Earthwork and Mass Diagrams

Terrain Effects on Route Location

Attempt to minimize
amount of earthwork
necessary

Set grade line as close as

possible to natural ground
level
Set grade line so there is a
balance between excavated
volume and volume of
embankment

http://www.agtek.com/highway.htm

Shrinkage

SHRINKAGE - When earth is excavated and

hauled for use as fill, the freshly excavated
material generally increases in volume due to the
presence of air voids in the uncompacted
material. However, when this material is
compacted into place in a fill, its volume is
normally less than its original condition before it
was excavated). This difference is defined as
'shrinkage'. The amount of shrinkage will depend
on the type of material used.
Material volume increases during excavation.
Decreases during compaction.
Varies with soil type.
3

Swell / Bulking

Excavated rock used in embankment (fill)

occupies more space. These are necessary due
to the fact that material usually occupies a
different volume when it is used in man made
construction to that which occupied in nature
condition.
SWELL - when rock is excavated and placed in
an embankment, the material will occupy a
large volume due to the air voids that are
introduced into the material. This increase is
called 'swell'.
May amount to 30% or more
4

Bulking Factor = Volume after Excavation/Volume before

Excavation
Similarly a shrinkage factor is defined for the compaction
of a soil at it's final destination.:
Shrinkage Factor = Volume after Compaction/Volume
before Excavation
Typical values can be found in Table above.

Computing Volume (Example)

Shrinkage = 10%, L = 100 ft
Station 1:

Cut Area = 6 ft2

Fill Area = 29 ft2

Cut

Fill

Ground line

Computing Volume (Example)

Shrinkage = 10%
Station 2:

Cut Area = 29 ft2

Fill Area = 5 ft2

Cut

Fill

Ground line

Average End Area Method

Assumes volume between two consecutive

cross sections is the average of their areas
multiplied by the distance between them
V = L(A1 + A2)(2*27)
V = volume (yd3)
A1 and A2 = end areas of cross-sections 1 & 2 (ft2)
L = distance between cross-sections (feet)

Vcut = L (A1cut + A2cut) = 100 ft (6 ft2 + 29 ft2) = 64.8 yd3 *

54

54

Vfill = L (A1fill + A2fill) = 100 ft (29 ft2 + 5 ft2) = 63.0 yd3

54

54

Fill for shrinkage = 63.0 * 0.1 = 6.3 yd3

Total fill = 63.0 ft3 + 6.3 ft3 = 69.3 yd3
Total cut and fill between stations 1 and 2 = 69.3 yd3
fill 64.8 yd3 cut = 4.5 yd3 borrow
10

11

Mass Diagram

The mass haul diagram is a curve plotted on a

distance base, the ordinate at any point of which
represents the algebraic sum up to that point of the
volumes of cuttings and embankments from the
start of the project or from any arbitrary point.
Ordinate is the net accumulation of volume from an
arbitrary starting point
First station is the starting point

12

Estimating End Area

Station 1:

Cut
Fill

Ground line

13

Estimating End Area

Station 1:

Fill Area = Shapes

Cut
Fill

Ground line

L = 100 feet
14

Calculate Mass Diagram Assuming Shrinkage = 25%

15

Calculate Mass Diagram Assuming Shrinkage = 25%

Volumecut = 100 ft (40 ft2 + 140 ft2) = 333.3 yd3 cut

Volumefill

54
= 100 ft (20 ft2 + 0 ft2) = 37.0 yd3 fill
54

16

Calculate Mass Diagram Assuming Shrinkage = 25%

Volumefill = adjusted for shrinkage = 37.0 yd * 1.25 = 46.3 yd3

17

Calculate Mass Diagram Assuming Shrinkage = 25%

Total cut = 333.3 yd3 - 46.3 yd3 = 287.0 yd3

18

Calculate Mass Diagram Assuming Shrinkage = 25%

Volumecut = 100 ft (140 ft2 + 160 ft2) = 555.6 yd3 cut

Volumefill

54
= 100 ft (20 ft2 + 25 ft2) = 83.3 yd3 fill

Volumefill

54
= adjusted for shrinkage = 83.3 yd * 1.25 = 104.2 yd3

Total cut 1 to 2 = 555.6 yd3 104.2 yd3 = 451.4 yd3

19

Calculate Mass Diagram Assuming Shrinkage = 25%

Total cut = 451.4 yd3 + 287 = 738.4 yd3

20

Calculate Mass Diagram Assuming Shrinkage = 25%

Final Station

21

Mass Diagram

Net Cumulative Volume (C.Y.)

1000
800
600
400
200
0
0

-200
-400
Station
Series1
22

Mass Diagram

Net Cumulative Volume (C.Y.)

1000
800
600
400

Station 1:
net volume =
287.04 ft3

200
0
0

-200
-400
Station
Series1
23

Mass Diagram
Station 2:
net volume =
738.43 ft3

Net Cumulative Volume (C.Y.)

1000
800
600
400

Station 1:
net volume =
287.04 ft3

200
0
0

-200
-400
Station
Series1
24

Mass Diagram
Station 2:
net volume =
738.43 ft3

Net Cumulative Volume (C.Y.)

