Highway Construction Part 1: Clearing and Excavation TSYH 4401

Upon successful completion, the student will be able to:

Module 1 - Clearing & Grubbing Specifications

• State the definitions of the terms 'clearing' and 'grubbing' and explain the purpose of performing these operations.
• State and explain the use of specifications as detailed in the typical standard specification.
• State and define the material classification system and designations used in highway construction.
• Explain and describe the purpose of and the items determined in a timber cruise.
• Define the term Right of Way and describe its implications with respect to Clearing and Grubbing and Excavation.

Module 2 - Clearing & Grubbing Methods & Production

• Recognize, select and discuss the equipment used in clearing and grubbing operations.
• Describe the methods used in clearing and grubbing operations.
• Explain the principles and problems in estimating costs for clearing and grubbing operations.
• State the general safeguards to be considered relative to the environment during clearing and grubbing.
• Describe the methods of disposal of slash, roots and other rubbish.
• Prepare an estimate for the cutting and piling of cleared and grubbed materials given the tree survey results and capacities of varying equipment.

Module 3 - Excavation Introduction

• Define what is meant by Excavation.
• Define the soil materials as specified for payment in the Typical General Specifications for Highway Construction.
• Define the soil materials in terms generally used in earthmoving/excavation and road design.
• Discuss the properties of soils and their effects on excavation, and calculate shrinkage and swell given the unit weights of materials.
• Discuss the cut slopes required for different soils.
• Describe methods used to protect and preserve excavated slopes and subgrades.

Module 4 - Soil/Earth Excavation

• Identify and describe the commonly used soil/earth excavation machinery.
• List the factors which influence the selection of equipment for excavation operations.
• Compare the uses of different excavation machinery.
• Describe and explain the term cycle time and the factors affecting it in an excavation operation.
• Calculate the cycle time for excavation operation for various soil types.

Module 5 - Rock Excavation: Ripping

• Identify and describe the common equipment used in rock excavation by ripping and discuss the General Specifications related to rock excavation.
• State and define the general rock classifications and physical characteristics which favor ripping.
• Discuss seismic analysis related to rock ripping and determine the rippability of rock based on seismic wave velocities and ripper performance.
• Discuss the basic operations of ripping, equipment selection, direction of travel, depth and typical ripping techniques.
• Estimate ripper production given the appropriate data.

Effective as of Fall 2003