Chapter 5
Chapter 5
Earthwork
Refers to excavation, embankments and moving these earth
materials for highway construction purposes
Involves activities such as clearing, grubbing, excavation,
embankment, borrow, grading, etc.
Earthwork highly influenced by the geometric design of the
road and type of soil.
Introduction to Earth work and MHD
3
Earthwork
Earthwork operation includes
1. Clearing and Grubbing
2. Excavation of drainage channels & trenches
3. Excavation of structures
4. Borrows
5. Haul & Overhaul
6. Grading
7. Preparation of Side Slopes
8. Reconditioning of roadway
9. Other operations for preparing the subgrade for highway or
runway pavement construction
Introduction to Earth work and MHD
4
Earthwork
1. Clearing and Grubbing
It is the first operation to be undertaken on any project involving
earthwork.
The removal of trees, stumps, roots, down timber, rotten wood,
rubbish and other objectionable material form an area marked
on the plans.
Clearing refers to the removal of materials (top soil with grass, shrubs…)
above existing ground surface, and
Grubbing means the removal of roots, stumps and similar objects to a nominal
depth below the surface.
Clearing and grubbing constitute a single contact item that
includes the removal of topsoil to a shallow depth.
Introduction to Earth work and MHD
5
Earthwork
2. Excavation
The process of loosening and removing earth or rock from its original
position in a cut and transporting it to a fill or to a waste deposit.
i. Classification of Excavation based on type of material to be excavated
Hard Rock excavation: material that cannot be excavated without
blasting. Rocks excavation that requires Jack hammering and then
excavation by excavator for gathering & loading
Soft rock Excavation: A rock that can be excavated easily by the
buckets of excavator. Such rocks may not require blasting or jack
hammering.
Common or ordinary soil excavation: excavation and disposal of all
materials of whatever character encountered in the work, which are
not classified as rock, borrow
Introduction to Earth work and MHD
6
Earthwork
2. Excavation
ii. Classification of Excavation based on the purpose of material to be
excavated
Borrow excavation : excavation of approved material required for
construction of embankments taken from borrow pits.
Unsuitable excavation : the removal and disposal of deposits of
saturated or unsaturated mixtures of soil and organic matter not
suitable for embankment material.
Roadway and Drainage Excavation : the excavation and grading
of the roadway and ditches.
Excavation for Structures : the excavation of material in order to
permit the construction of pipe culverts, concrete box culverts….
Introduction to Earth work and MHD
7
Earthwork
3. Embankments
Used in road construction when the vertical alignment of
the road has to be raised some distance above the
level of the existing ground surface in order to satisfy
design standards.
In this stage keeping the side slopes stable is the major
task. Where necessary retaining structures such as
masonry or reinforced concrete wall also constructed to
make the embankment stable.
Introduction to Earth work and MHD
8
Earthwork
4. Compaction
Each layer is rolled to a satisfactory degree of density
before the next layer is placed, and the fill is thus built up to
the desired height by the formation of successive layers.
5. Finishing operations (grading) :
Are the final activities necessary to complete the earthwork
like trimming of formation level, shoulders, ditches and side
slopes.
Introduction to Earth work and MHD
9
Definition of Terms
Excavation: is the quantity of material in cut
Embankment: is the quantify of material in fill
Haul: is the distance a cubic unit of material is transported
Free-haul: is distance the contractor can haul a cubit unit of
material without extra cost above the cost of excavation.
Earthwork Quantity
Quantity in m3 and Cost in birr/m3 are calculated either in
its original form or by allowing for shrinkage and swell
Earthwork Quantity
Classification of Excavated Material
Usually the classification is into three categories:
1. Solid Rock:
Shrinkage
Shrinkage depends on:
Cross-sectional Elements
Cross-sectional elements show
Location/station of original ground section and template section
Elevation of proposed grade
Areas of cut/fill
Area and Volume Calculation
18
Typical Sections
Fill
Cut
Cut & Fill
Area and Volume Calculation
19
Area of a trapezoid
sd sd
1 d 1
s s
b
Cut
𝐴 = 𝑏𝑑 + 𝑠𝑑 2
b
s
sd sd
Fill
Area and Volume Calculation
20
d1 d2
(b 2nd ) 2 (b 2nd ) 2
When c is to the right A1 and A2
of the point of zero fill 8(n s1 ) 8(n s2 )
(b 2nd ) 2 (b 2nd ) 2
When c is to the left of A1 and A2
the point of zero fill 8(n s1 ) 8(n s2 )
Area and Volume Calculation
21
x1,y1 x2,y2
Multiply along the marked diagonals and add the products (all positive); multiply along
the unmarked diagonals and add the products (all negative). The difference gives the
double area.
