11/04/2024

Module 3. EARTHWORKS
• Course Outcome
• Solve and analyze earthwork quantities

Lesson 4.1. Areas of Cross-section and Volumes

EARTHWORKS
Learning Outcome
Lesson 4.1. Areas of Cross-sections and Volumes
Solve the cross-sectional area and the volume of earthworks

EARTHWORKS
Lesson 4.1. Areas of Cross-section and Volumes
▪ Earthwork is a process that involves the movement of a portion of the earth’s
Learning Outcome surface from one location to another and in a new position.
Solve the cross-sectional area and the volume of earthworks
▪ In many engineering projects, earthwork involve the excavation, removal and
dumping of earth.

▪ Typical earthworks include road construction, railway beds, dams, levees, and
canals. Other common earthworks are land grading to reconfigure the
topography of a site, or to stabilize slopes.

EARTHWORKS EARTHWORKS
Earthwork volumes must be estimated:
▪ Earthwork is a process that
involves the movement of a a. to enable route alignment to be located at such lines and levels that cut and fill are
portion of the earth’s surface balanced as far as practicable;
from one location to another
and in a new position. b. to enable contract estimates of time and cost to be made for proposed work;
c. to form the basis of payment for work carried out
▪ Typical earthworks include
road construction, railway
beds, dams, levees, and
canals. Other common
earthworks are land grading
to reconfigure the
topography of a site, or to
stabilize slopes.

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Cross-sectional Area Cross-sectional Area

➢ The cross-sectional area is the area of a

two-dimensional shape that is obtained
when a three dimensional object - such as
a cylinder - is sliced perpendicular to some
specified axis at a point.

Cross-sectional Area CUT and FILL

Sta 0+000 Existing ground

surface
CUT
Top View
Proposed
Elevation
FILL

Excavation (CUT) = the removal of soil or rock from its natural location.
Side View
Embankment (FILL)= the placement and compaction of layers of earth or rock to form a roadbed of the
planned shape, density, and profile grade.

CUT and FILL Types of cross-sections

Existing ground surface
Sta 0+020
Proposed Elevation

Sta 0+000

Level section is suitable for Three-level section is generally

flat terrain. used where ordinary ground
condition prevails.

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Types of cross-sections Side slopes

Side slope is defined as the slope of the cut or fill expressed as the ratio of horizontal
On a terrain with rough Side-hill section occurs when distance to vertical distance.
topography, it may require passing on side-hill locations.
five-level section.

Volume of Earthwork Volume of Earthwork

1. End Area Method 2. Prismoidal Formula

- A simple formula for estimating volumes of - A prismoidal method is used when a more exact method of
solids determining earthwork volumes is warranted

( A1 + A2 ) L L
VE = VP = ( A1 + 4 Am + A2 )
2 6

Sample Problem 1. Sample Problem 1. Solution:

( A1 + A2 ) L
a. End Area VE =
2
Given:
Given the cross section notes below of the ground which will be excavated for a Sta
roadway, compute the volume of excavation between Sta 4+000 and 4+020 Left Cente Right 4+000 3
7.38 r0 12.28 2 5.19
using the (a) End Area Method and (b) Prismoidal Formula. The roadway is 9 m. Sta 1.92 1
3.15 4
1.92 3.15 5.19
wide with side slopes of 1.5:1. 4+000 4.5 4.5
8.82 0 10.08
Left Cente Right Sta 7.38 12.28
7.38 2.88 2.52 3.72
Sta r0 12.28
4+020
1.92 3.15 5.19
4+000 Road width= 9 m ATotal1 = A1 + A2 + A3 + A4
8.82 0 10.08 ( 4.5)(1.92) (7.38)(3.15) (12.28)(3.15) ( 4.5)(5.19)
Sta Side slope = 1.5:1 ATotal 1 = + + +
2.88 2.52 3.72 2 2 2 2
4+020
ATotal 1 = 46.962 m 2

Lesson 4.1. Areas of Cross-section and Volumes

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Sample Problem 1. Solution: Sample Problem 1. Solution:

( A1 + A2 ) L ( A1 + A2 ) L
a. End Area VE = a. End Area VE =
Given: 2 Given: 2
Left Cente Right Sta Left Cente Right
7.38 r0 12.28 4+020 3
3.72 7.38 r0 12.28 A2 Sta 4+020
Sta 2.88 2
2.52 4 Sta
1.92 3.15 5.19 1 1.92 3.15 5.19
4+000 4+000 L
4.5
8.82 0 10.08 4.5
8.82 0 10.08
Sta Sta A1 Sta 4+000
2.88 2.52 3.72 8.82 10.08 2.88 2.52 3.72
4+020 4+020
Road width= 9 m ATotal 2 = A1 + A2 + A3 + A4 Road width= 9 m
Side slope = 1.5:1 Side slope = 1.5:1 ( 46.962 + 38.664)(20)
L = (Sta 4+020) – (Sta 4+000) VE =
Computed Values: A Total2 = 11.1132 12.7008 8.37 Computed Values: 2
= 4020 – 4000
ATotal 1 = 46.962 m 2 6.48+ + 2 + ATotal 1 = 46.962 m 2 = 20 m
ATotal 2 = 38.664 m VE = 856.26 m 3
ATotal 2 = 38.664 m 2