1000
800

Station 3:
net volume =
819.4 ft3

600
400

Station 1:
net volume =
287.04 ft3

200
0
0

-200
-400
Station
Series1
25

The rising curve on the mass diagram indicates excavation (cut)

and a descending curve indicates embankment (fill).
If a horizontal line is drawn to intersect the diagram at two
points, excavation and embankment (adjusted for shrinkage) will
be equal between the two stations represented by the points of
intersection. Such a horizontal line is called a balance line,
because the excavation balances the embankment between the
two points at its ends.
Since the ordinates represent the cumulative volume of
excavation and embankment, the total volumes of excavation and
embankment will be equal where the final ordinate equals the
initial ordinate.
26

A rising curve indicates an increasing volume (cut).

A maximum point on the curve represents the end
of a cut.
A falling curve represents a decreasing volume
(fill).
A minimum point represents the end of a fill.

27

28

Characteristics of the mass haul diagram are:

Upward slope of the curve in the direction of the algebraic
summation (1) indicates excavation. Downward slope (2) indicates
filling.
A maximum earthworks point (3) occurs at the end of an excavation
and a minimum point (4) at the end of an embankment.
The vertical distance between a maximum point and the next forward
minimum point represents the whole volume of an embankment.
Similarly, between a minimum and the next forward maximum point,
the whole volume of an excavation.
Between any two points where the curve cuts the base line the volume
of excavation equals that of embankment, since the algebraic sum of
the quantities between such points is zero. The points (a) and (c), for
example, show, on being projected to A and C, that the earthwork is
balanced between A and C, that is the material excavated from AB
would form the embankment up the point C. There is also balance from
C to D.
29

Any horizontal line intersecting the mass curve, similarly shows

lengths over which cutting and filling are equalised. Thus xy is a
balancing line, the cut from X to B just filling from B to Y, the
volume moved being represented by bz.
When themass curve lies above the balancing line, the
excavated material must be hauled forward. When below, the
direction of haul is backward.

30

Special Terms

haul distance (HD)- is the distance from the point of

excavation to the point where the material is to be
tipped.
Average haul distance (AHD)- is the distance from the
centre of gravity of the excavation to the centre of
gravity of the tip.
Free haul distance (FHD)- distance earth is moved
without additional compensation, and is normally
specified by the contractor.
Overhaul distance (Limit of Profitable Haul (LPH)) is
that distance, in excess of the free haul distance, over
which it may be necessary to transport material.

Special Terms

Haul - this is the term used when calculation the costs

involved in the earthmoving and is equal to the sum of
the products of each volume of material and the distance
through which it is moved. It is equal to the total volume
of the excavation multiplied by the average haul
distance, and on the mass haul diagram is equal to the
area contained between the curve and the balancing line
(units are one cubic meter moved through one meter).
Freehaul is that part of haul which is contained within
the free haul distance
Overhaul is that part of haul which remain after the
freehaul has been removed.The rate for overhaul is
normally specified by the contractor.
Borrow material purchased outside of project.
Waste excavated material not used in project.

Special Terms

Average haul distance (AHD)- on the mass haul

diagram is equal to the area contained between
the curve and balancing line (Haul) divided by
the total volume of the excavation.

Mass Diagram Development

1) Place FHD and LPH distances in all

large loops
2) Place other Balance lines to
minimize cost of movement
(theoretical)
3) Calculate borrow, waste, and
overhaul in all loops
4) Identify stations where each of
the above occur

Mass Diagram

Net Cumulative Volume (C.Y.)

1000
800
600
400
200
0
0

-200
-400
Station
Series1

Mass Diagram
1000

Over Haul

Net Cumulative Volume (C.Y.)

800
600

FHD

400
200

LPH

0
0

-200
-400
Station

Example : Mass digram

Example : Mass digram

Example: Mass diagram

The profile of a road, from stations 0 + 00 to 20 + 00, has been plotted above the
mass diagram. You can see that they are plotted on the same horizontal scale.

a 500-foot haul-limit line has been inserted into the mass diagram curve above and
below the lines of zero yardage. (The 500-foot distance is laid out to scale horizontally
parallel to the line of zero yardage.)

The cut lying between stations 1 + 00 and 3 + 50 can be hauled economically as far
as station 6 + 00; that lying between stations 10 + 50 and 13 + 00, as far as station 8 +
00; and that lying between stations 14 + 00 and 16 + 50, as far as station 19 + 00. This
leaves the cut between stations 0 + 00 and 1 + 00, the fill between stations 6 + 00 and 8 +
00, the cut between stations 13 + 00 and 14 + 00, and the fill between stations 19 + 00
and 20 + 00.

The cut between stations 0 + 00 and 1 + 00, lying outside the limit of economical
haul distance, would be wasted. The cut between stations 1 + 00 and 3 + 50 would be
dumped into the adjacent fill space between stations 3 + 50 and 6 + 00. The fill space
between stations 6 + 00 and 8 + 00 would be filled with borrow; that is, material taken
from a nearby borrow pit. The fill space between stations 8 + 00 and 10 + 50 would be
filled with the cut between 10 + 50 and 13 + 00, and the space between stations 16 + 50
and 19 + 00 would be filled with the cut lying between stations 14 + 00 and 16 + 50. You
will notice that the haul limit on the last section of the mass diagram (between stations 14
+ 00 and 19 + 00) is almost on the line of zero yardage.