CE403

Construction Methodology
Earthwork
Volume
Calculations
Construction Methodology 2
Three Views Presented in Contract
Documents to Show Earthwork
Construction Features
1. Plan View



Construction Methodology 3
Three Views Presented in Contract
Documents to Show Earthwork
Construction Features
2. Profile
View

Construction Methodology 4
Construction Methodology 5
Earthwork Volume Calculations
Cross Sectional Methods
Trench Excavations
Average End Method
Plan Area Methods
Four Corner Method
Construction Methodology 6
Trench Excavations
Volume = Cross Sectional Area X Length of Trench
Eg. Find the volume (bank measure) of excavation
required for a trench 3 ft (0.92 m) wide, 6 ft (1.8m)
deep, and 500 ft (152 m) long. Assume that the trench
sides will be approximately vertical
Solution:
X-section area: 3x6 = 18 sf
Volume: 18x500/27 = 333 BCY
Construction Methodology 7
A
1
A
2
L
Average End Method
CY
ft
27.0 VF
A & A between Length L
Sections Adjacent Two of Area A , A
2
A A
VF
L
CF Volume,
3
2 1
2 1
2 1
=
=
=
|
.
|

\
|
+
=
Construction Methodology 8
Reminder
Construction Methodology 9
Average End Area Method Example
Calculate the area between two
end areas, 100 ft apart.
Construction Methodology 10
Average End Method
Construction Methodology 11
Average End Method


Construction Methodology 12
A
1
A
3
A
2
L
L
Average
End Method
|
.
|

\
|
+ + + + =
|
.
|

\
|
+
+
|
.
|

\
|
+
=
2
A
... A A
2
A
VF
L
V
: General In
2
A A
VF
L
2
A A
VF
L
Volume
n
3 2
1
n
3 2 2 1
Average End Method
A
1
A
3
A
2
L
L
Construction Methodology 14
Average End Area Example 2
Station End Area (sf) Distance (ft) Volume (cy)
150+00 360
151+00 10,200 100
152+00 18,000 100
153+00 23,500 100
154+00 12,600 100
155+00 5,940 100
156+00 400 100
Total Volume
Construction Methodology 15
Average End Area Example 2
From 150+00 to 151+00:
volume = (100*1/2*(360+10200))/27 = 19,556 CY
From 151+00 to 152+00
volume = (100*1/2*(10200+18000))/27 = 52,222 CY
From 152+00 to 153+00
volume = (100*1/2*(18000+23500))/27 = 76,852 CY
And so on and so on.
|
.
|

\
|
+ + + + =
2
A
... A A
2
A
VF
L
V
: Recall
n
3 2
1
n
Construction Methodology 16
Average End Area Example 2
Station End Area (sf) Distance (ft) Volume (cy)
150+00 360
151+00 10,200 100 19,556
152+00 18,000 100 52,222
153+00 23,500 100 76,852
154+00 12,600 100
155+00 5,940 100
156+00 400 100
Total Volume
|
.
|

\
|
+ + + + =
2
A
... A A
2
A
VF
L
V
: Recall
n
3 2
1
n
66,852
34,333

11,741
261,556 cy

Construction Methodology 17
Construction Methodology 18
Earthwork Volume Calculations
Cross Sectional Methods
Trench Excavations
Average End Method
Plan Area Methods
Four Corner Method
Construction Methodology 19
Four Corner Method
( )
( )
FILL CUT
2
FILL
2
FILL
FILL CUT
2
CUT
2
CUT
FILL
CUT
H H VF 4
H L
V
H H VF 4
H L
V
ft Corners, at FILL of Heights of H
ft Corners, at CUT of Heigths of H
ft Interval, Grid L
+

=
+

=
=
=
=

Construction Methodology 20
Four Corner Method
1
0
0

100
499.9 500.2
499.8 500.2
Final Elev.
= 500
( ) ( )
( ) ( )
CY 11.9 = 0.13 92.6 =
0.3 + 0.4
0.2 + 0.1
27.0 4
100
= V
CY 21.2 = 0.23 92.6 =
0.3 + 0.4
0.2 + 0.2
27.0 4
100
= V
2 2
FILL
2 2
CUT
Construction Methodology 22
Construction Methodology 23
Grid Method
Volume is the area of
grid multiplied by the
difference between the
existing and the
proposed elevations.
Construction Methodology 24
Grid Method
Volume by
Layers
Construction Methodology 25
Contour
Method
UK Reservoir
Finish Elevations
Scale: 1= 40
Construction Methodology 26
Contour Method
VF
I
2
A
... A A
2
A
VF
I
2
A A
V
CY
ft
27.0 Factor Conversion Volume VF
ft. Interval, Elevation Contour I
ft n, Contour by enclosed Area A
CY. FILL, or CUT of Volume V
n
3 2
1
n
1 i
1 i i
3
2
n
|
.
|

\
|
+ + + + =
|
.
|

\
|
+
=
= =
=
=
=

=
+
Construction Methodology 27
Contour
Method
UK Reservoir
Finish Elevations
Scale: 1= 40
Construction Methodology 28
Mass Diagrams
Shows two curves:
A continuous curve representing
the profile of the existing grade.
A continuous curve representing
the accumulated volume of
earthwork plotted against the
linear profile of the roadway.
Tells Us:
Quantities of Materials to cut and
fill
Average Haul Distances
Types of Equipment that should
be considered

Construction Methodology 29
Mass Diagrams - Definitions
Cut volume of excavation for a given cut
Fill volume of material to be added to an
existing terrain for a given fill
Waste volume of material that is required to
be hauled off site
Borrow volume of material that is required to
be brought on site.
Construction Methodology 30
Mass Diagram
Cut
Fill
Borrow
Construction Methodology 32
Mass Diagrams
Cut
Fill
Construction Methodology 34
Turning Points
Balanced
Points
A peak on the mass diagram
curve represents a point where
the earthwork changes from
cut to fill.
A valley (low point) on the
mass diagram curve
represents a point where the
earthwork changes from fill to
cut.
When a horizontal line
intersects the curve at two or
more points, the accumulated
volumes at these points are
equal.
Construction Methodology 35
The average
length of haul for
a balanced
section.
The location and
amount of borrow
and waste for the
project.

Borrow
Mass Diagrams
Construction Methodology 36