ECTEN2A

Earthwork Design

Civil Engineering
3 March 2022
1.3 Mass-Haul Diagram

• Most companies use computer programmes to

calculate earthwork quantities.
• But to understand the methodology these programmes
use, it is necessary to gain a basic and working
understanding of calculating earthwork quantities.
• Most of the earthworks quantity calculations
methodologies are based on the so-called “mass-haul
diagram” (MHD) method.
1.3 Mass-Haul Diagram

What is Mass-Haul Diagram?

1.3 Mass-Haul Diagram

• The mass-haul diagram is a graphical tool used by

• planners and designers

• to determine the most economical balance of

excavation and embankment
• through manipulation of the vertical alignment of the roadway

• all within the limitations of the geometric design standards for

the class of road under consideration
1.3 Mass-Haul Diagram

• The ideal situation is one where a balance is achieved

between cut and fill.
• the material from the cuttings is used up entirely in filling up
the embankments

• This unfortunately does not occur often enough in

practice, either
• the local (in-situ) material is of a poor quality and / or

• is insufficient to fulfil the requirements of the work, or

• there may be too much material that must be spoiled.

1.3 Mass-Haul Diagram

• Enables the contractor to have knowledge of the

amount and extent of free haul and overhaul on a
project, so that
• he can submit a bid

• It is common practice to include a mass-haul diagram in the plans for the

project.
1.3 Mass-Haul Diagram

• Terminology used in mass-haul diagrams:

• Profile - The profile is the graphical representation of existing

ground and final proposed elevations along the centre line.

• Cross-section - The cross-section is the end view, at any

station or chainage, perpendicular to the longitudinal section. It
is used for determining the volumes of cut and fill.
1.3 Mass-Haul Diagram

• Terminology used in mass-haul diagrams:

• Bank Measure Volume (B) - is where a bank cubic metre is

one cubic metre of the natural in-situ or undisturbed material
that is to be excavated.

• Loose Measure Volume (L) - is the volume of transported

material, which has been disturbed (e.g. excavated) and has
swelled due to the action of excavation and loading.

• Compacted Measure Volume (C) - is the volume of the

material measured in its compacted state. -Compaction always
causes a reduction in volume.
1.3 Mass-Haul Diagram

• Terminology used in mass-haul diagrams:

• Shrinkage - is the term used to describe reduction of the

volume of a material that has been excavated and then used
as fill in an embankment. Shrinkage is the % additional volume
added to the embankment quantity.

• This shrinkage factor must be determined for the material

concerned and included in the calculations of the earthworks
cost estimate and claims for payment.

• Only applicable to soil material.

1.3 Mass-Haul Diagram

• Terminology used in mass-haul diagrams:

• Bulk/swell - This is the converse of shrinkage; the swell factor

is the ratio of embankment volume to excavation volume.

• It is usually only applicable to rock where the rock in-situ

volume prior to excavation is less than the final compacted
embankment unit value.

• This factor should also be included in costing calculations.

1.3 Mass-Haul Diagram

Soil Conversion Factors

• A typical relation between bank, loose and compacted
volumes is as follows:
1.3 Mass-Haul Diagram

Soil Conversion Factors

1.3 Mass-Haul Diagram

Soil Conversion Factors

• A typical relation between bank, loose and compacted
volumes is as follows:
1.3 Mass-Haul Diagram

Terminology used in mass-haul diagrams:

Haul - is the distance over which the material is moved
and also the volume-distance of material used.
• For volume-distance, haul is measured in station m³ which
implies the product of the distance and the volume

• A station is usually 20 m but any convenient distance may be

used. Sometimes m.m³ is used instead, but, the values remain
the same.
1.3 Mass-Haul Diagram

Terminology used in mass-haul diagrams:

Free haul Distance - is the distance, specified in the
contract documents, over which the contractor is paid a
specified price per m³ for excavating, hauling and
dumping material, irrespective of the distance involved.
• For small works, free haul is about 150 m and for large
contracts the distance my exceed 500 m.
1.3 Mass-Haul Diagram

Terminology used in mass-haul diagrams:

Over haul Distance - Distance beyond free-Haul for
which extra charges are required for each (m3. sta.)
overhaul
• the contractor is paid at an additional rate for overhaul.

