Earthworks

ENGR. J BENEDICT MELGAR

 DEFINITIONS

- The movement of soil or rock from one location to another for construction purposes is called earthworks.
- A volume of earth that is excavated, that is, removed from its natural location, is called cut.
- Excavated materials that is placed and compacted in a different location is called embankment or fill.
 The volume of earthworks can be determined by either of the following methods:
a) Volume using End Area Method
b) Volume using Prismoidal Formula
c) Volume using End Area with Prismoidal Correction
a) Volume using End Area Method - It is assumed that the volume between the successive cross sections is the
average of their areas multiplied by the distance between them

( 𝐴 1+ 𝐴 2 ) ( 𝐿)
A2 VE =
2

A1
L A1 = Area of the 1st section
A2 = Area of the 2nd section

It is only valid when A1= A2 and approximate if A1 ≠ A2

b) Volume using Prismoidal Formula - Am is determined by averaging the corresponding their linear dimensions of the
end sections and NOT by averaging end areas (A1 and A2 ).

A2

Am

L/2
A1

L/2

(𝐿) ( 𝐴 1+ 𝐴𝑚+ 𝐴 2 )
VE =
A1 = Area of the 1st section 6
A2 = Area of the 2nd section
Am = Area of the midsection
c) Volume using End Area with Prismoidal Correction - only for 3 level section

D1 D2

C1 C2
A1 A2

V = VE – VCP

VCP = (C1 – C2) (D1-D2)

 GRADE / GRADIENT

A Gradient is a dimensionless number:

𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑒
Gradient = =m
𝑟𝑢𝑛
or%
m rise

run

Gradient are usually expressed in percentage

SIDE SLOPE is the RATIO of HORIZONTAL to VERTICAL Distance

 GUIDES FOR DRAWING A SECTION

CL
CROSS-SECTION NOTES:
(6.45,
2.3)
x 6.45 0 4.5 (0, 1.5)
(x,y)
y +2.3 1.5 +1.0
(4.5, 1.0)
CL
LEFT SECTION RIGHT SECTION B/2 B/2

B
Given the following cross-section notes of an earthwork on a terrain.

Sta 8+140 Sta 8+160

31 0 13.5 41 0 17.25
+10 +5 +3.0 +14 +7 +4.5

The width of the road is 12m and the side slope is 2.5:1

a) Compute the volume using End Area Method

b) Compute the volume using Prismoidal formula
c) Compute the area using End Area with Prismoidal correction
 The width of the road is 12m and the side slope is 2.5:1
Sta 8+140 Sta 8+160
31 0 13.5 41 0 17.25
+10 +5 +3.0 +14 +7 + 4.5

CL CL
(31, 10) (41, 14)

(0, 5) (0, 7)
10 m A2 (13.5, 3) 14 m A2 (17.25, 4.5)
A1 5m A3 A1 7m A3
A4
3m A4
4.5 m

25 m 6m 6m 7.5 m 35 m 6m 6m 11.25 m
31 m 13.5 m 41 m 17.25 m

12 m 12 m
The following is set of notes of an earthworks of a road construction which is undertaken by the DPWH.

Station Cross Section

9 4.5 0 4.5 6
1 + 020
+3 +5 2 1.5 1.0

7.5 4.5 0 4.5 9

1 + 040
+2 +5 +4 +2 +3.0
The base of the road way is 9 meters which conforms with the DPWH standards. Side slopes is 1.5:1
1) Compute the cross sectional area at Sta. 1 + 020
2) Compute the cross sectional area at Sta. 1 + 040
3) Compute the volume between the two stations using end area method.
Station Cross Section
9 4.5 0 4.5 6
1 + 020 + 3+ 4+2+1.5
+1

7.54.5 04.59
1 + 040
+ 2+ 5+4+2+3

Sta.1 + 020 Sta.1 + 040

CL CL
(4.5,5)
(4.5,4)
(9,3) (0,4)
(0,2)
A1 (9,3)
(4.5,1.5) 5 (4.5,2)
(7.5,2) A1 A2
4 A2 (6,1) 4
3 2 A3 A3 A4
1.5 A4
2 2 3
1

4.5 4.5 4.5 1.5 3 4.5 4.5 4.5

 S:1 B
Compute the side slope and the base of the given cross-section that has an area of 31.7 m 2.

“If not mentioned, side slopes (S:1) for left and right are equal”

(0, 2.64)
(9.8, 2.4)
(7.4, 1.2)
2.4 1
S 1
S 1.2
9.8 - B/2 B/2 B/2 7.4 - B/2
Given the cross section notes of an earthwork between station 10+100 to 10+200. Assume
both stations have the same side slope and width of the base.

