Earthworks Construction

Earthworks construction operation connected with clearing and grubbing, excavation, slope cutting, embankment filling, compaction of subgrade, benching and slope protection in preparing foundations of buildings, in constructing canals, railroads, etc. Clearing is defined as removal of trees, bushes and any materials on the ground surface. Grubbing is defined as removal of stumps and roots. Clearing, grubbing and stripping topsoil shall be carried out in all areas.
In Civil Engineering, earthworks construction is the critical activity especially when involves on ground works. A few factors that may contribute to the delay of earthworks i.e weather, land acquisition, changes of design, relocation of utility and services, treatment of existing ground and late starting of the works. But, weather is the most factor that may effect to the earthworks working hours especially at country with high volume rainfalls. Treatment of existing ground can be defined as removal of unsuitable materials and replace with imported granular fill/suitable earth and compacted to the required density/compaction. The replacement materials shall have California Bearing Ratio (CBR) value not less than 5%. Unsuitable materials can be defined as running silt, peat, logs, stump, perishable or toxic material, soft soil, slurry or mud or any materials consisting of highly organic clay and silt, containing large amount of root, grass and the vegetable matter. Soft soil is defined as material with low shear strength where the mackintosh probe (MP) ≤ 30blow/30cm.
Prior to carry out physical works, planning and calculating of mass haul diagram shall be considered especially for massive excavation works. It is important to ensure that the cut and fill volume quantity is balance. During construction, survey team shall be stationed at site to monitor and to ensure the preparation of platform level is follow as specified in approved construction drawing.
The common machineries involved in earthworks are excavators, shovel, loaders, backhoe, bulldozers, backpushers, dump trucks, motor graders, roller compactors and water bowser.