• The unit overhaul price is based on the cost per m.m³

• overhaul is the free haul rate plus the extra m.m³ rate. It
is also listed as a separate item in the bill of quantities.
1.3 Mass-Haul Diagram

Terminology used in mass-haul diagrams:

Limit of economic haul Distance (LEHD) - Economic haul
is when the cost of excavating from cut and hauling to fill
is equal to the cost of borrowing and spoiling.
• When the haul distances are large, it is very often more
economical to dump excavated material to waste and
borrow more convenient materials closer to the fill than
to pay for expensive overhauling.
1.3 Mass-Haul Diagram

Mass-haul Diagram
• Enables the contractor to have knowledge of the
amount and extent of free haul and overhaul on a
project, so that
• he can submit a bid,

• it is common practice to include a mass-haul diagram in

the plans for the project.
1.3 Mass-Haul Diagram

Mass-haul Diagram
• This diagram represents graphically the amount of
earthworks involved in the roadwork and
• the manner in which they may be most economically
handled.
• It shows accumulated volume at any point along the
proposed centre line and
• the economical directions of haul and the positioning of
borrow pits and spoil heaps can be estimated.
 1.3 Mass-Haul Diagram
Profi l e
(Longi tudi nal Secti on)
Ori gi nal Ground Level

El evati on Proposed Road

(i n metres
above datum)

Distance (i n metres or Chai nages)

Mass-haul Diagram

Bal ance Li ne
Max haul di stance
Free haul di stance
+ ve
A
x
E F
C x
Vol ume D
(i n m³) Basel i ne

B
-ve

Directi on of haul : Spoi l :

Total Vol ume Excavated = A+B+C

Free-haul Vol ume = B+D
Maxi mum or average haul di stance = EF
Spoi l ed Vol ume (i n thi s exampl e)
= C
1.3 Mass-Haul Diagram

Characteristics of Mass-haul Curve

• The MHD is not a profile. There is no physical
resemblance to the actual ground contours.
• When the MHD has a downward slope, a filling
operation is taking place.
• When the MHD has an upward slope, a cutting
operation is taking place.
1.3 Mass-Haul Diagram

Characteristics of Mass-haul Curve

• The maximum ordinate (+) indicates a change from cut
to fill as one proceeds along the centreline from an
arbitrarily assumed origin.
• The minimum (-) ordinate represents a change from fill
to cut.
• These maximum and minimum points may not
necessarily coincide with the apparent points of
transition as indicated by the profile section; this
depends on whether or not there are side hill transitions
at these points.
1.3 Mass-Haul Diagram

Characteristics of Mass-haul Curve

• When the MHD crosses the datum line, there has been
exactly as much cut material generated as fill material
required between the two stations.
• The vertical distance between two points on the MHD
indicates the quantity of excess cut material or fill
material between the two stations considered.
• The final position of the MHD above or below the
datum line indicates whether the job was predominantly
cut or fill.
1.3 Mass-Haul Diagram

Characteristics of Mass-haul Curve

• The ordinate at any station along the curve represents
the earthwork accumulation to that point.
• A steeply rising or falling curve indicates heavy cuts or
fills. Flat curves show that the earthwork quantities are
small.
• The shapes of the loops indicate the direction of haul. A
convex loop shows that the haul from cut to fill is to be
from left to right, while a concave loop indicates that the
haul is from the right to left.
1.3 Mass-Haul Diagram

Characteristics of Mass-haul Curve

• Since the ordinates or a curve are plotted from cut
volumes and adjusted fill volumes, then any line
parallel to the base line which cuts off a loop intersects
the curve at two points between which the amount of
cut is equal to the fill. Such a line is called a ‘balancing
line’ and the intersection points are called ‘balancing
points’.
• The area between a balance line and the mass-haul
curve is a measure of the haul (in m.m³) between
balance points.
1.3 Mass-Haul Diagram

Characteristics of Mass-haul Curve

• The limit of economic haul may be expressed as:
LEHD = (CB /COH x station) + FHD

• Where L = Limit of economic haul in stations (or

chainages)
CB = Cost of borrow per m³
COH = Cost of overhaul per m³
FHD = Free haul in stations (or chainages).
1.3 Mass-Haul Diagram

Uses of Mass-haul Diagram

• In design where the most economical location of the
formation level can be obtained from considerations of
earth movement costs.
• In costing once the formation level has been fixed, the
cost of earthworks can be arrived at.
• In construction to size plant and select sites for spoil
heaps and borrow pits.
1.3 Mass-Haul Diagram

Limitations of Mass-haul Diagram

• The MHD is a valuable guide, however, any attempt to
get exact quantities and distances may be misleading.
Some of its limitations are:
• The MHD is limited to linear-type construction. If the
project becomes relatively wide with respect to its
length, movement of earth may be transverse as well
as longitudinal, which could not be indicated on the
MHD.
1.3 Mass-Haul Diagram

Limitations of Mass-haul Diagram

• MHD is capable of analysing only the potential of
balancing within any one phase of the project. It cannot
deal with two or more adjacent projects simultaneously.
• The MHD assumes that all material excavated is
acceptable for embankment (fill).
• The MHD is applicable to projects on which the
balancing of earthworks is desirable. This is normally
the case because balancing eliminates double
handling.
1.3 Mass-Haul Diagram

Limitations of Mass-haul Diagram

• MHD is capable of analysing only the potential of
balancing within any one phase of the project. It cannot
deal with two or more adjacent projects simultaneously.
• The MHD assumes that all material excavated is
acceptable for embankment (fill).
• The MHD is applicable to projects on which the
balancing of earthworks is desirable. This is normally
the case because balancing eliminates double
handling.
1.3 Mass-Haul Diagram

• Most companies use computer programmes to

calculate earthwork quantities.
• But to understand the methodology these programmes
use, it is necessary to gain a basic and working
understanding of calculating earthwork quantities.
• Most of the earthworks quantity calculations
methodologies are based on the so-called “mass-haul
diagram” (MHD) method.

