GEOTECHNICAL LABORATORY

ECG428
OPEN-ENDED LAB
SEMESTER MARCH - AUGUST 2023
TITLE OF EXPERIMENT : CALIFORNIA BEARING RATIO (CBR) TEST
DATE OF EXPERIMENT :24.5.2023
NAME :1. MUHAMMAD NABIL BIN MAHADZIR
(2022490728)
2. MUHAMMAD HAIKAL BIN SOHAIZAN
(2022452708)
3. MUHAMMAD IZZAIRI BIN RODZI
(2022861756)
4. NUR SYUHAIDA BINTI ZULKURNAIN
(2022663752)
CLASS GROUP :2A4A
LECTURER : DR. NURUL AINAIN BINTI MOHD SALIM
LEVEL OF OPENNESS 1
MARKS COMMENTS
INTRODUCTION
BASIC CONCEPTS
METHODOLOGY
RESULTS & ANALYSIS 1 2 3 4 5
DISCUSSION 1 2 3 4 5
CONCLUSION 1 2 3 4 5

TOTAL MARKS
SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
SHAH ALAM
LABORATORY MANUAL

COURSE GEOTECHNICAL LABORATORY

COURSE CODE ECG428

LEVEL OF OPENNESS 1

CATEGORY PARTIALLY OPEN

DEGREE OF OPEN-ENDED (%) 33%

ENGINEERING PROPERTIES
CALIFORNIA BEARING RATIO
(Refer to Clause 7: BS1377: Part 4: 1990)

Introduction

Level 1 laboratory activity refers to conditions where the problem and ways &
means are guided and given to the students. However, the answers to the
assignment are left to the students to solve using group creativity and
innovativeness. The activity is hoped to slowly introduce and inculcate
independent learning amongst students and prepare them for a much harder
task of open-ended laboratory activities.

PREAMBLE California Bearing Ratio

The California bearing ratio test (CBR test) is defined as the ratio of the test
load to the standard load, expressed as a percentage for a given penetration of
the plunger. California bearing ratio is the percentage of stress a soil specimen
can resist for a certain amount of penetration relative to the value of stress a
standard soil could resist. Basically, the value is an indicator of the strength of
the soil. 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 a given rate.
SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
SHAH ALAM
LABORATORY MANUAL

Objectives
The objective of this test is to quantitatively determine the CBR value that is an
indicator of the strength of the soil.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the laboratory activities, students would be able to:

1. Acquire an understanding of the engineering properties of soils.
2. Acquire the necessary skill to prepare samples and conduct the CBR test
according to the standard laboratory procedure.
3. Calculate and analyze data to report and present results in a proper
engineering format.

For roadway construction, soil that functions as a subgrade and base course should
satisfy the required strength of the soil. The thickness of flexible pavement is
determined by the CBR value. Thus, the CBR value is an indicator of the strength of
PROBLEM
the soil to resist the load at the upper layer. If the CBR value is lower, the thickness
STATEMENT
of the pavement will be higher, and vice versa. Typically, the harder the soil
surface, the higher the CBR value. Thus, for the soil sample given. Need to
determine the CBR value and evaluate the strength of the soil.

Apparatus
1. CBR Mold – 150 mm

WAYS & MEANS

2. CBR Test machine

SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
SHAH ALAM
LABORATORY MANUAL

3.

Procedure
Sample preparation

1. Take a portion of about 6 kg of material passing a 20 mm test sieve. This test

shall be carried out on material passing a 20 mm test sieve. If the fraction
retained on 20mm is greater than 25%, the test is not applicable.
2. After bringing to the required moisture content the soil shall be thoroughly
mixed and shall normally be sealed and stored for at least 24hr before
compaction into the test mold.
3. When the density or air voids content of a compacted sample is specified, the
exact amount of soil required for the test can be calculated as described.
The mass required to just fill the CBR mold of volume V m (in cm3):-
𝑉𝑚
𝑚 = (100 + 𝑤)ρ
1 100 𝑑

The (w) water content and dry density (ρd) should be obtained from the
compaction test (Standard Proctor Test).

Compaction

1. Pour the soil slowly into the mold.

2. The remolded sample is compacted dynamically. It can either be compacted
statistically with the help of a compression machine or dynamically by using a
rammer. For dynamic compaction using a rammer (refer to Standard Proctor
Test)

CBR Test
3. At the final layer, remove the extension collar and trim off the excess soil by a
straight edge.
SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
SHAH ALAM
LABORATORY MANUAL

4. Remove the base plate and spacer disc.

5. Turn the mold upside down.
6. Place a filter paper on the perforated base plate and clamp the perforated
base plate onto it.
7. Place the mold containing the specimen in the position on the testing
machine
8. Record the data.

