QA/QC  › Soil & Foundation  › CBR (California Bearing
Test-report · QC-SOL-TST-002
CBR (California Bearing Ratio) Test Report
42 checkpoints across 6 sections. During soil investigation phase for pavement and foundation design; required for subgrade assessment and material suitability approval
42 Checkpoints
6 Sections
Once per soil sample; typically 3-5 samples per project depending on investigation scope; soaked and unsoaked tests both recommended
Geotechnical Engineer, Pavement Engineer

Checklist Preview

S.No.CheckpointIS RequirementStatus
A. SAMPLE DETAILS & CLASSIFICATION
A1Sample ID assigned — unique identifier for traceability (e.g., S-01, S-02, etc.)
Acceptance: Sample ID marked on all specimen containers and test records; ID consistent across all phases of testing
Mandatory
A2Sampling location documented — exact site location with coordinates or reference; boring/pit ID if from investigation
Acceptance: Location description clear; enables sample traceability to source; filed with project records
Mandatory
A3Sample depth recorded — depth from ground level (GL) in meters; depth recorded in testing report
Acceptance: Depth noted; used to interpret bearing capacity relative to overburden
Mandatory
A4Sampling date recorded — calendar date sample extracted; time lag between sampling and testing noted
Acceptance: Date recorded; testing date noted; storage conditions (sealed container, kept moist) documented
Mandatory
A5Testing date — date testing started; time from sampling to testing noted (typically <2 weeks for accurate results)
Acceptance: Testing date recorded; if >2 weeks from sampling, sample may have changed; condition noted
Mandatory
A6Soil classification per IS 1498 — soil type identified (sand, silt, clay); plasticity (non-plastic, low, high) determined
Acceptance: IS 1498 classification determined (e.g., Medium sand, Silty clay); Atterberg limits tested for fines >12%
Mandatory
A7Natural moisture content determined — oven-dried sample weighed; moisture % = [(wet-dry)/dry]×100
Acceptance: Natural moisture content measured; value noted; used to assess sample condition and interpret compaction results
Mandatory
B. SPECIMEN PREPARATION & COMPACTION
B1Mould dimensions — diameter 150mm ±1mm, height 127.3mm ±1mm (5 inches ±0.04 inches per IS 2720 Part 16 Cl. 4.1)
Acceptance: Mould dimensions verified; certificate of calibration filed; mould not damaged or worn
Mandatory
B2Specimen height — built to 127.3mm (5 inches) above collar; specimen measured before and after compaction
Acceptance: Height measured to 0.1mm precision; recorded before soaking and test
Mandatory
B3Compaction method — 3 layers compacted separately; each layer receives specified number of blows (56/25/10 for heavy/medium/light)
Acceptance: Compaction effort documented (heavy/medium/light); blow count per layer recorded; method per IS standard
Mandatory
B4Heavy compaction (56 blows/layer) — for well-compacted subgrade; generates high dry density (typically >1.80 t/m³)
Acceptance: If heavy effort selected, 56 blows applied to each of 3 layers; rammer mass 4.89 kg, drop height 450mm
Conditional
B5Medium compaction (25 blows/layer) — for moderately compacted layers; typical for site work
Acceptance: If medium effort selected, 25 blows per layer applied; MDD typically 1.65-1.80 t/m³
Conditional
B6Light compaction (10 blows/layer) — for loosely compacted soil; generates lower dry density (~1.50-1.65 t/m³)
Acceptance: If light effort selected, 10 blows per layer; represents poorly compacted subgrade
Conditional
B7Moisture content at compaction — soil moisture adjusted to optimum for selected effort (from Proctor test or field estimation)
Acceptance: Moisture at compaction noted; ideally at OMC for maximum density; recorded for each specimen
Mandatory
B8Dry density achieved — specimen weighed after compaction; dry density calculated = (weight)/(volume), recorded in t/m³
Acceptance: Dry density measured and recorded; typically 3 specimens per test condition; values tabulated
Mandatory
C. SOAKING (IF SOAKED CBR TEST)
C1Soaking duration — specimens submerged in water for 96 hours (4 days) minimum per IS 2720 Part 16 Cl. 6.1
Acceptance: Soaking period documented; start and end dates recorded; specimens fully submerged throughout
Conditional
C2Surcharge weight during soaking — 4.54 kg (10 lbs) weight placed on specimen to simulate overburden (per IS standard)
Acceptance: Surcharge weight verified (4.54 kg ±0.05 kg); placed on specimen before soaking; maintained throughout
Conditional
C3Swell reading — initial specimen height measured before soaking; final height after 96 hours measured; swell recorded
Acceptance: Initial height and final height measured to 0.1mm; swell height = final - initial; recorded for each specimen
Conditional
C4Swell percentage — calculated as: swell % = (final-initial)/127.3 × 100; acceptable <2% for subgrade per IS 1904
Acceptance: Swell % tabulated; if >2%, material may be unsuitable for subgrade; engineer approval required
Conditional
Showing 19 of 42 checkpoints ·
A. SAMPLE DETAILS & CLASSIFICATION
A1Sample ID assigned — unique identifier for traceability (e.g., S-01, S-02, etc.)
