CVEN 2401

Workshop Week 11
Road Design Cross-Sections and
Earthworks
 Earthworks
We use the trapezoidal rule.
 Earthworks

Average (Mean) End Area Method

Upon satisfactorily completing the horizontal and vertical alignment of
a road design and drawn cross-sections along the entire length of the
route centreline, it is imperative to estimate the volume of material
that will be excavated and filled for the road.
Average End Area Method is one possible method.
Trapezoidal volumes (1 > 0, 2 > 0)
+
=

Pyramidal volumes (either 1 = 0 or 2 = 0)

+
=

 Earthworks
Average (Mean) End Area Method
Designers should be aware of the intrinsic limits of accuracy due to
variations of the terrain between surveyed cross-sections, and
variations from a truly prismoidal shape. The calculated volume may
vary from the actual area volume by 5% to 10% from these factors
alone. (Section 8.7.2, AGRD3)
In order to determine the net borrow (if Fill > Cut) or spoil (if Cut
> Fill), it is important to consider the compaction of the natural
material.
Different materials have different levels of compaction, with ordinary earth
having a 15% reduction in volume. Therefore to calculate the Net Material
(Borrow/Spoil), the following equation should be used;
=
The term used to described the Total Cut Compaction is Yield
resulting in the following expression
=
 Earthworks - Interpolation

1m
Cut = 24m2
C.S. 200

2m
Fill = 26m2
C.S. 100

100
=
2 3
2m = 66.667
Fill

Chainage = 100 Chainage = 200 DISTANCE

CHAINAGE
Fill (m) Cut (m)
Cut
x 1m 100
66.7 33.3
100 200
 Earthworks - Interpolation

0.8m

Fill = 18m2
Cut = 3m2
C.S. 200

2.0m Fill = 45m2

C.S. 100
100
=
2 2.8

= 71.429m

2m 100 = 28.571m
Fill

Chainage = 100 Chainage = 200 DISTANCE

CHAINAGE
Fill (m) Cut (m)
Cut
x 0.8m 100
100 28.6
100 200
Task 1 2.0m Fill = 45m2

C.S. 280
0.8m

Fill = 18m2
Cut = 3m2
C.S. 240
1.4m
Fill = 6m2
Cut = 10m2
C.S. 220

2.5m 2.6m
Fill = 38m2
C.S. 180

1.4m Cut = 30m2

C.S. 160

1.2m
Cut = 24m2
C.S. 120

1.8m
Fill = 26m2
C.S. 100
 Task 2

Ensure that you have developed a trial horizontal

alignment and trial grade-line (vertical alignment that
your group is satisfied with.
Now, referring to the fourth Infraworks360 guide
I360_5 Cross-Section and Earthworks on
Infraworks360 estimate the earthworks necessary for
the designed road and extract information necessary to
develop cross-section diagrams.
 Task 3

Continue to work on your assignments with your group members.

At this point in time you should have completed within
Infraworks360:
A trial horizontal alignment.
A trial grade-line set (vertical alignment prepared)
An estimate of the earth-works necessary for the design.
You and your group may iterate the horizontal and vertical
alignment to ensure that the design satisfies the guidelines and to
achieve a more economical design (balance earthworks
requirements).
Once the group is comfortable with the design, finalise the design
and complete the report and technical drawings. It is
recommended that you finalise you design by the end of Week 11
to have enough time to prepare your deliverables in the
assignment.
 Technical Drawings

Road Profile and

Natural Terrain
 Technical Drawings

Horizontal Alignment Curvature Diagram

 Technical Drawings
Tangent Runout = TS Superelevation Runoff = SC

O.E.

=



2


C.L. 2

I.E.

% % 0%

O.E. I.E.
Normal Crown O.E. Crown removed Crown Rate Full Superelevation

Superelevation Development Diagram