Bank measure, loose volume & what this tool covers
Field teams juggle bank (in-situ), loose haul/spoil, and sometimes compacted fill volumes. This page only computes bank volume Vₙ for the prism you enter, then loose volume Vₗ = Vₙ × k. Define k consistently with your contract, geotech memo, or internal earthworks table—literature uses several names (bulking factor, swell factor, etc.); do not mix conventions. The model excludes batter slopes, working width, dewatering/shoring footprint, BOQ/payline geometry beyond your prism, and similar items that need separate takeoff rules or CAD.
Model assumptions
- Simple box prism L×W×H; no batter slopes, benches, or tapered sections.
- Bulking/expansion factor k is user supplied; the tool does not infer soil class, moisture, or compaction curves.
- No dewatering drawdown, support system deductions, overbreak allowances, or working-face widening.
- No separate topsoil strip line item and no discussion of irregular polygon pit misfit error.
- No haul distance, truck cycles, cut/fill balance moves, or lift-by-lift compaction settlement.
- Units follow SI base in the schema; convert externally for other systems.
- Not a substitute for slope stability, bearing capacity, or shoring design checks.
References & further reading
- Geotechnical and construction texts on cut/fill volume changes with moisture and compaction (conceptual background).
- Project geotech reports and contractor bid earthworks sheets for trial-derived or tabulated k values.
- Contract measurement and pricing rules (excavation payline, whether haul losses are included).
- Slope and trench safety are governed by local codes and site-specific plans; they are not represented by this geometric volume estimate.
Shareable URL
When the toolbar exposes “Copy shareable link”, inputs can be encoded in the URL so colleagues can reopen the same case. All computations run locally in your browser; this tool may not expose share links yet.
Frequently asked questions
- What k should I use?
- Use your geotech report, field trial data, or company table; 1.1–1.3 is a common textbook range for many soils but is not universal (gravel vs clay can differ a lot).
- How does k relate to void ratio or lab tests?
- This tool does not build a soil model. Use lab curves or engineering references to choose k, then enter it explicitly.
- Can this replace slope stability analysis?
- No. This is a volume screening aid only; slopes and supports need code-compliant analysis.
- Can it estimate truck loads?
- No. Truck counts need body volume, fill factor, and logistics assumptions outside this page.
- How does this tie to the Material Weight tool?
- If you have bulk density ρ, use Material Weight with m = ρ×V; supply ρ from geotech or material tables yourself.
- Does it include structural backfill in compacted measure?
- No. It is bank/loose screening for the entered prism only, not compacted fill conversion.
- Are calculations logged or uploaded?
- No. They stay in the browser.
Extended copy on this page (headings, assumptions, references, FAQs) may be drafted or localized with AI assistance; engineering judgment and governing codes still apply. Numerical models run locally in your browser as implemented. For contract-critical work, cite primary standards and qualified review.