Principles and Practice of Engineering

(the PE) in Civil Engineering

Problem Worksheet

MODULE 1: Construction

Earthworks, Construction, & Layout

These work-along problems have been designed to prepare you for

the 2012 PE Examination in Civil Engineering. The partial solutions
are complemented by video demonstrations that explain each
problem and fill in all of the blanks. The problem answers are
found in the video demonstrations and at the end of these
worksheets.

Updated: 2/19/12
 Module 1: Construction - Earthworks, Construction, & Layout
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1-1

A quarry measuring 275 ft wide, 300 ft long, and 45 feet deep is to be filled with a soil of
dry unit weight 75 lb/ft3. A fleet of 100 trucks cost $94 per round trip. If the truck
capacity is 5 tons, the cost of importing is most nearly:

(A) $26,000
(B) $52,000
(C) $1.3 million
(D) $2.6 million

Solution

Volume of fill =

Weight of fill =

Total Number of round trips =

Total Cost

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 Module 1: Construction - Earthworks, Construction, & Layout
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1-2

A land reclamation project needs 750,000 yd3 of fill to be compacted to 95 % modified

proctor maximum dry density. Fill material has a dry unit weight of 74 lb/ft3 and the
modified proctor maximum dry density is 115 lb/ft3. If trucks can carry 6 tons, the
minimum number of truckloads will be most nearly:

(A) 75,000
(B) 185,000
(C) 225,000
(D) 255,000

Solution

Truck capacity = 6 tons =

Density of fill required =

Weight of soil required

weight of soil required

=
Number of truck loads truck capacity

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 Module 1: Construction - Earthworks, Construction, & Layout
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1-3

A truck is bringing suitable fill material to a construction site. The delivery time details
are shown below.

minutes
loading 10
hauling 15
dumping 5

If the truck can carry 10 yd3, and the return trip is 80% of the haul, the haulage rate of the
truck, in cubic yards per hour, is most nearly:

(A) 1.43
(B) 14.0
(C) 42.0
(D) 857

Solution

Haulage rate is also known as bank measure.

Haulage Rate = Number of trips per hour x truck capacity

trips yd 3 yd 3
= =
hr trip hr

Trip Time
=

=
Trips per hour

Haulage Rate =

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 Module 1: Construction - Earthworks, Construction, & Layout
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1-4

OSHA requires that a stairway, ladder, ramp, or other safe means of egress shall be
located in trench excavations that measured in meters exceed

(A) 1.2
(B) 2.4
(C) 4.0
(D) 5.0

Solution
The US Department of Labor Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA)
regulation 1926 is the Safety and Health Regulation for the Construction Industry. Sub
section .651(c)(2) requires that a stairway, ladder, ramp, or other safe means of egress
shall be located in trench excavations that are 4 feet (1.2192 meters) or more in depth so
as to require no more than 25 feet (7.62 meters) of lateral travel for employees.

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 Module 1: Construction - Earthworks, Construction, & Layout
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1-5
OSHA requires that when a construction worker is exposed to noise for 8 hours per day
or more, personal protective equipment shall be provided and used to reduce the noise to
sound levels to below:

(A) 65 dBA
(B) 90 dBA
(C) 95 dBA
(D) 105 dBA

Solution
The US Department of Labor Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA)
regulation 1910.95(b)(2) is the Safety and Health Regulation for the Construction
Industry regulation addressing Occupational Noise Exposure. When employees are
subjected to sound exceeding those listed in Table G-16, feasible administrative or
engineering controls shall be utilized. If such controls fail to reduce sound levels within
the levels of Table G-16, personal protective equipment shall be provided and used to
reduce sound levels within the levels of the table.

TABLE G-16 - PERMISSIBLE NOISE EXPOSURES (1)

Duration per day, hours | Sound level dBA slow response
8
6 92
4 95
3 97
2 100
1 102
1 105
1/2 110
1/4 or less 115
____________________________|________________________________
Footnote: When the daily noise exposure is composed of two or more periods of noise
exposure of different levels, their combined effect should be considered, rather than the
individual effect of each.
The table shows that a worker exposed to 90 dBA for 8 hours or more, shall be required
to be provided with protective equipment.

Updated 5/5/11
 Module 1: Construction - Earthworks, Construction, & Layout
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1-6
In constructing a new road, the design estimates for the earthwork to be hauled is as
follows:

Station Area (ft2)

520+36 250
521+57 365
522+87 452
523+92 320
524+50 275

The cost for moving the soil is $8 per cubic yard. Using the end area method of
calculation, the cost to move the estimated volume of earth, in dollars, is most nearly:

(A) $36,000
(B) $41,500
(C) $44,000
(D) $68,000

Solution
The end area method incorporates the area in ft2 between two locations and determines
the volume in yd3 to be moved. This assumes that the average represents the section as a
whole and therefore lengths between the end areas should be appropriate.

where:
V is volume in yd3
A1 is end area in ft2
A2 is end area in ft2
L is length between A1 and A2 in feet
is the conversion factor to transform ft2 into yd3
Hint: Check the lengths and do not assume they are all 100 feet although that is the
common stationing for the end area method.