AB Limit of economic haul distance

1.3 Mass-Haul Diagram
1.3 Mass-Haul Diagram

• Most companies use computer programmes to

calculate earthwork quantities.
• But to understand the methodology these programmes
use, it is necessary to gain a basic and working
understanding of calculating earthwork quantities.
• Most of the earthworks quantity calculations
methodologies are based on the so-called “mass-haul
diagram” (MHD) method.
1.3 Mass-Haul Diagram
Determining the Earthwork Volumes
1.3 Mass-Haul Diagram
Determining the Earthwork Volumes
• Earthwork volumes are normally calculated by the
average end area method.
• Average end area method

• where A1 and A2 are the end areas and L is the

distance between them. This method is entirely
accurate only if the two end areas are equal. If one
end area is zero, the earthwork volume is a pyramid.
1.3 Mass-Haul Diagram
Determining the Earthwork Volumes
• Pyramid Formula

• Thus, as the area of one end of the earthwork

volume approaches zero, the error in the volume
calculated by the average end area method
approaches 50 percent.
1.3 Mass-Haul Diagram
Determining the Earthwork Volumes
1.3 Mass-Haul Diagram

Determining the Earthwork Volumes.

• Example:- Given the end areas below, calculate the
volumes of cut and fill between stations 351+00 and
352+50. If the cut material shrinks 12 percent, how
much excess cut or fill is there?
1.3 Mass-Haul Diagram

Determining the Earthwork Volumes.

• Solution
1.3 Mass-Haul Diagram

Determining the Earthwork Volumes.

• Solution
Exercise 1
As a Quantity surveyor in a construction company, you
are preparing earthwork quantities for a road tender.
Make use of the following end areas for cut & fill to
complete the earthwork calculation of a cut material with
10% shrinkage after compaction. Station
Area (m ) 2

Cut Fill
Given that: 0
1
16
12
-
-
2 - -15
• Cost of overhaul = R30 /m3.station. 3 - -17
4 - -18
• Cost of borrow = R120 /m3. 5 - -16
6 - -10

• Cost of freehaul = R70 /m3. 7 14 -

8 16 -
9 14 -
• Cost of waste = R50 /m3.
10 12 -
11 10 -
• Freehaul Distance (F.H.D.) = 200 m = 2 stations.
Exercise 1
a) Complete the earthworks calculations in Appendix A. (20)

b) Draw the M.H.D. on the provided graph sheet (7)

• Determine the following:

c) Limit of economical haul distance (2)

d) Free-Haul volume. (2)

e) Over-Haul volume. (2)

f) Waste volume. (3)

g) Borrow volume. (1)

h) Total cost of the earthworks (4)

Exercise 1
Appendix A
Corrected Corrected Accumulated
Area (m2) Volume (m³)
Station Cut Volume Volume
Cut Fill Cut Fill

0 16 -
100 12 -
200 - -15
300 - -17
400 - -18
500 - -16
600 - -10
700 14 -
800 16 -
900 14 -
1000 12 -
1100 10 -
Exercise 1
Appendix A
Corrected Corrected Cum
Area (m2) Volume (m³)
Station Cut Volume Volume
Cut Fill Cut Fill

0 16 - 0 0 0
100 12 - 1400 1260 1260 1260
200 - -15 400 -500 360 -140 1120
300 - -17 -1600 0 -1600 -480
400 - -18 -1750 0 -1750 -2230
500 - -16 -1700 0 -1700 -3930
600 - -10 -1300 0 -1300 -5230
-
700 14 -
466,667 333,333 420 86,67 -5143,33
800 16 - 1500 1350 1350 -3793,33
900 14 - 1500 1350 1350 -2443,33
1000 12 - 1300 1170 1170 -1273,33
1100 10 - 1100 990 990 -283,33
 Mass Haul Diagram
Exercise 1 1300
0 100 200 300 400
STATIONS (M)
500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100

1100 1260
900 1120
700

Masshaul 500
300
100
DATUM LINE
-100
-300 0
-500 -283.33
-700 -480
-900
-1100
-1300
-1500 -1273.33

ACC VOLUME (M3)

-1700
-1900
-2100
-2300
-2500 -2230
-2700 -2443.33
-2900
-3100
-3300
-3500
-3700
-3900
-4100 -3793.33
-3930
-4300
-4500
-4700
-4900
-5100
-5300 -5143.33
-5230
Exercise 1
Balance Lines
Case 1
Balance 1
Case 2
Balance Line
Case 3