HIGHER SURVEYING

CHAPTER 11.3

Mass Diagrams

Mass Diagram is graphical representation of the cumulative amount of earthwork moved along the centerline and
distances over which the earth and materials are to be transported.

1. Mass diagrams determine the average haul, free haul, and overhaul on a given segment of roadway.

2. Mass diagrams tell the contractors and inspectors the quantity of material moved and how far it can be economically
moved.

Characteristics of Mass Curve

1. Rising sections of the mass curve indicates areas where excavating exceeds fill, whereas falling sections indicate
where fill exceeds excavation.

2. Steep slopes reflect heavy cuts & Fills, while flat slopes indicate areas from small amount of earthwork.

3. The difference in ordinates between any two points indicates net excess of excavation over embankment or vise versa.
4. 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.

5. Points of zero slope represent points where roadway goes from cut to fill or from fill to cut.

6. 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.

Definition of Terms

Haul - The transportation of excavated material from its original position to is final location in the work or other disposal
area. This is also known as authorized haul.

Average Haul - Determined from mass diagram. Average haul is the area of the mass diagram representing the number
of cubic yard stations of haul between balance points divided by the ordinate of the mass which the yardage is hauled.

Overhaul - The authorized hauling of excavation beyond the specified free-haul distance.

Free haul - Average haul for project that is free.

Economic Haul Distances

For the mass diagram shown above, assuming A (expressed as CY-STA or CY-ft) is the area bounded by the balance line
and the curve, the average haul distance is A/Q (expressed as STA or ft).
From Sta 0+00 to Sta 1+00: This is all cut which is why the Mass Diagram continues to increase.

From Sta 1+00 to Sta 2+10: This is all fill, so this is why the Mass Diagram begins to decrease in value.

From Sta 2+10 to Sta 2+50: This is cut again until the end of the project. It just so happens that the cut and fill are
exactly the same in this example.
Definition of Terms

Free haul distance (FHD) - Distance earth is moved without additional compensation.

Limit of Profitable Haul (LPH) - Distance beyond which it is more economical to borrow or waste than to haul from the
project.

Overhaul – Volume of material (Y) moved X Stations beyond free haul, measured in sta–yd3 or sta-m3.

Borrow – Material purchased outside of project.

Waste – Excavated material not used in project.

EXAMPLES

1. Using the following data of a mass diagram:

Length of Economical Haul 450 m

Free Haul Distance 50 m
Mass Ordinate at Initial Point of Mass Diagram (Sta) -100 m3
Mass ordinate where length of Economical Haul Intersects 60 m3
the Mass Diagram
Mass Ordinate Where the Free Haul Intersects the Mass 800 m3
Diagram
Mass Ordinate at the Final Station =200 m3

a) Find the volume of waste

b) Find the overhaul volume

c) Find the volume of borrow

𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
 𝑎) 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑊𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑒

𝑉𝑊 = 100 + 60 = 𝟏𝟔𝟎 𝒎𝟑

𝑏) 𝑂𝑣𝑒𝑟ℎ𝑎𝑢𝑙 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒

𝑉𝑂 = 800 − 60 = 𝟕𝟒𝟎 𝒎𝟑

𝑐) 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝐵𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑤

𝑉𝐵 = 200 + 60 = 𝟐𝟔𝟎 𝒎𝟑

2. A single-summit mass diagram has the following data:

STATION MASS ORDINATE (m3)

0+000 -80
0+800 -130

Initial point of free haul distance = +700

Initial point of economic haul = +230

Free haul distance = 60 m

Limit Economical haul = 400

a) Determine the overhaul volume in cu. M

b) Determine the volume of waster

c) Determine the volume of borrow

𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
 𝑎) 𝑂𝑣𝑒𝑟 ℎ𝑎𝑢𝑙 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒

𝑉𝑂 = 700 − 230 = 𝟒𝟕𝟎 𝒎𝟑

𝑏) 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑊𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑒

𝑉𝑊 = 230 + 80 = 𝟑𝟏𝟎 𝒎𝟑

𝑐) 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝐵𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑤

𝑉𝐵 = 230 + 130 = 𝟑𝟔𝟎 𝒎𝟑

3. The following data represents a single summit mass diagram of a proposed expansion of the Tolosa Expressway.

STATIONS VOLUME
3
CUT (m ) FILL (m3)
10+000 +200
10+040 +100
10+080 +150
10+120 +140
10+160 +110
10+200 +190
10+240 +50
10+280 -40
10+320 -120
10+360 -90
10+400 -80
10+440 -200
10+480 -220
10+520 -110
10+560 -320
10+600 -280

Free haul distance = 50 m

Limit of Economic Haul = 400 m

Mass Ordinate of Initial Limit of free haul distance = +910 m3

Mass Ordinate of Initial Limit of economic haul = +350 m3

a) Compute the volume of waste in cu. m

b) Compute the volume of overhaul in cu. m

c) Compute the volume of borrow in cu. m

 𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

STATIONS VOLUME MASS ORDINATES

10+000 +200 +200

10+040 +100 +300
10+080 +150 +450
10+120 +140 +590
10+160 +110 +700
10+200 +190 +890
10+240 +50 +940
10+280 -40 +900
10+320 -120 +780
10+360 -90 +690
10+400 -80 +610
10+440 -200 +410
10+480 -220 +190
10+520 -110 +80
10+560 -320 -240
10+600 -280 -520

𝑎) 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑊𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑒

𝑉𝑊 = 350 − 200 = 𝟏𝟓𝟎 𝒎𝟑

𝑏) 𝑂𝑣𝑒𝑟 ℎ𝑎𝑢𝑙 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒

𝑉𝑂 = 910 − 350 = 𝟓𝟔𝟎 𝒎𝟑

𝑐) 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝐵𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑤

𝑉𝐵 = 350 + 520 = 𝟖𝟕𝟎 𝒎𝟑