Chapter 10 – Highway Earthwork

020ROUGS4 – Road and Pavement Engineering

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 Outline
1. Introduction
2. Computing EarthworkVolumes
3. Computing Ordinates of the Mass Diagram
4. Mass Diagram Interpretation
5. Computing Overhaul Payments

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 1. Introduction
 Selecting the location of a proposed highway is an important initial
step in its design.
 The decision to select a particular location is usually based on:
 topography,
 soil characteristics,
 environmental factors such as noise and air pollution, and
 economic factors.
 The data required for the decision process are usually obtained
from different types of surveys, depending on the factors being
considered.

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 1. Introduction
 The basic principle for locating highways is that roadway
elements such as curvature and grade must blend with each
other to produce a system that provides for the easy flow of
traffic at the design capacity, while meeting design
criteria and safety standards.
 The highway should also cause a minimal disruption to
historic and archeological sites and to other land-use
activities.
 Environmental impact studies are therefore required in most cases
before a highway location is finally agreed upon.

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 1. Introduction
 Primary factor considered by designer on laying the grade
line is the amount of earthwork that will be necessary
for the selected grade line

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 1. Introduction
 Set grade line as closely as possible to natural ground level
 Reduce amount of earthwork
 Not always possible, if terrain is hilly

 Least overall cost also may be obtained if grade line is set such that
 Excavated volume = Embankment volume
 Goal is to minimize earth moving and maximize the use of native
soil
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 1. Introduction
 Another factor is the existence of fixed points
 Railway crossings
 Intersections with other highways
 Existing bridges

 Grade line should be high enough above water level

 Facilitate proper drainage

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 Outline
1. Introduction
2. Computing EarthworkVolumes
3. Computing Ordinates of the Mass Diagram
4. Mass Diagram Interpretation
5. Computing Overhaul Payments

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 2. 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 50 ft 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.
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 2. Computing Earthwork Volumes
 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.
 A common method of determining the volume is that of average end
areas. This procedure is based on the assumption that the volume
between two consecutive cross sections is the average of their areas
multiplied by the distance between them, computed as follows.

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 2. Computing Earthwork Volumes
 The average end-area method has been found to be sufficiently
accurate for most earthwork computations, since cross sections
are taken 50 to 100 ft apart, and 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 or other geometric shape.

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 2. Computing Earthwork Volumes
 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.

 Borrow pit

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 2. Computing Earthwork Volumes
 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.

Natural or in Compacted
situ state state

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 2. Computing Earthwork Volumes
 Shrinkages of up to 50 percent have been observed for
some soils.
 However, shrinkage factors used are generally between
1.10 and 1.25.
 These factors are applied to the fill volume in order to
determine the required quantity of fill material.

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 Example 1: Shrinkage
 Example:
 If 100 yd3 of net fill is required
 Total amount of fill material that is supplied by a cut section
 100 + (0.10 × 100) = 100 + 10 = 110 yd3
Swell Factor: Excavated materials,
such as rock, when placed as fill
would occupy a larger volume than
it would in its natural state

110 yd3 100 yd3 Shrinkage Factor: Excavated

materials such as clay when placed
as fill occupies less volume than it
would in its natural state
Cut Fill

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 Example 2: Computing Fill and Cut
Volumes
 A roadway section is 2,000 ft long (20 stations). The cut and
fill volumes are to be computed between each station.
 Material in a fill section will consolidate (known as
shrinkage), and for this road section, is 10%.
 Determine the net volume of cut and fill that is required
between station 0 and station 1.

