Mass Diagram.

PRESENTED BY: MANAF BUSTANJI.

SUPERVISED BY: PROF HANA NAGHAWI.
Basic Definitions:

 Mass Diagram- A graphical representation of the

cumulative amount of earthwork moved along the
centerline and distances over which the earth and
materials are to be transported, ​At the beginning
of the curve, the ordinate is zero, and ordinates
are calculated continuously from the initial station
to the end of the project.
 The Mass Diagram: The mass-
Haul diagram is a graphical
representation of the amount
of earthworks involved in a
highway. It shows accumulated
volume at any point along the
center line.
 What does a Mass Diagram tell us?

Mass diagrams determine the

average haul, free haul, and
overhaul on a given segment of
roadway.
Mass diagrams tell the
contractors and inspectors the
quantity of material moved and
how far it can be economically
moved.
The mass haul diagram can be used to determine:
 Proper distribution of excavated material
 Amount and location of waste
 Amount and location of borrow
 Amount of overhaul in kilometer-cubic meters
 The Direction of haul.
 sample mass diagram

From STA 0+00 to STA 1+00: This is all

cut which is why the Mass diagram
continues to increase.  
From STA 1+00 to STA 2+10: This is all
fill, so therefore the mass diagram begins
decreasing in value.
 From STA 2+10 to STA 2+50: This is cut
again until the end of the project. It just so
happens that the cut and fill are the same
in this example.
INTRODUCTION
 The mass haul is defined as the volume of the material multiplied by
the distance it is moved during construction.
 A Mass-Haul Diagram consists of two objects:
 a mass haul line and a mass haul view. The mass haul lines represent
the free haul and overhaul volumes in cut and fill conditions along an
alignment. On the other hand, the mass haul view is the grid on which
the mass haul line is drawn. The middle axis of the mass haul view is
known as the balance line.
 The location of the mass haul line relative to the balance line
indicates material movement in the current design. When the mass
haul line rises above the balance line, it indicates a region in which
material is cut. When the mass haul line falls below the balance line,
it indicates a region in which material is filled.
methods to compare free haul volume and
overhaul volume:
 There are two methods to compare free haul volume and overhaul volume:
 A. Grade Points Method :
 Grade points are stations at which the proposed project design transitions
from cut to fill occur. In a mass haul diagram, a grade point is the highest or
lowest point in a mass haul region. Thus, a grade point is the highest point in a
mass haul region where the profile transitions from a cut condition to a fill
condition takes place. It may also be the lowest point in a mass haul region
where the profile transitions from a fill condition to a cut condition.
 In the grade points method of measuring free haul, a horizontal line that is
the length of the specified free haul distance is drawn. The line is positioned
so that it is both parallel to the balance line and touches the mass haul line.
The volume that is enclosed in the area formed by this line and the mass haul
line is free haul.
 B. Balance Points Method :
Balance points are the stations at which the net cut and fill volumes are
equal. In a mass haul diagram, the balance points are located on the
balance line, where the net volume is zero. In the balance points method
of measuring free haul, the mass haul line is duplicated and shifted
horizontally to the right (where the project transitions from cut to fill)
or to the left (where the project transitions from fill to cut) by the free
haul distance.
 Fig. 1: Grade Points Method:
In the above image, the green
areas are free haul volume, and
the red areas are overhaul
volume. The magenta circles and
arrows indicate the grade
points on the mass haul line and
profile. The vertical magenta
lines illustrate the relationship
between the mass haul line and
profile in the grade point
balancing method.
 Fig. 2: Balance Points
Method: In the above image,
the green areas are free
haul volume, and the red
areas are overhaul. The
arrows illustrate the free
haul distance in cut and fill
conditions.
Definitions:
 Some of the important associated terms are hereby discussed as follow:
 Haul Distance (d) is the distance from the working face of excavation to that where
the material is deposited.
 Average Haul Distance (D) is the distance between the center of gravity of cutting
to that of filling, where the material is deposited.
 Haul is the sum of the products of each load by its haul distance = Σ v. d = V. D,
where V is the total volume of excavation.
 Free Haul is the distance up to which no extra charge is required to be paid.
 Overhaul is the distance for which extra charge of haulage is to be paid.
For example, the contractor may offer to haul material up to 150 m at Rs. 5 per
m3 but thereafter charge at the rate of Rs. 0.50 per m3 per 100 m. The
distance of 150 m is the Free Haul distance and is based on the economical
hauling distance of the earth moving plant used by the contractor. It may range
from 100 m for a bulldozer to 3000 m for self-propelled scrapers. The haul
