CHAPTER FOUR

EARTH WORK AND QUANTITIES

Introduction
• One factor that significantly influences the selection of
a highway location is the terrain of the land, which in
turn affects the laying of the grade line.
• The primary factor that the designer considers on
laying the grade line is the amount of earthwork that
will be necessary for the selected grade line.
• One method to reduce the amount of earthwork is to
set the grade line as closely as possible to the natural
ground level. This is not always possible, especially in
undulating or hilly terrain.
• The least overall cost also may be obtained if the grade
line is set such that there is a balance between the
excavated volume and the volume of embankment.
• Another factor that should be considered in laying the
grade line is the existence of fixed points, such as
railway crossings, intersections with other highways,
and in some cases existing bridges, which require that
the grade be set to meet them.
• When the route traverses flat or swampy areas, the
grade line must be set high enough above the water
level to facilitate proper drainage and to provide
adequate cover to the natural soil.
• The amount of earthwork associated with any grade
line influences the decision on whether the grade line
should be accepted or rejected.
Computing Earthwork Volumes
• To determine the amount of earthwork involved
for a given grade line, cross sections are taken at
regular intervals along the grade line.
• The cross sections are usually spaced 15m apart,
although this distance is sometimes increased for
preliminary engineering.
• These cross sections are obtained by plotting the
natural ground levels and proposed grade profile
of the highway along a line perpendicular to the
grade line to indicate areas of excavation and
areas of fill.
Types of Cross Sections
• The cross section volume can be computed
manually using the following procedures:-
 The cross sections are plotted on standard
cross-section paper,
 The areas of cuts and fills at each cross
section are then determined.
 The volume of earthwork is then computed
from the cross-sectional areas and the
distances between the cross sections.
Computing cross section areas
• There are basically two methods to compute
the area of the cross section,
 Using different formulas
 Using plani-meter
• Different surveying books document the
different methods for area computation.
Triangle Method
• It may be possible to sub-divide the plotted
area into a series of triangles, measures the
sides a, b, c, and compute the areas using:
Area = [s(s − a)(s − b)(s − c)]1/2
where s = (a + b + c)/2
COORDINATES
• If the coordinate points are numbered
clockwise:

• Ex- Find the area of the following

• Arrange the data in columns as shown below,
repeating the last line at the top.

• Diagram to go in here area = (1/2) x (10 x 10 +

25 x 30 + 45 x 70 + 40 x 50 − 50 x 30 - 10 x 45 -
25 x 40 - 70 x 10)
• = 1175
TRAPEZOIDAL RULE

A1 = d . (O1 + O2) / 2
A2 = d . (O2 + O3) / 2
A3 = d . (O3 + O4) / 2
Hence, the total area is:
• A = (d/2) . [O1 + 2.O2 + 2.O3 + ... + 2.On-1 + On]
SIMPSON'S RULE
• Simpson's Rule assumes a parabola fitted to 3 adjacent
points, rather than the straight lines between adjacent
points assumed by the Trapezoidal Rule.
• This may be more accurate than the Trapezoidal Rule
because boundaries are often curved.
• It can be shown that:
A1 + A2 = (d/3).(O1 + 4.O2 + O3)
the total area, A is:
A = (d/3).(O1 + 4.O2 + 2.O3 + 4.O4 + 2.O5 + ... + 4.On-1
+ On)
• Note that an even number of segments is required.
Example, d = 20 m
offsets are 0 5.49 9.14 8.53 10.67 12.50 9.75
4.57 1.80 0
Simpson's Rule: ASR = 1254 m2
Trap. Rule: ATR = 1250 m2
PLANIMETER
• A plani-meter is a mechanical device for
measuring irregular areas.
• On the instrument, a measuring wheel rotates
as the device moves, and registers the area.
Volume Computation
• The volume computation could be done by either of
Average area method
V = l/2 (A1 + A2)
Prismodal method
V = l/6 (A1 + 4Am + A2)
where A1 and A2 are the end areas
Am is the area of the section situated mid-
way between the end areas.
l the distance between the end areas
• The average end-area method has been found
to be sufficiently accurate for most earthwork
computations, since minor irregularities tend
to cancel each other.
• When greater accuracy is required, such as in
situations where the grade line moves from a
cut to a fill section, the volume may be
considered as a pyramid method could be
used
• It is common practice in earthwork construction to
move suitable materials from cut sections to fill
sections to reduce to a minimum the amount of
material borrowed from borrow pits.
• When the materials excavated from cut sections are
compacted at the fill sections, they fill less volume
than was originally occupied.
• This phenomenon is referred to as shrinkage and
should be accounted for when excavated material is
to be reused as fill material.
• The amount of shrinkage depends on the type of
material.
• Shrinkages of up to 50 percent have been
observed for some soils. However, shrinkage
factors used are generally between 1.10 and 1.25
for high fills and between 1.20 and 1.25 for low
fills.
• These factors are applied to the fill volume in
order to determine the required quantity of fill
material.
Ex- A roadway section is 600m long with 20
stations. The cut and fill volumes are to be
computed between each station. The
shrinkage factor is taken to be 10%.
a. Compute the net volume between
successive stations
b. Calculate the cumulative volume in each
station and draw the mass diagram
 Area

