EARTHWORKS

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.
Cross-Section Method
The method of plotting the existing cross-section perpendicular to a
particular line (usually the center line of a proposed road) for the
purpose of obtaining quantities such as volumes. It is usually done on
linear construction projects such as highways, railroads, and canals. The
procedure involves staking the centerline then elevations are obtained
at strategic points at right angle to the centerline, at intervals of full or
half stations. Cross-sectional data is needed in estimating the amount
of cut or fill needed for a given strip of roadway.
Cross-Section Method
Cross-Section Method
Cross-Section Method
Volume Approximation Methods in
Earthwork
Volume using End-Area Method
Also called average-end-area-method
Volume Approximation Methods in
Earthwork
Volume using Prismoidal Formula
This formula applies to volumes of all geometric solids that can be
considered prismoids. A prismoid is a solid having ends that are parallel
and similar but not conguent, and trapezoidal sides that are similar but
not congruent.
Prismoidal Correction
The prismoidal correction ΔVp is the correction to be applied to the
volume using end-area method VE to make it equal to the volume using
prismoidal formula Vp.
Consider the level sections (trapezoidal cross sections) at station 1 and
station 2 as shown. Assume that both stations are fill sections.
Note that SS and w are assumed to be constant in a roadway unless
otherwise specified.
w = width of the roadway
SS = side slope (horizontal : vertical)
L = distance between the two stations
Prismoidal Correction
Prismoidal Correction
To the area of the middle section, we take the average of the
dimensions. Thus,
Prismoidal Correction
Therefore, the prismoidal correction formula is taken as,

for both cut and fill sections.

Where, L= distance between stations 1 and 2
D1= xL+xR of station 1
D2= xL+xR of station 2
C1= center height of station 1
C2= center height of station 2
Prismoidal Correction
Volume using Prismoidal Correction

where, VE = volume using end-area method

VP = volume using prismoidal formula
ΔVp = prismoidal correction
Sample Problems
Sample Problem 1
Sample Problems
Sample Problem 2
Borrow-Pit Method
Also known as unit-area method. Consider an irregular strip of land,
This method is used in estimating as shown:
the volume of earth, gravel, rock,
or other meterial excavated of
filled. Here, the area is laid out in
squares or other simple geometric
shapes i.e. triangles, and
elevations are determined at all
grid intersection points.
Borrow-Pit Method
By borrow-pit method, the land is
divided into prisms of square
base.
Borrow-Pit Method
The solid formed is made up of The volume of each truncated
smaller truncated prisms. prism is given by the formula:

For the whole borrow-pit, the

total volume is the sum of the
truncated prisms which is
therefore given by the formula
Borrow-Pit Method
Where:
A = cross-sectional area of the base
of each truncated prism
Σh1 = sum of the heights used only
once
Σh2 = sum of the heights used twice
Σh3 = sum of the heights used thrice
Σh4 = sum of the heights used four
times
Sample Problems
A square piece of land 60 x 60 is to be levelled down to 5 m above
elevation zero. To determine the volume of the earth to be removed by
the Borrow-Pit method the land is divided into 9 squares whose corners
are arranged as follow with the corresponding elevaions, in meters,
above elevation zero. Find the volume of cut in m3 by unit area basis.
Sample Problems
The figure shows the distribution of 12
spot heights with regular 20-m spacing
covering a rectangular area which is to
be graded to form a horizontal plane
having an elevation of 10.00 m.
a. Calculate the volume of the earth
b. Determine the elevation in which the
area is graded to form a horizontal
plane if the amount of cut and fill are to
be balanced. Assume no bulking or
shrinking of the excavated earth and
neglect any effects of side slopes