beyond the Free Haul distance is termed as Overhaul.
Definitions:
 Waste is the material excavated from cuts but not used for embankments.
 Borrow is the material needed for the formation of embankments, obtained not
from excavation of construction works but from the borrow-pits.
 Limit of Economical Haul is the maximum overhaul distance plus the free haul
distance. When this limit is reached it is more economical to waste and borrow
material.
 To illustrate, supposing the free haul distance = 300 m, the overhaul is charged
at the rate of Rs. 0.50 per m3 per 100 m and the borrowed material at the rate
of Rs. 2 per m3. It is evident that, to overhaul 1 m3 over 400 m, it will cost Rs.
2 m3. Therefore, the limit for economical haul = 300 m (free haul) + 400 m
(overhaul) = 700 m
 Bulking and Shrinkage: Excavated material is loose and occupies 20% more
volume than measured in situ. However, when used and compacted in
embankment, it shrinks and occupies less volume than when originally in situ. On
the other hand, excavated rock bulks by 30 to 40%. To allow for this change in
volume a correction factor is generally applied to the cut and fills volumes.
 Mass-Haul Diagrams are plots of the cumulative volumes of cut
and fill along an alignment. Typically, the Mass Diagram is
plotted below a profile of the route, with the ordinate at any
station representing the sum of the volumes of cut and fill up to
that station. It is thus a diagram, usually regular, whose
abscissa represent distances and ordinates the volume of
Earthwork.
 The sign convention used for cuts is positive (+ve) and that for
fills is negative (-ve). Thus, the total positive volumes are
plotted above the distance base and the negative volumes below
it. The ends of the ordinates are joined by a smooth curve. The
resulting Mass Curve, therefore, consists of positive and
negative peaks. Since the slope of the Mass Curve for
Earthwork can be positive as well as negative, hence the concept
can be used to gain economic advantages in Earthworks.
By the combined use of the Mass-Haul Diagrams
plotted directly below the longitudinal sections of the
proposed center line it is possible to find:
 The distances over which cut, and fill will balance.
 Quantities of materials to be moved and the
preferable direction of the movement.
 Areas where the earth may have to be taken from
borrow-pits or waste material and the corresponding
amounts involved.
 The best policy to adopt to obtain the most
economical use of the earth moving plant.
 Construction of Mass-Haul Diagram
 Workout accumulated volume as the algebraic sum of the volume of earthwork at
each station/ chainage.
 Draw a baseline and mark the stations/ chainage points with a suitable scale.
 From every station/ chainage point, draw a vertical line and mark it on a suitable
scale for the volume of Earthwork.
 On the ordinates of each station/ chainage point, mark the respective scaled
cumulative heights. Thus, the height of an ordinate at any point on the baseline
represents the algebraic sum of the volume of Earthwork up to that station/
chainage point.
 Join all the points by a smooth curve and the curve thus obtained represents the
Mass-Haul Diagram for the corresponding longitudinal profile of the land obtained
before.
 From the Mass Curve, workout quantities of Earthwork such as the earth to be
taken away from the site or earth to be brought at the site.
 Shift the baseline above/ below to obtain the most economical condition of cut and
fill.
Characteristics of Mass-Haul Diagram:
 The upward slope of the curve indicates cuts/ excavations.
 Downward slope of the curve indicates a fill.
 The peak occurring at the end of excavation is known as the maxima
point.
 The peak occurring at the end of an embankment is known as the minima
point.
 The vertical distance between a maxima point, and the nest minima point
represents the total volume of cutting.
 The vertical distance between two points, on the curve, which has no
maxima or minima points between them represents the volume of
Earthwork between their chainages.
Characteristics of Mass-Haul Diagram:
 he algebraic difference between the ordinates at adjacent maxima
and minima points represents the haulage between the two points.
 A horizontal (base) line drawn to intercept the Mass Diagram cuts it
in two points, between which the cut exactly balances the fill.
 The length of the baseline intercepted by a loop of the Mass Diagram
represents the maximum haul distance in that section.
 The area is bounded by a loop of the mass diagram and the baseline
measures the haul in that section.
 The haul is minimum when the baseline is so selected that the sum of
all the areas cut off by it, without regard to sign, is a minimum.
Uses of Mass-Haul Diagram

 In using a mass diagram, the selection of the baseline plays an important

role in the economy of the project. Different base lines are assumed,
each of which provides possible methods of distributing the excavated
material. The one which gives the most economical scheme is selected and
the overhaul and haulage are computed.
 Mass diagrams find its applications in the following activities:
 Transportation
 Design
 Financing
 Construction
 Planning Ahead
Transportation :