Mandatory (IS 2720 Part 16 Cl. 3.1)
Sample ID marked on all specimen containers and test records; ID consistent across all phases of testing
A2Sampling location documented — exact site location with coordinates or reference; boring/pit ID if from investigation
Mandatory (IS 1727:1974)
Location description clear; enables sample traceability to source; filed with project records
A3Sample depth recorded — depth from ground level (GL) in meters; depth recorded in testing report
Mandatory (IS 2720 Part 16 Cl. 3.1)
Depth noted; used to interpret bearing capacity relative to overburden
A4Sampling date recorded — calendar date sample extracted; time lag between sampling and testing noted
Mandatory (IS 2720 Part 16 Cl. 3.1)
Date recorded; testing date noted; storage conditions (sealed container, kept moist) documented
A5Testing date — date testing started; time from sampling to testing noted (typically <2 weeks for accurate results)
Mandatory (IS 2720 Part 16 Cl. 3.1)
Testing date recorded; if >2 weeks from sampling, sample may have changed; condition noted
A6Soil classification per IS 1498 — soil type identified (sand, silt, clay); plasticity (non-plastic, low, high) determined
Mandatory (IS 1498:1970)
IS 1498 classification determined (e.g., Medium sand, Silty clay); Atterberg limits tested for fines >12%
A7Natural moisture content determined — oven-dried sample weighed; moisture % = [(wet-dry)/dry]×100
Mandatory (IS 2720 Part 2:1973)
Natural moisture content measured; value noted; used to assess sample condition and interpret compaction results
B. SPECIMEN PREPARATION & COMPACTION
B1Mould dimensions — diameter 150mm ±1mm, height 127.3mm ±1mm (5 inches ±0.04 inches per IS 2720 Part 16 Cl. 4.1)
Mandatory (IS 2720 Part 16 Cl. 4.1)
Mould dimensions verified; certificate of calibration filed; mould not damaged or worn
B2Specimen height — built to 127.3mm (5 inches) above collar; specimen measured before and after compaction
Mandatory (IS 2720 Part 16 Cl. 5)
Height measured to 0.1mm precision; recorded before soaking and test
B3Compaction method — 3 layers compacted separately; each layer receives specified number of blows (56/25/10 for heavy/medium/light)
Mandatory (IS 2720 Part 16 Cl. 5.1)
Compaction effort documented (heavy/medium/light); blow count per layer recorded; method per IS standard
B4Heavy compaction (56 blows/layer) — for well-compacted subgrade; generates high dry density (typically >1.80 t/m³)
Conditional (IS 2720 Part 16 Cl. 5.1)
If heavy effort selected, 56 blows applied to each of 3 layers; rammer mass 4.89 kg, drop height 450mm
B5Medium compaction (25 blows/layer) — for moderately compacted layers; typical for site work
Conditional (IS 2720 Part 16 Cl. 5.1)
If medium effort selected, 25 blows per layer applied; MDD typically 1.65-1.80 t/m³
B6Light compaction (10 blows/layer) — for loosely compacted soil; generates lower dry density (~1.50-1.65 t/m³)
Conditional (IS 2720 Part 16 Cl. 5.1)
If light effort selected, 10 blows per layer; represents poorly compacted subgrade
B7Moisture content at compaction — soil moisture adjusted to optimum for selected effort (from Proctor test or field estimation)
Mandatory (IS 2720 Part 16 Cl. 5.2)
Moisture at compaction noted; ideally at OMC for maximum density; recorded for each specimen
B8Dry density achieved — specimen weighed after compaction; dry density calculated = (weight)/(volume), recorded in t/m³
Mandatory (IS 2720 Part 16 Cl. 5.3)
Dry density measured and recorded; typically 3 specimens per test condition; values tabulated
C. SOAKING (IF SOAKED CBR TEST)
C1Soaking duration — specimens submerged in water for 96 hours (4 days) minimum per IS 2720 Part 16 Cl. 6.1
Conditional (IS 2720 Part 16 Cl. 6.1)
Soaking period documented; start and end dates recorded; specimens fully submerged throughout
C2Surcharge weight during soaking — 4.54 kg (10 lbs) weight placed on specimen to simulate overburden (per IS standard)
Conditional (IS 2720 Part 16 Cl. 6.1)
Surcharge weight verified (4.54 kg ±0.05 kg); placed on specimen before soaking; maintained throughout
C3Swell reading — initial specimen height measured before soaking; final height after 96 hours measured; swell recorded
Conditional (IS 2720 Part 16 Cl. 6.2)
Initial height and final height measured to 0.1mm; swell height = final - initial; recorded for each specimen
C4Swell percentage — calculated as: swell % = (final-initial)/127.3 × 100; acceptable <2% for subgrade per IS 1904
Conditional (IS 2720 Part 16 Cl. 6.2, IS 1904)
Swell % tabulated; if >2%, material may be unsuitable for subgrade; engineer approval required
Showing 19 of 42 ·
Inspection Sign-Off
Approved — Test valid; material suitable for specified application
Approved with Conditions — Minor deviations noted; results accepted with modifications
Rejected — Test invalid; retest required or material unsuitable
Pending Review — Awaiting geotechnical engineer interpretation
Laboratory Technician Name & Sign
Name / Sign / Date
Laboratory Manager / QA Officer Sign
Name / Sign / Date
Geotechnical Engineer Review & Sign
Name / Sign / Date