygrometer reading.
2. Then add the water content of optimum moisture content to the 5 kg soil.
3. Mix the soil sample thoroughly so that there should not find any lumps in the soil.
4. Now keep the spacer disk on the base plate and place a filter paper on the top of
spacer disk.
5. Apply the lubricating oil to the inner side of the mould this is to prevent the stickiness
of soil to the mould.
6. Fix the mould and collar and tighten the clamps.
7. Transfer the mixed soil sample from tray to the mould such that the layer after the
compaction is one third of the mould height.
8. Now give 56 number of blows by using 2.6 kg rammer.
9. Do these compactions process for the 3 number of layers.
10. After compacting the top layer remove the collar and trim of the top surface also and
remove the filter paper.
11. Now remove the spacer disk kept on the base plate and keep a filter paper on the base
plate and keep the soil specimen with the mould on the base plate.
12. Now place a surcharge of 5 kg to make presence the field conditions in the lab.
13. Place the specimen on the pedestal of loading machine.
14. Now fix the plunger and bring the plunger with the contact of soil surface and apply a
seating load.
15. Now set the proving ring and dial gauge readings to zero and start
16. Note down the readings on proving ring corresponding to a penetration in the dial
gauge.
17. Now plot the graph between Load versus Penetration

OBSERVATIONS :

Proving Ring Constant

= 0.01244 kN/div

OMC for the given sample

= 23%.

Surcharge Load

= 5kg

Deflection
Dial
Gauge
Reading

Loading in the direction

of compaction

Loading in the direction

opposite of compaction

(mm)

Proving
Ring
Reading

(kN)

Proving
Ring
Reading

0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
5
5.5
6
6.5
7
7.5
8
8.5
9
9.5
10
10.5
11
11.5
12
12.5

0
41
90
120
143
161
174
186
195
205
213
221
229
236
241
247
253
260
265
270
273
278
282
288
290
295

0.000
0.510
1.120
1.493
1.780
2.004
2.166
2.315
2.427
2.551
2.651
2.750
2.850
2.937
2.999
3.074
3.149
3.236
3.298
3.360
3.398
3.460
3.510
3.584
3.609
3.671

0
46
94
121
142
156
166
174
182
188
194
200
204
209
213
217
221
225
232
236
239
243
246
250
254
258

Penetration
(DGR*0.002)

(DGR)

0
250
500
750
1000
1250
1500
1750
2000
2250
2500
2750
3000
3250
3500
3750
4000
4250
4500
4750
5000
5250
5500
5750
6000
6250

CALCULATION

(PRR)

Load
(PRR/80.35)

(PRR)

Load
(PRR/80.35)

(kN)
0.000
0.572
1.170
1.506
1.767
1.942
2.066
2.166
2.265
2.340
2.414
2.489
2.539
2.601
2.651
2.701
2.750
2.800
2.887
2.937
2.974
3.024
3.062
3.111
3.161
3.211

Average Load
(kN)
0.000
0.541
1.145
1.500
1.773
1.973
2.116
2.240
2.346
2.446
2.533
2.620
2.694
2.769
2.825
2.887
2.950
3.018
3.093
3.149
3.186
3.242
3.286
3.348
3.385
3.441

1. Plot the load penetration curve in natural scale, load on ordinate and penetration on
abssica as shown in Fig.
2. If the curve is uniformly convex upwards although the initial portion of the curve may
be concave upwards due to surface irregularities make correction by drawing a
tangent to the upper curve at the point of contra flexure as below

3. Take the intersection point of the tangent and the X axis as the origin.
Calculate the CBR values for penetration of 2.50mm and 5.00mm.
4. Corresponding to the penetration value at which CBR is to be desired, take the
corrected load values from the load penetration curve and calculate the CBR from the
equation
PT
California Bearing Ratio = ------------- x 100.
PS
PT = Corrected unit test load corresponding to the chosen penetration from load penetration
curve
PS = Total standard load for the same depth of penetration, which can be taken from the Table
below.
Standard loads at specified penetrations:
Penetration depth
(mm)
2.50
5.00

Unit Standard Load

(kg/cm2)
70
105

Total Standard Load

(kgf)
1370
2055

Total Standard Load

(kN)
13.44
20.16

Penetration Curve

In the Direction of
Compaction
In the Direction Opposite to
Compaction

Load Penetration Curve

Penetration Curve for Average Load

f(x) = - 0x^6 + 0x^5 - 0.01x^4 + 0.06x^3 - 0.41x^2 + 1.49x - 0.03

R = 1

penetration curve
Polynomial (penetration
curve)

Average Load Penetration Curve

From the Average Load Vs Penetration Graph:

Axis Correction:
= +0.08mm
Corrected Load at 2.5mm penetration = 1.976 kN
Corrected Load at 5.0mm penetration = 2.533 kN
Therefore, the average
CBR Value at 2.5mm penetration is =
CBR Value at 5.0mm penetration is =

(1.976/13.44) * 100 = 14.70

(2.533/20.16) * 100 = 12.57

CBR2.5mm > CBR5.0mm

Result:
The unsoaked California Bearing Ratio for given soil is 14.70
CONCLUSION: CBR test is used to determine the pavement thickness as it is
simple to perform and give reasonable correct results. Subgrade strength vary
with CBR as shown below.
CBR Value (%)
3% or less
3-5
5-15

Subgrade Strength
Poor
Normal
Good

Reference:
Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineeirng by Dr. K. R. Arora.
Geotechnical Engineering by C. Venkataramaiah..
Highway Engineering by SK Khanna and C.E.G Justo