 The simplest application of the Mass-Haul Diagram is to calculate the

average Transportation distance.
For example, if the area under the loop of the Mass Curve is 20,00,000 m4,
and the volume of earth transported is 8000 m3, then the average distance
of each truck load is
20,00,000/ 8000=250m
If the truck carrying capacity is 5 m3, then the number of trucks journeys
required is
8000/5=1600
 If only one truck is used, it would have to travel = 1600 x 250 = 400 km
each way. Such calculations will help the Site Engineer-In-Charge to take
the decision on the type and the number of trucks (or any other suitable
vehicle) to be used.
 Design
There is a close link between the Mass-Haul Diagram and the formation
level of the ground. If several formation levels are tried and a Mass-Haul
Diagram constructed for each, that formation, which gives the most
economical result and maintains any stipulated standards, for example,
gradient restrictions n vertical design curve, can be used.
 Financing
Once the formation level has been designed, the Mass-Haul Diagram can
be used to indicate the most economical method of moving the earth
round the project and a good estimate of the overall cost of the earth
moving can be calculated.
 Construction
The required volumes of material are known before construction begins,
enabling suitable plant and machinery to be chosen, sites for spoil heaps
and borrow-pits to be located and the directions of the haul to be
established.
 Planning Ahead
The Mass-Haul Diagram can be used to indicate the effect of some other
engineering works, for example, tunnels and bridges, within the overall
project will have on the earth moving. Such construction works upset the
pattern of the Mass-Haul Diagram by restricting the directions of the
haul but, since the volumes and hence the quantities of any waste and
borrow will be known beforehand, hence suitable areas for spoil heaps
and borrow-pits can be located in advance of construction work, enabling
the work to proceed smoothly without any overlapping action
Common Mistakes in Mass-Haul Diagram Some of the typical
mistakes often encountered in a Mass Diagram are noted below:

 Errors in arithmetic and approximations were assumed.

 Using the prismoidal formula when end area volumes are
sufficiently accurate.
 Mixing cut and fill quantities
 Failing to consider transition sections when passing
from cut to fill, or from fill to cut.
Table 1: Typical Calculation for the preparation of Mass-Haul
Diagram using the predetermined data of the existing Ground
Level and assumed Formation Level :
DISTANCE VOLUME (𝐦𝟑 ) CUMULATIVE
(m) VOLUME (𝐦𝟑)
CUT ( + ) FILL ( - )

0 - - 0
4.572 - -1.981 -1.981
9.144 0.719 - -1.262
13.716 1.212 - -0.05
18.288 0.7 - 0.65
22.86 0.883 - 1.533
27.432 - -1.311 0.222
32.004 - -2.379 -2.157
36.576 - -5.074 -7.231
 Fig. 3: Mass-Haul
Diagram drawn to its
corresponding
Longitudinal Profile
of the existing
Ground and an
arbitrarily assumed
Formation Level
Mass Haul Diagram Using Computer Software :

 Apart from the conventional methods of drawing a Mass-

Haul Diagram by plotting graphs, several other computer
software such as MS Excel, Autodesk CIVIL 3D has also
their implications in the plotting of Mass Curves using
several special in-built functions and commands. They are
discussed and illustrated as follows:
 Using MS Excel
Mass-Haul Diagrams can easily be drawn in MS Excel by simply plotting
the points (Chainage points on X-axis and Cumulative Volume on Y-axis)
using the in-built Charts and Graphs available in it.
 Using Autodesk CIVIL 3D
Mass-Haul Diagrams can easily be drawn in CIVIL 3D software, created
by Autodesk by simply making use of the in-built functions available in it.
It can also be successfully implemented in balancing the Mass Haul
Volumes by shifting the base line above/ below to determine the most
economically feasible one.
 Fig. 4: Mass-Haul Diagram
showing the general features
of a Mass Curve. The portions
of Cut, Fill, Waste, and
Borrow have been indicated.
Note that Cut and Waste are
positive (+ve). On the other
hand, Fill and Borrow are
negative (-ve) for all
computations.
 Fig. 5: Mass-Haul
Diagram by the manual
plotting of graphs,
which yields less
accuracy in results due
to the common errors/
mistakes as discussed.
 Fig. 6: Mass-Haul Diagram
by the plotting of graphs in
MS Excel, which yields
better accuracy in results
due to the less probability
of common errors/
mistakes as discussed.
 Fig. 7: Mass-Haul
Diagram plotted in
Autodesk CIVIL 3D
software which has
nearly 0.001% error in
plotting.
 Fig. 8: Balancing of
Mass Haul Volumes
above and below the
base line, which will help
to eliminate overhaul, if
any, for cost economy
using Autodesk CIVIL
3D SOFTWARE.
 Fig. 9: Balancing the
mass haul volumes in the
third region by adding a
dump site at station
11+50 in Autodesk CIVIL
3D
 Calculation MHD:
  After the Mass-Haul Diagram has been plotted, an estimate of the total cost of
the Earthwork is made as per the following equations:
 Haul =𝐇𝐚𝐮𝐥 𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐞 𝐱 𝐀𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐮𝐥 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞
100
 Free Haul =𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐮𝐥 𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐞 𝐱 𝐀𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐮𝐥 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞
100
 Overhaul =𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐡𝐚𝐮𝐥 𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐞 𝐱 (𝐀𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐡𝐚𝐮𝐥 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞−𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐇𝐚𝐮𝐥 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞)
100
Table 2: Calculation of Total Cost of Earthwork