𝟐𝑨 = (𝒚𝟏𝑿𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐𝑿𝟑 + 𝒚𝟑𝑿𝟒 + 𝒚𝟒𝑿𝟓 + 𝒚𝟓𝑿𝟏) − (𝒚𝟐𝑿𝟏 + 𝒚𝟑𝑿𝟐 + 𝒚𝟒𝑿𝟑 + 𝒚𝟓𝑿𝟒 + 𝒚𝟏𝑿𝟓)
L L L
O1 A1 A2 A An On
3
O2 On-1
O3
A A1 A2 ... An
A L / 2O1 On 1 2(O2 O3 ... On )
Area and Volume Calculation
23
L L L
O1 A1 A2 A An On
3
O2 On-1
O3
A1 A2 L / 3(O1 4O2 O3 )
A3 A4 L / 3(O3 4O4 O5 )
A L / 3(O1 ON 4 even offsets 2 remaining odd offsets)
Area and Volume Calculation
24
Computation of Volumes
Two methods will be discussed here:
1. Average End Area Method
2. Prismodal Formula
Area and Volume Calculation
25
Volume of a right prism equals the average area multiplied by the length
A2
A1
A1 A2
V12 l
2
V l / 2[( A1 An ) 2( A2 A3 ... An 2 An 1 )]
Area and Volume Calculation
26
2. Prismodal Formula
A prismoid is a solid whose ends are parallel and whose sides are plane
or warped surfaces
The Volume of a prismoid is:
Vab l 6 ( A1 4 Am A2 )
A2
V13 l 3 ( A1 4 A2 A3 )
V35 l 3 ( A3 4 A4 A5 )
V15 l 3 ( A1 A5 2 A3 4( A2 A4 ))
V l 3 ( A1 AN 2( remaining odd areas) 4(even areas)) Am
A1
A1 & A3 are parallel end areas a distance l apart and A2 the area at the
mid-length, found out by interpolating the linear dimensions.
Area and Volume Calculation
27
Example 1:
Computing Volume (Average End Area Method)
Shrinkage = 10%, L = 20 m
Cut Area = 5 m2
Station 1:
Fill Area = 22 m2
Cut
Fill
Ground line
Solution:
𝐴1𝑐𝑢𝑡 + 𝐴2𝑐𝑢𝑡 5+20
𝑉𝑐𝑢𝑡 = 𝐿( )= 20*( )= 250 m3
2 2
Mass Diagram
Is a continuous curve showing the accumulated algebraic sum of the
cuts (+ve) and fills (-ve) from some initial station to any succeeding
station
Ordinates of the mass curve are plotted with reference to a
horizontal scale of distances
It is convenient to tabulate the cumulative sum of cuts and fills at a
station before drawing a Mass diagram
Series of lines that shows net accumulation of cut or fill between any
2 stations
Ordinate is the net accumulation of volume from an arbitrary
starting point
First station is the starting point
Mass Haul Diagram (MHD)
30
Sta Individual volume Bulking/ Shrinkage Corr. Indiv. volumes Aggregate Vol.
Cut Fill factors Cut Fill
Mass Haul Diagram (MHD)
31
Example 2:
Based on the given cross-sectional
areas,
a. Determine volume,
b. Draw the profile and Mass-haul
diagram of earthwork. Ignore swell
& shrinkage allowances
Mass Haul Diagram (MHD)
34
Solution:
• Volume,
=0+126.67
-30
-28
-26
-24
-22
-20
-18
-16
-14
-12
-10
10
12
16
18
20
22
24
-32
14
-8
-6
-2
0
2
4
6
8
-4
35
0+000
0+020
0+040
0+060
0+080
0+100
0+120
0+140
0+160
0+180
0+200
0+220
0+240
0+260
0+280
Volume of Earthwork
0+300
Mass Haul Diagram (MHD)
0+320
0+340
0+360
0+380
0+400
0+420
0+440
0+460
0+480
0+500
-50
-45
-40
-35
-30
-25
-20
-15
-10
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
95
-5
0
5
36
0+000
0+020
0+040
0+060
0+080
0+100
0+120
0+140
0+160
0+180
0+200
0+220
MHD
0+240
0+260
0+280
Mass Haul Diagram (MHD)
0+300
0+320
0+340
0+360
0+380
0+400
0+420
0+440
0+460
0+480
0+500
37
Aggregate Volume(m3) Volume of earth work (m3)
-60
-40
-20
100
0
20
40
60
80
-35
-30
-25
-20
-15
-10
-5
10
20
25
30
0
5
15
0 0
20 20
40 40
60 60
80 80
100 100
120 120
140 140
160 160
180 180
200 200
220 220
Station
240 240
260 260
Station
280 280
Profile of Earthwork
Mass Haul Diagram (MHD)
300 300
Mass haul Diagram of Earthwork
320 320
340 340
• Profile and Mass-haul diagram of earthwork.