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 Module 1: Construction - Earthworks, Construction, & Layout
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Station Area (ft2) Length (ft) Volume (yd3)

121

130

522+87 452

105 105*(452+320)]/54=1,501 yd3

523+92 320

58 [58*(320+275)]/54=639 yd3

524+50 yd3 275

Total Volume = 1, 378 + _____ + _____ + ________

At $8 per yd 3 , the cost is estimated at

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1-7

In constructing a new road, the design estimates the following areas for earthwork by the
stations provided.

Station Area (ft2)

519+00 0
520+00 120
521+00 224
522+00 325
523+00 450
524+00 362
525+00 0

The cost for extracting the soil is $20 per yd3moving the soil is $5 per yd3. The total cost
to extract and move the estimated volume of earth, in thousands of dollars, is most
nearly:

(A) 126
(B) 130
(C) 137
(D) 145

Solution
The end section areas are zero. Apply the pyramid method for the end segments, because
their area is zero, and apply the end area method for the middle sections. The end area
method incorporates the area between each pair of full stations. This assumes that the
average represents the section as a whole and therefore the lengths between the end areas
should be appropriate. Apply:

where:
is volume in yd3

is end area in ft2

is end area in ft2

is the length between A1 and A2 in feet

is the conversion factor to transform ft2 into yd3

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 Module 1: Construction - Earthworks, Construction, & Layout
Page 10 of 12

Be sure to check the lengths and do not assume they are all 100 feet although that is the
common stationing for doing the end area method.
For the two ends, the pyramid method is applied:

where:
V is volume in yd3
A is the non-zero end area in ft2
L is length between A1 and A2 in feet
___ is the conversion factor to transform ft2 into yd3 and the pyramid constant
Station Area (ft2) Length (ft) Volume (yd3)
519+00
100
520+00
100
521+00 224
100 [100 * (224 + 325) ]/ 54 = 1,017 yd3
522+00 325
100 [100 * (325 + 450) ]/ 54 = 1,435 yd3
523+00 450
100 [100 * (450 + 362) ]/ 54 = 1,504 yd3
524+00 362
100 100 * 362 / 81 = 447 yd3
525+00

Total Volume = + 1,017 + 1,435 + 1,504 + 447 =

At $20 for excavation + $5 for moving per yd3, the cost to move and excavate is
estimated at:

$25 /yd3 x

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 Module 1: Construction - Earthworks, Construction, & Layout
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1-8

A new road is being built. The design estimates the following areas for earthwork with
stations located 100 feet apart.

Station Cut Area (ft2) Fill Area (ft2)

200+00 420 210

201+00 590 120
202+00 620 320
203+00 310 220
204+00 220 120

It is assumed that the fill areas will be supplied by the soil from the cut areas. Based on
the information provided and assuming 10% shrinkage, the estimated material to move
off site, in cubic yards, using the end area method is most nearly:

(A) 3,450
(B) 3,750
(C) 5,350
(D) 6,800

Solution
The end area method incorporates the area in ft2 between to locations and determines the
volume in yd3 to be moved. This assumes that the average represents the section as a
whole and therefore lengths between the end areas should be appropriate.
L(A1 + A2 )
V=
54
where:
V is volume in yd3
A1 is end area in ft2
A2 is end area in ft2
L is length between A1 and A2 in feet
54 is the conversion factor to transform ft2 into yd3
By calculating the volume of cut and fill for each location, the amount of left over is
determined. The one consideration that must be made is the shrinkage of soil when it is
excavated. This means that the volume removed, will not fill the same volume when
returned to a fill area and compacted.
A sample calculation is shown for 200+00 to 201+00
200+00 420 210
201+00 590 120

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 Module 1: Construction - Earthworks, Construction, & Layout
Page 12 of 12

L *( A1 + A2 )
Cut Volume = =
54

Fill Volume =

Station Cut Area (ft2) Fill Area (ft2) Cut Volume (yd3) Fill Volume (yd3)

200+00 420 210

201+00 590 120

202+00 620 320

203+00 310 220

204+00 220 120

Total Cut =

Fill =

Because of the 10% shrinkage, an additional 10% fill volume is required.

Shrinkage Fill * 10% =

Total Fill required = Design Fill + Shrinkage Fill =

Removed from the site is Total Cut Total Fill

Remove

Updated 5/5/11