Sta 10+100 Sta 10+200

6.45 0 4.5 6 0 6.9
+2.3 +1.5 +1.0 +2.0 𝑥 +2.6

a) Compute the base of the two sections.

b) Compute the side slope of the two sections.
c) Compute the value of “x” at station 10+200, if it has cross sectional
area of 14.64 m2
d) Compute the volume between stations 10+100 and 10+200 using End
Area with Prismoidal Correction
 Given the cross section notes of an earthwork between station 10+100 to 10+200. Assume
both stations have the same side slope and width of the base.

Sta 10+100 Sta 10+200

6.45 0 4.5 6 0 6.9
+2.3 +1.5 +1.0 +2.0 𝑥 +2.6
(6.9, 2.6)

CL (6.0, 2.0)
CL
(6.45, 2.3)

(0, 1.5) (0, x)

1
(4.5, 1.0) 2.6
1 1 S
2.3 2
S 1.5 S x
1 1.0
S
6.45 - B/2 B/2 B/2 4.5 - B/2 6 - B/2 B/2 B/2 6.9 - B/2
 CUT AND FILL

Cut and Fill is the process of removing or cutting earth from areas of higher elevation and using it to fill
in areas of low elevation to level a parcel of land so it can be used for some purpose.
This technique where commonly used to prepare building sites, roadways, railways, waterways, and
anywhere else that the natural topography must be leveled to make the area useful in those capacities.
The process requires the use of various heavy earthmoving and excavation equipment such as,
backhoes, loaders, dump truck, bulldozers, and compactors.
Given the following section of an earthworks for a proposed road construction on a hilly
portion of the route. The width of the road base for cut is 6 meters for allowance of drainage
canals and 5 meters for fill. Sides slopes for cut is 1:1 and for fill is 1.5:1

3.7 0 𝑥
−0.8 0 +1.8

a) Compute the value of x

b) Compute the area in fill
c) Compute the area in cut
Given the following section of an earthworks for a
proposed road construction on a hilly portion of the
3.7 0 𝑥
route. The width of the road base for cut is 6 meters
for allowance of drainage canals and 5 meters for fill.
−0.8 0 +1.8
Sides slopes for cut is 1:1 and for fill is 1.5:1
a) Compute the value of x (x, 1.8)
b) Compute the area in fill
c) Compute the area in cut

2.7 1.8
1
1.2 2.5 1

1.5
1 3 1.8
0.8
4.8
(3.7, -0.8)
 Given the following cross sections:

Base for cut = 9m Side slope = 1:1

Base for fill = 8m Side slope = 1.5:1

Sta 3+000 Sta 3+060

5.48 0 5 6.76 0 4.63
+0.98 +3.05 +0.5 −1.84 −1.22 −0.42

a. Compute the volume of cut using end area method.

b. Find the volume of fill using end area method.
 Sta 3+000
5.48 0 5 Base for cut = 9m
+0.98 +3.05 +0.5 Side slope = 1:1

Sta 3+060 Base for fill = 8m

6.76 0 4.63 Side slope = 1.5:1
−1.84 −1.22 −0.42
3.05
Sta 3+060
Sta 3+000 1.22
x 60 - x
L = 60 m
From Station 0+200 with center height of 1.4 m in FILL ,the ground line makes a uniform
slope of +5% to station 0+260 whose center height is 2.8 m in CUT. Assuming both
sections to be trapezoidal with a roadway of 10m and side slope of 2:1

a. Compute the grade of the finished roadway.

b. How far from station 0+200 will the filling extend?
c. What is the area of the section at station 0+250?
From Station 0+200 with center height of 1.4 m in FILL, the ground line makes a uniform slope of +5% to station 0+260 whose center height is 2.8
m in CUT. Assuming both sections to be trapezoidal with a roadway of 10m and side slope of 2:1

a. Compute the grade of the finished roadway.

b. How far from station 0+200 will the filling extend?
c. What is the area of the section at station 0+250? Ground Line

Finished Roadway

2.8
-g% +5%
3
1.2
1.4
0.2 0.2

Sta 0+200 Sta 0+260

60 meters
 Ground Line

Finished Roadway

+ 5% 2.8
-g%
3
1.2
1.4
0.2 0.2

Sta 0+200 Sta 0+260

60 meters

+ 5% 2.8
-g%

1.4

x 60-x
 Sta 0+260

Sta 0+250

Sta 0+200 2.8

-g% + 5%
C

1.4
30 10

x 60-x

Sta 0+250

CL

1 C = 2.1 1
2 2

5 5