Highway Engineering

Highway Pavement Materials and Design 195

measured. The test can be done either on site or in the laboratory. A diagram-
matic representation of the laboratory apparatus is given in Fig. 7.3.
If the test is done in the laboratory, it is important that the moisture content
and dry density of the sample being tested should approximate as closely as pos-
sible those expected once the pavement is in place. All particles greater than 20
mm in diameter should first be removed. If done in situ, the test should be per-
formed on a newly exposed soil surface at such a depth that seasonal variations
in moisture content would not be expected (see BS 1377) (BSI, 1990a).
At the start of the test, the plunger is seated under a force of 50 N for a soil
with an expected CBR value of up to 30% or 250 N for an expected CBR greater
than this. It then proceeds to penetrate the soil specimen at a uniform rate of 1
mm per minute. For every 0.25 mm of penetration, up to a maximum of 7.5 mm,
the required loading is noted.
A graph of force versus penetration is plotted and a smooth curve drawn
through the relevant points. These values are compared against the standard
force-penetration relationship for a soil with a 100% CBR, the values for which
are given in Table 7.1.
The CBR is estimated at penetrations of 2.5 mm and 5 mm. The higher of the
two values is taken.

Standard

plunger

Applied

Load

Soil

Sample

Annular

weights

Annular

weights

Transducer to measure

penetration

Transducer to

measure load

Figure 7.3Diagrammatic representation of laboratory CBR apparatus.