No Station Cut(m2) fill (m2)

0 0+000 0.28 1.67
1 0+030 0.19 4.65
2 0+060 0.19 9.01
3 0+090 0.37 12.08
4 0+120 0.74 4.74
5 0+150 3.72 4.18
6 0+180 4.18 1.86
7 0+210 7.43 0.46
8 0+240 11.33 0.19
9 0+270 12.08 0.00
10 0+300 13.01 0.00
11 0+330 9.29 0.28
12 0+360 7.43 2.79
13 0+390 6.97 1.86
14 0+420 4.65 4.65
15 0+450 1.86 7.43
16 0+480 0.93 9.29
17 0+510 0.00 11.15
18 0+540 0.28 11.15
19 0+570 3.72 4.65
20 0+600 2.79 2.79
 Area Volume
Modified Fill
(including Net Volume Cumulative
shrinkage (Cut(+ve), Volume
No Station Cut(m2) Fill(m2) Cut(m3) Fill(m3) 3 3
factor) (m ) Fill(-ve)) (m ) (m3)
0 0+000 0.28 1.67 0.00
1 0+030 0.19 4.65 6.97 94.76 104.24 -97.27 -97.27
2 0+060 0.19 9.01 5.57 204.85 225.34 -219.76 -317.03
3 0+090 0.37 12.08 8.36 316.33 347.97 -339.61 -656.64
4 0+120 0.74 4.74 16.72 252.23 277.45 -260.73 -917.37
5 0+150 3.72 4.18 66.89 133.78 147.16 -80.27 -997.64
6 0+180 4.18 1.86 118.45 90.58 99.64 18.81 -978.83
7 0+210 7.43 0.46 174.19 34.84 38.32 135.87 -842.96
8 0+240 11.33 0.19 281.50 9.75 10.73 270.77 -572.19
9 0+270 12.08 0.00 351.17 2.79 3.07 348.11 -224.08
10 0+300 13.01 0.00 376.26 0.00 0.00 376.26 152.18
11 0+330 9.29 0.28 334.45 4.18 4.60 329.85 482.03
12 0+360 7.43 2.79 250.84 45.99 50.59 200.25 682.28
13 0+390 6.97 1.86 216.00 69.68 76.65 139.35 821.63
14 0+420 4.65 4.65 174.19 97.55 107.30 66.89 888.52
15 0+450 1.86 7.43 97.55 181.16 199.28 -101.73 786.80
16 0+480 0.93 9.29 41.81 250.84 275.92 -234.12 552.68
17 0+510 0.00 11.15 13.94 306.58 337.24 -323.30 229.38
18 0+540 0.28 11.15 4.18 334.45 367.90 -363.72 -134.34
19 0+570 3.72 4.65 59.92 236.90 260.59 -200.67 -335.01
20 0+600 2.79 2.79 97.55 111.48 122.63 -25.08 -360.09
 Mass Haul Diagram
1000.00

500.00
Cumulative Volume (m3)

0.00
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

-500.00

-1000.00

-1500.00
Station
Interpretation of the Mass Haul Diagram
 Rising sections of the mass curve indicates areas
where excavating exceeds fill, whereas falling
sections indicate where fill exceeds excavation.
 Steep slopes reflect heavy cuts & Fills, while flat
slopes indicate areas with small amount of
earthwork.
 The difference in ordinates between any two
points indicate net excess of excavation over
embankment or vise versa.
 Any horizontal line dawn to intersect two points
within the same curve indicates a balance of
excavation (cut) and embankment (fill)
quantities between the two points.
Interpretation of the Mass Haul Diagram (Continued)
 Points of zero slope represent points where
roadway goes from cut to fill or from fill to cut.
 The highest or the lowest points of the mass haul
diagram represents the crossing points between
the grade line (roadway level) and natural ground
level.
 The shapes of the mass-haul loops indicate the
directions of haul. Thus, a convex loop shows that
the haul from cut to fill is from left to right, whilst a
concave loop indicates that the haul is from right
to left.
Ex- Compute the value of balance point stations
for the mass diagram in the previous example
for the following situations:
(a) The x-axis
(b) The horizontal distance A-B which is 150m
 Mass haul diagram
1000.00

