Correlation between the Dynamic Cone Penetrometer and the California Bearing Ratio for Subgrade Soils

Parian B.S.C.; Jeremías Y.C.; Arias J.Y.A.; Dueñas V.P.; Inga A.J.V.; Rojas R.R. · SSRG International Journal of Civil Engineering (2025) · DOI: 10.14445/23488352/ijce-v12i12p102

Resumen

The assessment of soil bearing capacity is fundamental for pavement design, but the traditional California Bearing Ratio (CBR) test is time-consuming and costly. The Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP) offers a rapid and cost-effective field alternative. This study develops and validates correlation models between CBR and DCP for clayey, granular, and clayey-granular soils. The analysis was based on 15 CBR tests and evaluated against four established DCP correlation models: Kleyn and Van Heerden, TRL Overseas Road Note 8, US Corps of Engineers, and MOPT Colombia 1992. Results demonstrate that a cubic regression model consistently provides the best fit for all soil types, achieving coefficients of determination (R²) as high as 0.96 for granular soils and exceeding 0.89 for clayey soils. The findings confirm that the DCP test, when paired with the validated cubic correlations, constitutes a precise and efficient tool for estimating CBR, covering efficient on-site testing and information for preliminary design in pavement subgrade.

Instituciones: Universidad Continental; Universidad Peruana Los Andes