360 360
380 380
400 400
420 420
440 440
460 460
480 480
500 500
Mass Haul Diagram (MHD)
38
Example 3:
If the unit cost of roadway excavation, Ce, is 80 birr/m3, unit cost of borrow, Cb, is
70birr/m3, and unit cost of overhaul, Coh, is 7 birr/m3-station, what is the economical
length of haul? The free haul distance is 1.5km and a station is 100m long.
Solution:
Leoh= 10 station=10*100m=1000m (( payable economical distance to overhaul
within this range)
𝐿𝐸𝐻 = 𝐹𝐻𝐷 + 𝐿𝑒𝑜ℎ = 1500 + 1000 = 2500 𝑚 ( economical distance to haul
within this range)
Average Haul Distance (AHD) is the distance from the centre of gravity of the
excavation to the centre of gravity of the tip (fill area).
If the available AHD is less than LEH then it is economical to transport the excavated
material.
For the above example if AHD=2400m, estimate overhauling distance that is to be
considered in payment estimation.
AOHD=AHD-FHD=2400-1500=900 m which payable haul distance
Mass Haul Diagram (MHD)
43
100 0.8
The tabulated data is the cross-sectional area of cut and fill for 200 0.9
a given road bed preparation. 300 0.6
400 0.4
Given the unit costs are: 500 0.3
600 0.2
cost of excavation is 140 birr/m3 and 633.3 0 0
700 0.6
cost of borrow excavation is 150 birr/m3 and 800 0.9
cost of overhaul=50birr/m3-station where 1station=100m and 900 0.8
1000 1.2
Free-haul distance (FHD) =500m. 1100 1.4
1200 1.4
Assume no swell and shrinkage factor is required. 1300 0.2
a) Determine the volume of earthwork by average end area method 1350 0 0
1400 0.2
b) Draw profile and mass-haul diagram 1500 1.1
1600 0.9
c) Determine total cost of earthwork of the project
1700 0.7
1800 0.3
(N.B: Clearly show the direction of movement of material)
1850 0 0
1900 0.3
2000 0.5
2100 0.1
2200 0.1
2300 0.3
Mass Haul Diagram (MHD)
46
Example 4:
Solution:
𝑽𝟏𝟐 = 𝑨𝟏+𝑨𝟐 ∗𝑳
𝟐
Solution:
𝐶𝑏 150 𝑏𝑖𝑟𝑟/𝑚3
𝐿𝑒𝑜ℎ = = = 3 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
𝐶𝑜ℎ 50𝑏𝑖𝑟𝑟/𝑚3−𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
Leoh =3 station=3*100=300m
Since 𝐹𝐻𝐷 = 500𝑚,
Solution:
Therefore if the available haul distance (HD) is greater
than 800m, then it is economical to use borrow material
by doing borrow excavation rather than transporting an
excavated material during grading work.
Draw the critical balance lines. These are lines with length
equals 𝐹𝐻𝐷 = 500 m and 𝐿𝐸𝐻 = 800 m.
If the available haul distance (HD) is less than 𝐿𝐸𝐻 . Then
draw a balance line with length equals HD rather than
𝐿𝐸𝐻 .
If the available haul distance(HD) is less than FHD, then no
need to consider it. because no cost implication.