Name of Tester : Penetration Test

Date : 24/5/2023
Sample No 1

Container Number 1

Mass of Container (g) 4605.00

Mass of Container + Wet Soil (g) 4845.00

Mass of Container + Dry Soil (g) 4309.71

MOISTURE CONTENT, W (%) 12.7

RESULT (TOP)
RESULTS & ANALYSIS
Penetration 2.50 5.00 mm

Load 1.00 1.89 kN

Standard Load 13.20 20.00 kN

California 7.59 9.44 %

Bearing Ratio

C.B.R. = (Applied Load/Standard Load) x 100%

SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
SHAH ALAM
LABORATORY MANUAL

Graph between Load Versus Penetration and Find CBR at 2.5mm and
5.0mm

California Bearing Ratio Test is a significant marker to the exhibition of the

unbounded layer of pavement. The test is to portray the obstruction of a
material to uniaxial entrance and to the proportion of soil shear strength
comparative with standard crushed stone material for unbounded layers,
including sub-base and subgrade. These two layers add to the principal
capability, load dissemination and load conveying, of the asphalt to help
DISCUSSION AND vehicles. For our situation, the trial consequence of our gathering's soil
RECOMMENDATION
sample performs well to have a low moisture content (%) and high CBR
(%). The soil sample of our team can likewise be demonstrated as gravel.
Albeit such an outcome isn't the most ideal contrasting and different
gatherings, it is as yet satisfactory to be utilized in asphalt layers, like sub-
base and subgrade, as the CBR shows a high impervious to uniaxial
entrance, which construes a high burden bearing limit.
SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
SHAH ALAM
LABORATORY MANUAL

Based on our laboratory, the impact of moisture upon CBR has been plainly
perceived, shown and supported by the aftereffects of various soil tests.
The higher the CBR, the lower the dampness content. Although the
outcome is obviously derived, we accept that there are a few human-made
blunders during the test, for example, lopsided effect dispersion of the
unclogger, wrong perusing recorded. As per the outcome from different
gatherings, the mistake appears to make a little difference. Nonetheless, it
is still better to play out the test with hardware to get a profoundly exact
outcome. Additionally, this can forestall a few likely dangers by human's
activity of the test.

The California Bearing Ratio Test is a crucial gauge of how well the
pavement's upper layer is performing. The purpose of the test is to
determine a material's resistance to uniaxial penetration and to
gauge soil shear strength in comparison to typical crushed stone for
unbounded layers, such as sub-base and subgrade. These two
layers assist the pavement's primary purpose of disrupting and
CONCLUSION
carrying loads, which is to support moving automobiles.
From the experiment that had been conducted, it can be
concluded that CBR value, which is an indicator of the strength of the
soil, has been determined. From the graph, we can determine the value
of CBR at 2.5mm and 5.0mm. The value at 2.5mm is 7.59% while at 5.0mm
is 9.44%. From this value, we can see that this experiment was
unseccessful because the value at 5.0mm is higher than the value at
2.5mm.

1. California Bearing Ratio of Soil. retrieve from:

https://www.globalgilson.com/blog/cbr-testing
REFERENCE
2. Nazmul, H. (n.d). Soil CBR Test-Equipment, Procedure, Calculation
& Use. Retrieved from:
SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
SHAH ALAM
LABORATORY MANUAL

https://civiltoday.com/geotechnical-engineering/site-investigation/363
-california-bearing-ratio-test
SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
SHAH ALAM
LABORATORY MANUAL

Organization & Teamwork Record

ECG428 – GEOTECHNICAL LABORATORY

Title of Experiment: CBR TEST Lecturer: DR. NURUL AINAIN BINTI MOHD SALIM

Date of Experiment: 24.5.2023 Class / Group: 2A4A

LAB REPORT

Task Assign to Status / Remark

PROVIDED
Introduction DONE
PROVIDED
Basic Concept DONE
PROVIDED
Summary of Procedure DONE
NURALIA AMYRAH BINTI SHUHARDY
Result & Analysis DONE
MUHAMMAD HARITH BIN ABDUL HALIM
Discussion DONE

MUHAMMAD HAIKAL BIN MAZLAN

Conclusion DONE

NUR YUNI AFIQAH BINTI MOHD YUSOF

Reference DONE
NUR YUNI AFIQAH BINTI MOHD YUSOF
Compilation & Submission DONE

Note:
1. Everybody should update the table online once completed the task.
2. Attach this table at the end of the lab report - for each topic of the laboratory.