Solution:
Sample Problem 1. b. Prismoidal Sample Problem 1. Sta 4+000 Sta 4+020

Formula
Given: L
VP = ( A1 + 4 Am + A2 ) Given:
Left Center Right 6 Left Center Right

Sta 4+000
7.38 0 12.28 Sta 4+000
7.38 0 12.28
1.92 3.15 5.19 1.92 3.15 5.19
8.82 0 10.08 A2 8.82 0 10.08
Sta 4+020 Sta 4+020 z
2.88 2.52 3.72 2.88 2.52 3.72 x
y

Side slope = Am Side slope =

Road width= 9 m Road width= 9 m 4.5 4.5
1.5:1 1.5:1
a b
Computed Values: A1 Computed Values:
ATotal 1 = 46.962 m
2
ATotal 1 = 46.962 m
2

ATotal 2 = 38.664 m 2 ATotal 2 = 38.664 m 2 1.92+2.88 3.15+2.52 5.19+3.72 7.38+8.82 12.28+10.08

x= y= z= a= b=
2 2 2 2 2
L = 20 m L = 20 m x =2.4 y =2.835 z=4.455 a=8.10 b=11.18

Sample Problem 1. Solution: Sample Problem 1. Solution:

b. Prismoidal
Mid-section
Given: 3
4.455 Given: Formula
Left Center Right 2.4
2 2.835 4 Left Center Right ATotal 1 = 46.962 m 2 A m =42.753 m 2
1
7.38 0 12.28 7.38 0 12.28 L = 20 m
Sta 4+000 Sta 4+000 ATotal 2 = 38.664 m 2
1.92 3.15 5.19 4.5 4.5
1.92 3.15 5.19
8.82 0 10.08 8.10 11.18 8.82 0 10.08
Sta 4+020 Sta 4+020 L
2.88 2.52 3.72 2.88 2.52 3.72 VP = ( A1 + 4 Am + A2 )
6
Road width= 9 mSide slope = Road width= 9 mSide slope =
20
1.5:1 1.5:1 VP = [ 46.962+( 4)( 42.753)+38.664]
Am =A1+A2 +A3 +A4 6
Computed Values: Computed Values:
ATotal 1 = 46.962 m
2
( 4.5)(2.4) (8.10)(2.835) (2.835)(11.18) ( 4.5)( 4.455)
ATotal 1 = 46.962 m
2

Am = + + + VP =855.46 m 3
ATotal 2 = 38.664 m 2 2 2 2 2 ATotal 2 = 38.664 m 2

L = 20 m Am =42.753 m 2 L = 20 m

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a. Compute the side slope of both

Sample Problem 2. Sample Problem 2. sections
Given the cross section notes of an earthwork between station Given:
2.30 1.5
4+000 and 4+020. Assume both stations to have the same side slope Left Cente Right 1.0

and width of the base. 6.45 r0 4.50

Left Cente Right Sta Sta 4+000 2.30S b/2 b/2 1.0S
2.30 1.50 1.00
6.45 r0 4.50 4+000 6.45 4.50
Sta 6.00 0 6.90
2.30 1.50 1.00 Sta
4+000 2.00 X 2.60 b
+ 2.30S= 6.45
6.00 0 6.90 4+020 2
Sta 2.00 X 2.60 b
+ 1.0S= 4.50
4+020 Unknown: width of the
2
a. Compute the side slope of both sections base b = 6 (width of the base)
b. Compute the value of x at station 4+020 if it has a cross sectional
area of 14.64 sq. m. s = 1.5
c. Compute the volume between stations 4+000 and 4+020 using
end area method.

b. Compute the value of x at station 4+020 if it c. Compute the volume between stations 4+000
Sample Problem 2. Sample Problem 2.
has a cross sectional area of 14.64 sq. m. and 4+020 using end area method
Given: Sta 4+000 Given: 2
2.30 1.5 3
Left Cente Right Left Cente Right 1 4 1.0

6.45 r0 4.50 3
2.6 6.45 r0 4.50
Sta 2.0 2 Sta 2.30S 3 3 1.0S
2.30 1.50 1.00 x
4 2.30 1.50 1.00
4+000 1 4+000 6.45 4.50
6.00 0 6.90 6.00 0 6.90
Sta 2.00 X 2.60 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.90S Sta 2.00 X 2.60
4+020 6 6.90 4+020 A=A1+ A2 + A3 + A4
A=A1+A2 +A3 +A4 Area at Sta 4+020 = 14.64
(3.0)(2.3) (6.45)(1.5) (1.5)( 4.5) (3.0)(1.0)
Computed Values: sq m A= + + + =13.1625 m 2
Computed Values: 2 2 2 2
(3.0)(2.0) ( x )(6.0) ( x )(6.9) (3.0)(2.6)
b=6m 14.64= + + +
2 2 2 2 b=6m
Side slope = ( A1 + A2 ) L (14.64+13.1625)(20)
Side slope = VE = = = 278.025 m 3
1:1.5 x = 1.2 m 2 2
1:1.5