Planning for Earthwork

Construction

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Dr.K.B.Anand

Planning for Earthwork

Construction

Every construction project is a

unique undertaking. Therefore,
planning is undertaken to
understand the problems and to
develop courses of action.
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 Planning Earthwork
Construction
• Review the Contract Documents
• Study the plans
• Plan the Work
• Perform quantity take-off
• Determine costs

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Planning Earthwork
Construction
A site visit is strongly recommended
to relate the physical site
characteristics to the work details.

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 Planning Earthwork
Construction
After the site visit is completed, the
planner determines the quantity of
materials – either to furnish or move.
The takeoff or
"quantity survey."
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Planning Earthwork
Construction
During the takeoff, the planner
must make decisions concerning:
– equipment needs
– sequence of operations
– and crew size
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Graphical Presentation
of Earthwork
Three kinds of views are presented in
the contract documents to show
earthwork construction features:
– Plan view
– Profile view
– Cross section view
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Plan View
The plan view is looking down on the
proposed work and presents the
horizontal alignment of features

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 Profile View
The profile view is a cut view typically
along the centerline of the work.
It presents
the vertical
alignment of
features.

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Cross Section View

A view formed by a plane cutting the
work at a right angle to its long axis
– When the ground surface is regular,
sections are typically taken at every
full station (30m)
– When the ground is irregular,
sections must be taken at closer
intervals & at points of change
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Earthwork Quantities
Earthwork computations involve:
• Calculation of earthwork
volumes
• Balancing of cuts and fills
• Planning of the most
economical material hauls.
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Average End Area

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Average End Area

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 Net Volume
• Bank cubic metres (bcm)
• Loose cubic metres (lcm)
• Compacted cubic metres (ccm)

bcm lcm
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Station End End Vol. of Vol. of

(m) area cut area fill cut (bcm) fill (bcm)
(m2) (m2)
100 0 73 -- --
130 60 0 900 1095
160 200 0 3900 0
190 299 0 7485 0
220 117 14 6240 210
250 9 73 1890 1305
280 0 341 135 6210
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 STRIPPING

For cut sections subtract the stripping.

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STRIPPING
For fill sections the stripping is a cut
quantity; plus an equal amount must
be added to the embankment
quantity.

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 Earthwork Volume
Calculation Sheet

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Mass Diagram
The mass diagram is an excellent
method of analyzing linear
earthmoving operations.
It is a graphical means for
measuring haul distance (stations)
in terms of earthwork volume
(cubic metres).
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 Mass Diagram
Aids in identifying:
• Where to utilize specific types
of equipment,
• Where quantities of material
are required,
• Average haul distance,
• Haul grades.
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21

Earthwork Volume
Calculation Sheet

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 MASS DIAGRAM PLOTTING

1000 CONNECT THE

POINTS
500

- 500

- 1000

0 + 00 1 + 00 2 + 00 3 + 00 4 +00 5 + 00 6 + 00

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MASS DIAGRAM
1000
Embankment requirements
500
exceeds excavation quantity.
0

-500

- 1000

Descending lines
0 + 00 1 + 00 2 + 00 3 + 00 4 +00 5 + 00 6 + 00

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 MASS DIAGRAM
1000

500 Ascending lines

0

-500

- 1000
Excavation exceeds embankment
requirements
0 + 00 1 + 00 2 + 00 3 + 00 4 +00 5 + 00 6 + 00

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MASS DIAGRAM
1500 MASS DIAGRAM
1000

CUT FILL
500
V
O C
L C
U Y 0
M
E

-500 FILL CUT

-1000

1+00 2+00 3+00 4+00 5+00 6+00 7+00 8+00 9+

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STATIONS
Dr.K.B.Anand
 MASS DIAGRAM
1000

500

Zero balance line

0

-500

Excavation quantity equals

- 1000

0 + 00
embankment requirement.
1 + 00 2 + 00 3 + 00 4 +00 5 + 00 6 + 00

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MASS DIAGRAM
Maximum and minimum points
 Maximum is where the cut
transitions into fill.
 Minimum is where the fill
transitions into cut.
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 MASS DIAGRAM
1000

Maximum and minimum points

500

-500

- 1000

Transition point
0 + 00 1 + 00 2 + 00 3 + 00 4 +00 5 + 00 6 + 00

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MASS DIAGRAM
Final position
500 410 cm
waste
cm
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 90 cm
Stations borrow
Above the zero line indicates waste.
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Economical Haul Distances

Machine type Economical
haul distance
Large dozers, Up to 100 m
pushing material
Push-loaded scrapers 100 to 1500 m
Trucks > than 1500 m

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Mass Diagram With a Balance Line

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Haul Distances

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 Haul Distances
Average haul = area / quantity (cy)

Haul No. 3 quantity -17,080

Haul No. 1 quantity?
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Consolidated Average Hauls

Stations
Haul 1 11,459 bcy 3+51 40,221 sta-cy
Haul 2 5,590 bcy 3+35 18,727 sta-cy
Haul 3 17,080 bcy 12+51 213,654 sta-cy
34,129 bcy 272,602 sta-cy

272,602 sta-cy = 8.0 stations

34,129 bcy
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 Pricing Earthwork
Operations
The cost of earthwork operations
will vary with the kind of soil or
rock encountered and the methods
used to excavate, haul, and place
the material in its final deposition.

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Spreading Dumped
Embankment
Material with a Dozer

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Water Truck and Roller used to
Compaction Embankment
Material

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Three-link Earthwork
System
Spread &
Excavate & load compact

Haul, dump, return

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