UPSC Civil Service Exam Questions - Engineering

Q1:

California Bearing Ratio (CBR) is a :

A measure of soil strength

B method of soil identification

C measure to indicate the relative strengths of paving materials

D measure of shear strength under lateral confinement

ANS:C - measure to indicate the relative strengths of paving materials

The Californian Bearing Ratio (CBR) test is a penetration test used to evaluate the subgrade strength of roads and pavements. The results of these tests are used with the empirical curves to determine the thickness of pavement and its component layers. This is the most widely used method for the design of flexible pavement.