Total Cost of Earthwork

Free Haul prices in Free Haul Free Haul volume x Free Haul distance x
distance Free Haul prices

Overhaul prices in Free Haul Overhaul volume x Free Haul distance x

distance Free Haul prices

Overhaul prices in Overhaul distance Overhaul volume x (Average Overhaul

distance – Free Haul distance) x Overhaul
prices

Borrow prices Borrow volume x Borrow prices

Waste Prices Waste volume x Waste prices

 Total Cost of Earthwork = Free Haul prices in Free Haul distance +
Overhaul prices in Free Haul distance + Overhaul prices in Overhaul
distance + Borrow prices + Waste prices
 CONCLUSION :
Thus, the Earthwork computations are completed considering the cost
economy of the project and ultimately the most viable alternative is chosen
among all the others for executing the process of Earthwork operations,
namely, cutting, loading, hauling, and filling in the field so as to minimize the
cost, effort, time, and other complications as much as possible. Therefore
Mass-Haul Diagram or Mass Diagram or Mass Curve proves to be a very
powerful tool as far as the economic viability of a project is concerned. Hence
its proper implications will surely increase the efficiency of the execution of
the works related to Earthworks in any project.
Problem on mass haul diagram :
The volumes of cut and fill along a length of a proposed road are
as follows:

 Draw a mass haul diagram excluding the surplus excavated material along this
length.
 Determine the free haul and overhaul if the free haul distance is 300m.
 Calculate the cost of earth moving if the charge for excavating, cart and fill of
the free haul distance is $ 1.20 per m3 and that for excavating, cart and fill of
the overhaul is $ 1.70 per m3.
Chainage Cut +ve (m^3) Fill –ve (m^3)
0 - -
100 290 -
200 760 -
300 1680 -
400 620 -
480 120 -
500 - 20
600 - 110
700 - 350
800 - 600
900 - 780
1000 - 690
1100 - 400
Chainage Cut +ve (m^3) Fill –ve (m^3) Aggregate volume (m3)

0 - -
100 290 - +290

200 760 - +1050

300 1680 - +2730

400 620 - +3350

480 120 - +3470

500 - 20 +3450

600 - 110 +3340

700 - 350 +2992

800 - 600 +2390

900 - 780 +1610

1000 - 690 +920

1100 - 400 +520

 A: Graphical method
 As the surplus is to be
neglected, the balancing line
is drawn from the end of the
mass haul curve parallel to
base line. The new balancing
line is drawn at 400m3 i.e.,
ab.
 The free haul distance, 300m,
is drawn as cd.
 A line is drawn from c and d to cut the balancing line ab at c1 and d1
 cc1 is bisected to give cc2 and a line parallel to the baseline drawn through c2 to
intersect the curve at e and f. Points e and f represent the centroids of cut mass
acc1 and fill mass dbd1.
 The average haul distance from acc1 in excavation to bdd1 which will make the fill
is (f-e)
 The overhaul distance= average haul distance- free haul distance = (f-e)-(d-c)
 From the scale of the graph, the overhaul distance = 640-300=340m
 Free haul =free haul volume*free haul distance = (3470-3150)*(300) =96000m3
 Overhaul =overhaul volume*overhaul distance= (3150-400)*(340) = 935000m3
 (Also 935000/100 = 9350 station meters)
 Cost of free haul =1.20*96000= $ 115,200
 Cost of overhaul = 1.70*935000=$ 1,589,500
 Total cost = $ 1,704,700
In summary,
with MHD it is possible to;
 Find the distance over which cut, and fill will balance.
 Find quantities of earthworks to be moved and the direction in which
such quantities are to be moved.
 Find the locations/areas where it’s appropriate to borrow or waste and
the amount of earth involved in this process.
 Find the best policy that will achieve the most economical way of
undertaking the construction.
References :

 Kanetkar, T. P. & Kulkarni, S. V., “Surveying & Levelling: Part 1”, Twenty
Fourth Revised Edition, August 2015, Pune Vidyarthi Griha Prakashan,
pp. 468-519
 Duggal, S. K., “Surveying: Volume 1”, Forth Edition, 2013, McGraw Hill
Education (India) Private Limited, pp. 558-561

 “Balancing Mass Haul Volumes”, Exercise 2 in CIVIL 3D, Autodesk

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