Methods and Techniques Used In Highway Design

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Civil ENGINEERING
By Name
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Task 1
Earthwork
Earthwork refers to the process of removing the soil through the prospect of excavation,
transporting the material and thereby, depositing it away from the site. The process is mainly
carried out during the engineering construction projects. It usually involves various stages as
discussed below
 Excavation of the soil
 Transportation of the excavated soil
 Soil offloading
 Compaction and depositing of the soil
There is different equipment as well as methods applied in the earthworks. The process mainly
depends on the work amount, site conditions as well as resource availability1.
Earthwork Processes Equipment
Preferably, there are different techniques employed in carrying out the earthwork. The earthwork
equipment mainly grouped as per the overall operations they are used for as discussed below
Excavating Equipment
The equipment mainly used in the process of excavating the soil. The equipment comprises of
the Power shovels, Dragline, Backhoe, Bulldozers, Scrapers and Clamshell.
1 Antony Wood, the Tall Buildings Reference Book, Berlin, Routledge, 2018

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Equipment used for transportation
Preferably, they are the techniques employed in the transportation of the excavated materials.
These materials include belt conveyers, tippers, graders as well as dumpers.
Equipment used for compaction
These are the equipment utilized in the processes of compacting overall materials after
deposition. The equipment includes sheep foot roller, smooth wheel roller, pneumatic tired roller
as well as the vibratory roller equipment.
Earthwork Techniques
There are various techniques which are often applied during the makeable earthwork processes.
They entail
 Borrow
 U-cut 2
 Levelling
 Cut to crossfil
Methods to create complex foundation
Different methods are applied in the constructions of deep foundations. There are numerous
types of foundations that can be use depending on different factors like; ground condition, the
nature of the load requiring support, load exerted on the pipes, cost, and the durability of the
materials. Currently there are many types of suitable foundations that are available.
2 John Gardner, Earthwork in Railway Engineering, Read Books, Kiev, 2018

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Method used for pilling work
In the construction and installation of piles various methods can be applied. The materials to be
used in the constructions will be selected depending on the functions of piles, the involved
installations procedures and the available materials. The piling work will be done using a bore
piling machines by drilling a vertical hole into the ground. By using a pile driver, the drilling of
piles can also be achieved. The piling work is highly preferred in the places with poor soil
conditions.3
Work of Drainage
The works related to the drainage entails a number of activities such as
 Controlling of the overall rill erosion via the application of the sheet and runoff
management
 Dividing of the overall sites into various drainage blocks to help in managing the
processes
 Diverting the parametric storm water to control the runoff
 Also reducing the makeable soil erosions and this is carried out by monitoring the flow
velocities of the system
Methods and techniques used in culvert and underpass construction
3 John Macneill, Tables for Calculating the Cubic Quantity of Earth Work in the Cuttings and
Embankments of Canals, Railways, and Turnpike Roads, Chicago, Roake and Varty, 2016