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 Example 2
 Volume of cut

 Volume of fill

 Shrinkage = 125.9 × 0.10 = 13 yd3

 Total fill volume = 126 + 13 = 139 yd3

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 Example 2
 Summary

 Net volume between stations 0-1 = Total cut - total fill = 9 –

139 = – 130 yd3

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 Example 2 From Station 0 to 20

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 Outline
1. Introduction
2. Computing EarthworkVolumes
3. Computing Ordinates of the Mass Diagram
4. Mass Diagram Interpretation
5. Computing Overhaul Payments

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 3. Computing Ordinates of the Mass Diagram
 Mass diagram is a series of connected lines that depicts the
net accumulation of cut or fill between any two stations
 First station is considered to be starting point  Net
accumulation = 0

Mass diagram 

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 Example 3: Computing Mass Diagram
Ordinates
 Use the data obtained in Example
2 to determine the net
accumulation of cut or fill
beginning with station 0+00.
 Plot the results.

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 Example 3 1500 Mass Haul Diagram

1000
Cut
Cumulative Volume (yd3) (+)
500

0
0 5 10 15 20

-500
- 478 yd3

-1000
Fill
(-)
-1500
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Stations
24
 Outline
1. Introduction
2. Computing EarthworkVolumes
3. Computing Ordinates of the Mass Diagram
4. Mass Diagram Interpretation
5. Computing Overhaul Payments

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 + Cut
- Fill

4. Mass Diagram Interpretation

1. When mass diagram slopes downward (negative)
 Preceding section is in fill
2. When mass diagram slopes upward (positive)
 Preceding section is in cut

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 4. Mass Diagram Interpretation
3. Difference in mass diagram
ordinates between any two
stations represents net
accumulation between two
stations (cut or fill)
 Example
 Net accumulation between station
6+00 and 12+00
= 904 – (-1302) = 2,206 yd3

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 + Cut
4. Mass Diagram Interpretation - Fill

Mass Haul Diagram

1500
4. A horizontal line on
the mass diagram 1000
defines the locations Cut

Cumulative Volume (yd3)

(+)
where the net 500
accumulation
between these two 0
points is zero 0 5 10 15 20
X–X=0
-500
 Referred to as “balance
points”
-1000
Fill
(-)
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Stations
 + Cut
4. Mass Diagram Interpretation - Fill

Mass Haul Diagram

1500
4. X-axis represents a
balance between 1000
 Points A’ and D’ Cut

Cumulative Volume (yd3)

(+)
 Points D’ and E’ 500
 Beyond E’ Fill
condition (no A’ D’ E’
0
compensating cut) 0 5 10 15 20
 At station 20+00
-500
 Fill = – 478 yd3
 Import material
from borrow pits -1000
Fill
(-)
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Stations
 Borrow Pits
 Imported material (borrow) will have to be purchased and
transported from an off-site location

 Borrow pit

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 Borrow Pits
 Local Borrow
 Borrow material excavated from sources within the right of way

 Imported Borrow
 Borrow material obtained from sources outside the right of way

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 Mass Diagram
1500
Interpretation
Mass Haul Diagram

5. Other horizontal
1000
lines can be drawn Cut
S T
Lines J-K and S-T

Cumulative Volume (yd3)

 (+)
500
 Each five stations
long A’ D’ E’
0
 Balance of cut and 0 5 10 15 20
fill
 J and K -500
 S and T
J K
-1000
Fill
(-)
-1500
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 Example 4: Computing Balance Point Stations
Mass Haul Diagram
 Compute the value 1500
of balance point
stations for the 1000
mass diagram for S T
Cut

Cumulative Volume (yd3)

the following (+)
500
situations:
a. X-axis A’ D’ E’
0
b. S-T (500 ft) 0 5 10 15 20

-500

J K
-1000
Fill
(-)
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Stations
 Example 4
a. X-axis balance point obtained by interpolation
 Assume linear change
201 yd3
x 100 - x
Station Station
9+00 10+00
Station?
?
-299 yd3

 Station of Balance Point D’

