BFC 3042 HIGHWAY ENGINEERING Lecturer: Mr.

Mustafa Kamal Shamshuddin

Chapter 4
ROAD CONSTRUCTION
Earthwork Calculations

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 BFC 3042 HIGHWAY ENGINEERING Lecturer: Mr. Mustafa Kamal Shamshuddin

SUBGRADE PREPARATION: Volumetric Calculations

METHODS OF MEASURING FIELD DENSITY

(1) SAND CONE / SAND REPLACEMENT

The volume of the test hole is obtained from the

loose sand required to fill the hole. The sand used
is uniform, medium sand that has a constant loose
density.
The difference between the mass of the apparatus
before and after the test is equal to the mass of
sand used to fill the test hole and cone.
As the amount to fill the cone is constant, therefore
the mass in the test hole and the volume of the
test hole can be calculated.

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 BFC 3042 HIGHWAY ENGINEERING Lecturer: Mr. Mustafa Kamal Shamshuddin

SUBGRADE PREPARATION: Volumetric Calculations

METHODS OF MEASURING FIELD DENSITY

(2) BALLOON APPARATUS

The volume of the sample hole is determined by

forcing a liquid-filled balloon into the test hole.
The rubber membrane allows the fluid to fill all the
cavities in the test hole.
The volume of fluid required to do this is read on a
scale on the apparatus.

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 BFC 3042 HIGHWAY ENGINEERING Lecturer: Mr. Mustafa Kamal Shamshuddin

SUBGRADE PREPARATION: Volumetric Calculations

Calculation of Soil and Water required for Embankment construction

Embankment Borrow pit

Length of proposed road = 10 km

Height of road embankment = 2.0 m
Cross-sectional area of embankment = 20 m2
Distance of borrow pit from embankment = 5 km

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BFC 3042 HIGHWAY ENGINEERING Lecturer: Mr. Mustafa Kamal bin Shamshuddin

SUBGRADE PREPARATION: Volumetric Calculations

Results from Laboratory Compaction Test:

Max. dry density = 1.75 Mg/m3
Optimum moisture content = 10%

Borrow material:
Bulk density = 1.65 Mg/m3
Water content = 7%

Bulking factor = 1.25

Specification: Soil is to be compacted to 97% of the maximum dry

density determined in BS 1377 compaction test.

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 BFC 3042 HIGHWAY ENGINEERING Lecturer: Mr. Mustafa Kamal Shamshuddin

SUBGRADE PREPARATION: Volumetric Calculations

Determine,
(a) Volume of borrow material required for 1 cubic meter of compacted road
embankment
(b) Volume of additional water required for the entire volume of
embankment.
(c) The number of truckloads of soil required if hauling capacity per truck is
10 m3.
(d) Cost of construction of embankment given the following costs:
Purchase and borrow pit material at site, haul 2 km round trip, and
spread with bulldozer = RM 50/m3
Extra haul for each km round trip = RM 5/m3
Compaction = RM 5/m3

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 BFC 3042 HIGHWAY ENGINEERING Lecturer: Mr. Mustafa Kamal Shamshuddin

SUBGRADE PREPARATION: Volumetric Calculations

(a)
Dry density of borrow material γdry = γbulk / (1 + w) = 1.65 / (1 + 0.07) = 1.54 Mg/m3

Compaction requirement: 97% of max. dry density:

0.97 x 1.75 Mg/m3 = 1.70 Mg/m3

1 m3 compacted embankment requires 1.70/1.54 = 1.10 m3 of borrow material.

(b)
Total volume of embankment = AL = 20 x 10,000 = 200,000 m3
Additional water required = (OMC – WC) x γdry x V
= (0.10 – 0.07) x 1.70 x 200,000
= 10,200 Mg
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 BFC 3042 HIGHWAY ENGINEERING Lecturer: Mr. Mustafa Kamal Shamshuddin

SUBGRADE PREPARATION: Volumetric Calculations

Assuming unit weight of water is 1 Mg/m3,

Total volume of water required = 10,200 m3

(c)
Soil inside truck is in loose condition, i.e. volume is the volume after excavation
which is subjected to swelling (bulking).
Soil before excavation = 1.10 x 200,000 = 220,000 m3
Soil after excavation = 1.25 x 220,000 = 275,000 m3

Truckloads of soil required = 275,000 m3 / 10 m3 = 27,500 truckloads

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 BFC 3042 HIGHWAY ENGINEERING Lecturer: Mr. Mustafa Kamal Shamshuddin

SUBGRADE PREPARATION: Volumetric Calculations

(d)
Compaction cost = RM 5/m3 x 275,000 m3 = RM 1,375,000

Purchase and borrow pit material at site, haul 2 km round trip and spread
= RM 50/m3 x 275,000 m3 = RM 13,750,000

Extra haul cost = RM 5/m3/km x 275,000 m3 x 3 km = RM 4,125,000

Total cost = RM 1.375 mil + RM 13.75 mil + RM 4.125 mil

= RM 19.25 million

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BFC 3042 HIGHWAY ENGINEERING Lecturer: Mr. Mustafa Kamal Shamshuddin

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