Procedure to Estimate the Earthwork in excavation for Road Construction

Roads are constructed either in the plain area or in hilly areas. To calculate Earthwork in excavation for road, we have to use the separate formula for plain and hilly areas. Here I have described both types of estimation for road construction step by step with numerical examples. So, let’s start.

A) Estimate the Earthwork in excavation for Road Construction in Plain Area

Volume of earthwork

It is measured in cubic meters without any allowance for an increase in bulk. The volume of earthwork shall be calculated by multiplying the length, breadth, and depth or height measured from the ground from which soil has been taken out.

Lead and Lift

Normally earthwork is estimated for 30 m lead for distance and 1.5 m lift for height or depth, and this distance of 30 m and the height of 1.5 m are known as normal lead and lift.

During the estimation of earthwork in the road, the volume of earthwork may be calculated by the various methods of mensuration out of which three methods are given below.

Method – 1, Mid sectional area method

Quantity = area of mid section x length

Area of midsection = Area of rectangular portion + area of two triangular portions.

Procedure to Estimate the Earthwork in excavation for Road Construction
Procedure to Estimate the Earthwork in excavation for Road Construction

Therefore, the Quantity of earthwork,

= (Bd + Sd2) x L

Where,

d = Mean depth or height

B = Formation width

S = Side Slope

The quantity of earthwork may be calculated in a tabular form as below,

Procedure to Estimate the Earthwork in excavation for Road Construction

Method-2: Mean Sectional Area Method

Quantity = Mid Sectional area x Length

In this method, it is not necessary to calculate mean depth but, we should calculate the mean area after calculating the area of each station.

The quantity of earthwork may be calculated in the tabular form as given below.

Procedure to Estimate the Earthwork in excavation for Road Construction

Where,

Am = Mean sectional area

d = Height or Depth

B = Formation width

S = Side Slope

Method – 3: Prismodial formula method

Quantity of volume = L/6 x (A1+ A2 + 4Am)

Where,

A1 = Cross sectional Area at one end

A2 = Cross sectional Area of another end

Am = mid-sectional area

Procedure to Estimate the Earthwork in excavation for Road Construction
Procedure to Estimate the Earthwork in excavation for Road Construction

Trapezoidal Formula and Prismoidal formula methods for a series of cross-sections.

1) Volume by trapezoidal formula

Procedure to Estimate the Earthwork in excavation for Road Construction

2) Volume by Prismodial formula

Procedure to Estimate the Earthwork in excavation for Road Construction

Numerical example

Q) Prepare an estimate for the portion of a road from chainage 14 to 22 from the data given below. Draw typical cross-sections for cutting and banking. The formation width of the proposed road is 12 m, side slopes 3/2:1 m. cutting and 2:1 in banking.

Procedure to Estimate the Earthwork in excavation for Road Construction

The road formation is proposed as a uniform falling gradient 1 in 200 passing through G.L at chainage 14 length of one chain = 30 m.

Solution:-

Depth of cutting and bankings are denoted by -ve and +ve signs respectively. Depth of cutting or banking = Difference between G.L and F.L.

For a gradient 1 in 200 change of level per chain of 30 m = 30/200 = 0.15

Procedure to Estimate the Earthwork in excavation for Road Construction

B = 12 m, S = 1.5 for cutting, S= 2 for banking

-ve depth = Cutting

+ve depth = Filling

Procedure to Estimate the Earthwork in excavation for Road Construction

Here from chainage 18 to 19, there is a change from cutting to filling.

Let the distance from 18 chainages up to the portion of cutting = x

Procedure to Estimate the Earthwork in excavation for Road Construction

Then,

Procedure to Estimate the Earthwork in excavation for Road Construction

X = 13.63 m, Say 14 m

Therefore length of banking portion = 30-14 = 16 m

Procedure to Estimate the Earthwork in excavation for Road Construction

B) Estimate the Earthwork in excavation for Road Construction in hilly area

Earthwork for hill roads having transverse slope i.e for two-level sections where contour lines are very close to each other (as in hilly area) transverse or cross slope cannot be neglected in calculating earthwork.

When these transverse and longitudinal slopes are unknown in between two cross-sections this portion of a road is called two-level sections. The method of estimating the volume of earthwork for such cases has been illustrated below.

Case:-1 Wholly in Banking or wholly in cutting

Procedure to Estimate the Earthwork in excavation for Road Construction
Thus from geometry,
Procedure to Estimate the Earthwork in excavation for Road Construction
Where,

s:1 = Side slope

r:1 = Transverse Slope

H = Height of banking or depth of cutting

b = Half of formation width

Case:-2

When the centerline (FG) is in the cutting portion (figure: a)

a) Partly in Banking and Partly in cutting

Procedure to Estimate the Earthwork in excavation for Road Construction

Area of ABE = Area of banking

Procedure to Estimate the Earthwork in excavation for Road Construction
Area of EDC = Area of cutting
Procedure to Estimate the Earthwork in excavation for Road Construction

b) When center line (FG) is in banking portion (figure:b)

Procedure to Estimate the Earthwork in excavation for Road Construction

Area ofABE = Area of Banking

Procedure to Estimate the Earthwork in excavation for Road Construction

Area of EDC = Area of Cutting

Procedure to Estimate the Earthwork in excavation for Road Construction

Where,

H = Center depth of cutting or banking

S:1 = Side slope of banking

P:1 = Side slope of Cutting

b = Half of formation width

r:1 =Transverse Slope

The amount of earthwork can be calculated by three methods which are explained in E/w in plain area. The methods are given below,

  1. Mid sectional Formula
  2. Average end area of mean sectional formula
  3. Prismoidal Formula

Numerical Example

Q) Calculate the earthwork for or portion of hill road from the following data.

Chainage0306090
RL of Ground Level104 m105 m106 m107 m
Formation Level105 m105.5 m106.0m106.5 m
Transverse Slope20:115:112:110:1

Formation width = 10 m, side slope in cutting = 1:1

Side slope in banking = 2:1

Solution:-

First, we find the depth of cutting or banking, which are given below:

ChainageRL of GL (m)Formation level (m)Cross SlopeDepth (m)
0 m10410520:11
30 m10510515:10.5
60 m10610612:10
90 m107106.510:1-0.5

At chainage 0 m

Procedure to Estimate the Earthwork in excavation for Road Construction

s = 2

b = 5 m

H = 1 m

r = 20

Procedure to Estimate the Earthwork in excavation for Road Construction

At chainage 30 m

Procedure to Estimate the Earthwork in excavation for Road Construction

s = 2

b = 5 m

H = 0.5 m

r = 15

Procedure to Estimate the Earthwork in excavation for Road Construction

At chainage 60 m

Procedure to Estimate the Earthwork in excavation for Road Construction

s = 2

b = 5

H = 0

r = 12

Procedure to Estimate the Earthwork in excavation for Road Construction
Procedure to Estimate the Earthwork in excavation for Road Construction

At chainage 90 m

Procedure to Estimate the Earthwork in excavation for Road Construction

s = 1

b = 5

H =0.5

r = 10

Procedure to Estimate the Earthwork in excavation for Road Construction
Now,
Procedure to Estimate the Earthwork in excavation for Road Construction

Hence, earthwork in Cutting = 117.33 m3

Earthwork in filling = 395.82 m3

I hope this article on the “Earthwork in excavation for Road Construction” remains helpful for you.

Happy Learning – Civil Concept

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"Structural Engineer" with over 5 years of experience in estimation, structural design, and surveying. I am passionate about using his skills to create safe and sustainable structures. I am also a keen writer, and I enjoy sharing my knowledge and experiences with others.

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