= (9+00) + [299/(299 + 201)]×100 = 9+60
 Similarly, station of Balance Point E’ = 17+63
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 Example 4 Mass Haul Diagram
Sta.
1500 16+20
b. S-T (500 ft) Sta.
11+20
 Use larger scale
1000
diagram to read Cut
Sta. 9+60 S T
stations
Cumulative Volume (yd3)
(+)
500
 S at station
11+20 A’ D’ E’
0
 T at station 0 5 10 15 20
16+20
[(11+20) + -500
Sta.
500] 17+63
J K
-1000
Fill
(-)
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Stations
 Outline
1. Introduction
2. Computing EarthworkVolumes
3. Computing Ordinates of the Mass Diagram
4. Mass Diagram Interpretation
5. Computing Overhaul Payments

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 5. Computing Overhaul Payments
 Contractors are compensated for the cost of earthmoving in
the following manner
 Contract price includes maximum distance that earth will be
moved without additional charges
 If distance is exceeded, then the contract stipulates a unit price
add-on quoted in additional station-yd3 of material moved
 Maximum distance for which there is no charge is called free
haul
 Typically 1,000 or 500-ft
 Extra distance is called overhaul

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 Example 5: Computing Overhaul Payment
Mass Haul Diagram
 Free-haul distance in a Sta.
1500 16+20
highway construction Sta.
contract is 500 ft 11+20
1000
 Overhaul price is Cut
Sta. 9+60 S T
$11/yd3 station

Cumulative Volume (yd3)

(+)
 Determine the extra 500
compensation that
must be paid to a A’ D’ E’
0
contractor to balance 0 5 10 15 20
the cut and fill
-500
between station 9+60 Sta.
(D’) and station 17+63
J K
17+63 (E’) -1000
Fill
(-)
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Stations
 Example 5
Mass Haul Diagram
Sta.
1500 16+20
 Step 1: Determine Sta.
11+20
the number of
1000
cubic yards of Sta. 9+60 S T
Cut

Cumulative Volume (yd3)

overhaul 500
(+)

 Overhaul occurs
between stations A’ D’ E’
0
 9+60 and 11+20 0 5 10 15 20
 16+20 and
-500
17+63 Sta.
J K 17+63
-1000
Fill
(-)
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Stations
 Example 5
 At station 11+20, overhaul = 638 + 0.2×(904 - 638)
= 691
904 yd3

638 yd3

Station Station Station

11+00 11+20 12+00

 At station 16+20, overhaul = 732 – 0.2×(732 – 303)

= 646
 Since values are not equal, use average = 669 yd3
 Alternatively, value could have been read from diagram
as 675 yd3
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 Example 5
 Step 2: Determine the overhaul distance
 Method of moments used to compute the weighted
average of overhaul distances from the balance line to
the station where free haul begins

675 yd3

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 Mass Haul Diagram

Example 5
Sta.
1500
Sta. 16+20
11+20
1000
Cut
Sta. S T

Cumulative Volume (yd3)

(+)
9+60
 Station 9+60 to 10+00
500

A’ D’ E’
 Volume = 201 yd3 0
0 5 10 15 20

 Average distance to free-haul -500

Sta.
station -1000
J K 17+63
Fill
 1120 – (960 + 1000)/2 = (-)
-1500
140 ft Stations

 Station 10+00 to 11+00 Station 9+60: 0

 Volume = 638-201=437 yd3 Station 11+20:
 Average distance = 70 ft 675 yd3
 Station 11+00 to 11+20
Station 16+20:
 Volume = 675 – 638 = 37 yd3 675 yd3
 Average distance = 10 ft
Station 17+63: 0

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 Example 5

 Overhaul distance moved between station 9+60 and 11+20 =

 Similarly, the overhaul distance moved between station 16+20 and

17+63 =

 Total overhaul distance = 87.6 + 72.1 = 159.7 ft = 1.597

stations

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 Example 5

 Step 3: Compute overhaul cost due to the contractor

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 References
 Traffic and Highway Engineering, by Nicholas J. Garber and
Lester A. Hoel, 4th Edition, Chapter 14.

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