500.00

0.00
Cumulative Volume

0+000 0+030 0+060 0+090 0+120 0+150 0+180 0+210 0+240 0+270 0+300 0+330 0+360 0+390 0+420 0+450 0+480 0+510 0+540 0+570 0+600

-500.00

-1000.00

-1500.00
Station
Computing Earth work Cost
The following are terms that are used in cost computation
of earth works:-
 Borrow: It is the location away from the Right of Way
(R.O.W.) and it is chosen by the Engineer.
 Waste: It is the unwanted excavation material which
should be disposed out of R.O.W.
 Haul: The distance over which earth material moved.
Technically it is the product of distance and volume
moved.
 Free-haul distance(FHD) : Distance with which there
is a fixed price for excavating, hauling, and dumping
regardless of the distance moved. (free-haul
charge=birr/m3)
 Overhaul Distance (OHD) : Distance which exceed
free haul and incurs additional cost. (over-haul
charge=birr/m3.sta.).
 Limit of Economical Haul Distance(LEHD) : - The
maximum Over-Haul distance plus Free-Haul
distance beyond which it is more economical to
waste & borrow than to pay for over hauling.
• The following formulas are used to calculate the
economic haul limit.
• Based on the definition of economic haul limit
Economic Haul Limit (LEHD) = FHD + L
L= CB/COH
Where,
COH = cost of Over-Haul birr/ m3. sta.
CB = cost of borrow material birr/ m3.
FHD = Free-Haul distance.
L = Maximum Over-Haul distance in sta
EX: Given the following end area for cut & fill. Complete the
earthworks using shrinkage of 10% then prepare the
M.H.D. & find the following:
a) Limit of economical haul.
b) Free-Haul volume.
c) Over-Haul volume.
d) Waste volume.
e) Borrowing volume.
f) Direction of hauling.
g) Total cost of the earthwork.
Giving that cost of Over-Haul = 30 birr/m3.sta.
Cost of Free-Haul = 70 birr/m3
Cost of borrow = 120 birr/m3
Free-Haul distance = 200 m.
 Area

No Station Cut fill

0 0+000 10 0
1 0+100 12 0
2 0+200 14 0
3 0+300 16 0
4 0+400 14 0
5 0+450 0 10
6 0+550 0 16
7 0+650 0 14
8 0+750 0 12
9 0+850 0 8
10 1+900 12 0
11 1+100 16 0
 Area Volume
Modified
fill Net
(including Volume
shrinkage (Cut(+ve), Mass
No Station Cut fill Cut Fill factor) Fill(-ve)) Ordinate
0 0+000 10 0 0
1 0+100 12 0 1100 0 0 1100 1100
2 0+200 14 0 1300 0 0 1300 2400
3 0+300 16 0 1500 0 0 1500 3900
4 0+400 14 0 1500 0 0 1500 5400
5 0+450 0 10 350 250 275 75 5475
6 0+550 0 16 0 1300 1430 -1430 4045
7 0+650 0 14 0 1500 1650 -1650 2395
8 0+750 0 12 0 1300 1430 -1430 965
9 0+850 0 8 0 1000 1100 -1100 -135
10 1+900 12 0 300 200 220 80 -55
11 1+100 16 0 1400 0 0 1400 1345
 Mass Haul Diagram
6000

5000

4000
Cumulative Volume (m3)

3000

2000

1000

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

-1000
Station
a) L= CB/COH= 120/30 = 4 Stations = 400 m.
Economic haul limit = L+FHD= 400+200 = 600 m = 6
Stations.
b) Free-Haul volumes = y1+y2 = 700+900 = 1600 m3.
c) Over-Haul volumes = y3+y4 = 3000+800 = 3800 m3.
d) Waste volume = y5 = 1950 m3.
e) Borrow volume = y6 = 600 m3.
f) Total cost of the earthwork = y1*70+y3*70+y3*30*(XY-
200)+y5*70+ y2*70+y4*70+y4*30*(mn- 200)+y6*120
Cost of over-haul = y*cost of free-haul + y*cost of over-
haul*distance