Volume Computations

Types of Cross Sections

Sections are usually taken at pre-determined intervals,
normally at 50 ft or 100 ft along the centerline or baseline.
Setting Slope Stakes
 D

25 ft
A G

24 ft
18 ft

Centerli
17 ft

17 ft
ne
Cut B E Cut
15 ft
20 ft
20 ft
22 ft
30 ft
30 ft

Cut = Target Elevation

Note: Units are in ft.

 Point A
Elevation C 17 C 17 = Elevation of the cut or bottom side + 17 ft (Elevation of Point A)

Distance From Centerline 30 30 = Horizontal Distance from the Centerline

25 ft
A G

24 ft
18 ft

Centerli
17 ft

17 ft
ne
Cut B E Cut
15 ft
20 ft
20 ft
22 ft
30 ft
30 ft

Cut = Target Elevation

Note: Units are in ft.

 A B C D E F G
C 17 0 C 18 C 25 0 C 24 C 17
30 20 15 0 20 22 30
 Centerli
ne
Fill A B C D E F G Fill

5 ft
5 ft

6 ft
7 ft

16 ft
15 ft 7 ft

20 ft 18 ft

25 ft 20 ft
 Point B
Elevation F7 F 7 = Fill or target elevation – 7 ft
Distance From Centerline 20 20 = Distance from the Centerline

Fill A B C D E F G Fill

5 ft
5 ft

6 ft
7 ft

16 ft
15 ft 7 ft

20 ft 18 ft

25 ft 20 ft

Fill = Target Elevation

Centerli
Note: Units are in ft.

ne
A B C D E F G
0 F7 F5 F 16 F6 F5 0
25 20 15 0 7 18 20
Volume Computation: Average
End Area Method
Average End-Area Formulas

Metric/SI Imperial/English

𝐴1 + 𝐴2 𝐿
3
𝐴1 + 𝐴2 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒(𝑖𝑛 𝑦𝑑3 ) = 𝑥
𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒(𝑖𝑛 𝑚 ) = 𝑥𝐿 2 27
2

𝐴1 = 𝐸𝑛𝑑 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑖𝑛 𝑚2 𝐴1 = 𝐸𝑛𝑑 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑖𝑛 𝑓𝑡 2

𝐴2 = 𝐸𝑛𝑑 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑖𝑛 𝑚2 𝐴2 = 𝐸𝑛𝑑 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑖𝑛 𝑓𝑡 2
L = Distance between the two sections L = Distance between the two sections
in m in ft
Correction
Metric/SI Imperial/English

𝐿 (𝑐1 − 𝑐2 )(𝑤1 − 𝑤2 )
𝐿 (𝑐1 − 𝑐2 )(𝑤1 − 𝑤2 ) 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝐶𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 (𝑖𝑛 𝑦𝑑 3 ) =
𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝐶𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛(𝑖𝑛 𝑚3 ) = 12 𝑥 27
12

𝑐 = 𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟 ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑖𝑛 𝑚 𝑐 = 𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟 ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑖𝑛 𝑓𝑡

𝑤 = 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑤𝑖𝑑𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑖𝑛 𝑚 𝑤 = 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑤𝑖𝑑𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑖𝑛 𝑓𝑡
L = Distance between the two sections in m L = Distance between the two sections in ft

If the product of (𝑐1 − 𝑐2 )(𝑤1 − 𝑤2 ) is negative, the correction is added rather than subtracted from the end-area volume
Volume Computation: Prismoidal
Formula
 Metric/SI Imperial/English
𝐿(𝐴1 + 4𝐴𝑚 + 𝐴2 )
𝐿(𝐴1 + 4𝐴𝑚 + 𝐴2 ) 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒(𝑖𝑛 𝑦𝑑3 ) =
𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒(𝑖𝑛 𝑚3 ) = 162
6

𝐴1 = 𝐸𝑛𝑑 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑖𝑛 𝑚2 𝐴1 = 𝐸𝑛𝑑 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑖𝑛 𝑓𝑡 2

𝐴𝑚 = 𝑀𝑖𝑑𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑖𝑛 𝑚2 𝐴𝑚 = 𝑀𝑖𝑑𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑖𝑛 𝑓𝑡 2
𝐴2 = 𝐸𝑛𝑑 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑖𝑛 𝑚2 𝐴2 = 𝐸𝑛𝑑 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑖𝑛 𝑓𝑡 2
L = Distance between the two End L = Distance between the two End
Sections in m Sections in ft
Example
Compute the volume using the prismoidal formula and by
average end areas for the following three-level sections of a
roadbed having a base of 24 ft and side slopes of 1.5:1

Formula for Three-level section

Compute the volume using the prismoidal formula and by
average end areas for the following three-level sections of a
roadbed having a base of 24 ft and side slopes of 1.5:1

5.3 (23.7 + 23.0 ) 24(7.8 + 7.4)

𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎12+00 = + = 214.96 𝑓𝑡 2
2 4

6.0 (21.8 + 23.2 ) 24(6.5 + 7.5)

𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎12+50 = + = 219 𝑓𝑡 2
2 4

6.6 (24.8 + 23.5 ) 24(5.8 + 7.0)

𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎13+00 = + = 236.19 𝑓𝑡 2
2 4

Formula for Three-level section

• Prismoidal Formula:

100 [ 214.96+4 219 +236.19]

𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 = = 819.23 𝑦𝑑3
6(27)

• Average End-Area Formula:

214.96+236.19
Volume = 𝑥 100 = 835.46 𝑦𝑑3
2 𝑥 27

100 5.3 −6.6 [ 23.7+23.0 −(24.8+23.5)]

𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝐶𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = = 0.64
12 𝑥 27

Corrected Volume = 835.46 – 0.64 = 834.82 𝑦𝑑3

Compute the volume using the prismoidal formula and by
average end areas for the following five-level sections of a
roadbed having a base of 24 ft and side slopes of 1.5:1

Formula for five-level section

Compute the volume using the prismoidal formula and by
average end areas for the following five-level sections of a
roadbed having a base of 24 ft and side slopes of 1.5:1

5.3 𝑥 24 + 7.8 𝑥 23.7 + (7.4 𝑥 23.0)

𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎12+00 = = 241.13 𝑓𝑡 2
2

6.0 𝑥 24 + 6.5 𝑥 21.8 + (7.5 𝑥 23.2)

𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎12+50 = = 229.85 𝑓𝑡 2
2

6.6 𝑥 24 + 5.8 𝑥 24.8 + (7.0 𝑥 23.5)

𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎13+00 = = 233.37 𝑓𝑡 2
2

Formula for five-level section

• Prismoidal Formula:

100 [ 241.13+4 229.85 +233.37]

𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 = = 819.23 𝑦𝑑3
6(27)

• Average End-Area Formula:

241.13+233.37
Volume = 𝑥 100 = 878.70 𝑦𝑑3
2 𝑥 27

100 5.3 −6.6 [ 23.7+23.0 −(24.8+23.5)]

𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝐶𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = = 0.64
12 𝑥 27

Corrected Volume = 878.70 – 0.64 = 878.06 𝑦𝑑3