Mass Haul Diagram (MHD)
49
End
BY Mubarek Z. 49
Mass Haul Diagram (MHD)
50
LOOP-1
Mass Haul Diagram (MHD)
51
Analysis of LOOP-2
𝟓𝟎𝟎+𝟕𝟓𝟎
𝑨𝑯𝑫 = = 𝟔𝟐𝟓𝒎 𝑻𝒉𝒖𝒔 𝑨𝑶𝑯𝑫 = 𝟔𝟐𝟓 − 𝟓𝟎𝟎 = 𝟏𝟐𝟓 𝒎
𝟐
𝑨𝑶𝑯𝑫 = 𝟏. 𝟐𝟓 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑸𝒐𝒉 = 𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝒎𝟑
LOOP-2
Mass Haul Diagram (MHD)
52
Cost of overhaul:
Cost of overhaul = 𝑄𝑜ℎ ∗ 𝐶𝑜ℎ ∗ 𝑂𝐻𝐷𝐴𝑣𝑒
𝑏𝑖𝑟𝑟 𝑏𝑖𝑟𝑟
= 130𝑚3 ∗ 50 ∗ 1.5𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 + 100𝑚3 ∗ 50 ∗ (1.25𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛)
𝑚3𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑚3_𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
Cost of overhaul = 9,750 + 6250 = 16,000 𝑏𝑖𝑟𝑟
Total cost of Earthwork = 𝟖𝟔, 𝟗𝟏𝟔. 𝟔𝟐 + 𝟐𝟗, 𝟐𝟓𝟎 + 𝟏𝟔, 𝟎𝟎𝟎 = 𝟏𝟑𝟐, 𝟏𝟔𝟔. 𝟔𝟐 birr
Mass Haul Diagram (MHD)
54
Example 5:
For the tabulated volume of cut and fill data given below:
1. Draw the mass-haul diagram, and
2. Estimate the total cost of excavating and moving earth
if, the cost of excavation is 60birr/m3, cost of borrow is 60
birr/m3, cost of overhaul is 120birr/station-m3, and the free
haul distance is 1.1km.
Use a shrinkage factor, (1/(1+sh%)=( 1/(1+10%)=0.9.
Mass Haul Diagram (MHD)
55
Solution:
60𝑏𝑖𝑟𝑟/𝑚3
𝐿𝑒𝑜ℎ = 𝐶𝑏 /𝐶𝑜ℎ = 3
= 0.5 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 50𝑚
(120𝑏𝑖𝑟𝑟/𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 − 𝑚 )
𝐿𝐸𝐻 = 𝐿𝑒𝑜ℎ + 𝐹𝐻𝐷 = 50 + 1100 = 1150𝑚
See next slide for the profile and Mass-haul diagram
As it can be seen on the mass diagram, the actual haul distance
measured for each of the loops is less than FHD=1100m. Hence, no
need to pay for overhaul and also no need for borrow excavation.
Thus, the cost of excavating and moving will be equal to cost of
excavation
(3.74 + 3.81 + 1.05 + 0.95 + 2.65) ∗ 103 𝑚3 ∗ 60𝑏𝑖𝑟𝑟/𝑚3 = 732,000 𝑏𝑖𝑟𝑟
Or 12.2 ∗ 103 𝑚3 ∗ 60𝑏𝑖𝑟𝑟/𝑚3 = 732,000 𝑏𝑖𝑟𝑟
Mass Haul Diagram (MHD)
56
0+700 - 2 -2 -0.41
1+300 - 1 -1 0.05
1+400 - 1 -1 -0.95
1+500 3 - 0.9 2.7 2.7 1.75
1+600 1 - 0.9 0.9 0.9 2.65
Total 12.2
57
Solution:
-5
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
4
5
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
0 0
100 100
200 200
300 300
400 400
500 500
600 600
Mass Haul Diagram (MHD)
700 700
800 800
Station
Station
900 900
Profile of earthwork
Mass-haul Diagram
1000 1000
1100 1100
1200
1200
1300
1300
1400
1400
1500
1500
1600
1600
58
Solution:
Aggregate Vol. (10^3 m^3) Indv. Vol. (10^3 m^3)
-5
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
4
5
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
0 0
Z.
100 100
BY Mubarek
200 200
BY Mubarek
Z.
Movement of Materials
300 300
400 400
500 500
600 600
Mass Haul Diagram (MHD)
700 700
800 800
Station
Station
900 900
Profile of earthwork
Mass-haul Diagram
1000 1000
1100 1100
1200
1200
1300
1300
1400
1400
1500
1500
1600
1600 Waste
59
Thank you!