Excavation is the process of moving things like earth, rock, or other materials with tools, equipment, or explosives. It includes earthwork, trenching, wall shafts, tunneling, and underground. Excavation has several critical purposes, including exploration, environmental restoration, mining, and construction.

1 : the action or process of excavating. 2 : a cavity formed by cutting, digging, or scooping. Other Words from excavation Example Sentences Learn More about excavation.

Excavation, in archaeology, the exposure, recording, and recovery of buried material remains.

Types of Excavation

• Earth excavation is removal of the layer of soil immediately under the topsoil and on top of rock.
• Muck excavation is removal of material that contains an excessive amount of water and undesirable soil.
• Unclassified excavation is removal of any combination of topsoil, earth, rock, and muck.

A trench is a type of excavation that is generally deeper than it is wide at the top….Trenching

• Shielding.
• Shoring.
• Benching.
• Battering.

Setting out or ground tracing is the process of laying down the excavation lines and centre lines etc. on the ground before the excavation is started. Excavation is done by manual or machine means depending on the availability. The excavated soil is to either removed out the site or stocked around the excavation pit.

Four Key Principles of Home Excavation

• 1) Principle of Topsoil Preservation. The topsoil on your building lot is a rich, valuable, natural resource.
• 2) Principle of Water Management.
• 3) Principle of Cost Containment.
• 4) Principle of Experience (Tricks of the Trade)

So, the formula is: Ab = Wb * Lb, where Wb and Lb are the width and length of the bottom of the excavation. At = Wt * Lt, where Wt and Lt are the width and length of the top of the excavation.

Example 2 (Both Cutting and Filling) :

The determination of earthwork quantities is based upon field cross- sections taken in a specified manner before and after excavation. Cross- sections are vertical profiles taken at right angles to the survey centerline. Every section is an area formed by the subgrade, the sideslopes, and the original ground surface.

Excavation Costs A typical residential excavation job runs between $1,442 and $5,236 with an average of $3,238. Though most companies charge anywhere from $40 to $150 an hour, residential jobs receive project bids. Project bids reflect cubic yards of dirt moved, anywhere from $50 to $200 per cubic yard.

Add the length at the top of the excavation to the length at the bottom of the excavation and divide by 2 to get the average length. Do the same for the width. Multiply the average length times the average width times the average depth and divide by 27.

Running your own construction excavating company requires the proper equipment, financing, business licensing and professional licensing.

1. Register the Business.
2. Insurance and Bonds.
3. Develop a Business Plan.
4. Obtain the Equipment.
5. Funding the Business.

Slope Angle Calculations This simple equation will tell you the proper opening width: (depth x 2) x type slope ratio + width of original excavation = top width. As an example, let’s calculate the slope angle of a simple trench that is 6 feet deep by 2 feet wide, factoring in the type of soil. Type A: (6 feet x 2) x .

A slope of 1 means it rises just as fast as it goes forward. The slope is at a 45∘ angle. (And a slope of −1 means it sinks just as fast as it goes forward).

Soils can be classified as Type A, Type B, or Type C. Type A soil is the most stable soil in which to excavate. Type C is the least stable soil. It’s important to remember that a trench can be cut through more than one type of soil.

4.13 No excavation or earthwork below the level of any foundation of building or structure shall be commenced or continued unless adequate steps are taken to prevent danger to any person employed, from collapse of the structure or fall of any part thereof.

For an isolated foundation on clayey soil, max allowable settlement is 75mm as per IS 1904. For sands & hard clay it is only 50mm. And for rafts founded on sands & hard clay it is limited to 75mm whereas for soft clays it is allowed upto 100mm.

Following are the Indian Standard Codes on Pile Foundations: IS 2911 : Part 1 : Sec 1 : 1979 Driven cast in-situ concrete piles. IS 2911 : Part 1 : Sec 2 : 1979 Bored cast-in-situ piles. IS 2911 : Part 1 : Sec 3 : 1979 Driven precast concrete pile.

minimum depth of foundation:– minimum depth of foundation is around 5 feet for a small residential building from ground level or at least 1.50 times the width of footing. In cold climates the depth of footing is Kept at a minimum of 1.50m below surface because of possible frost action.

Shallow excavations are defined as being anything less than 1.5 metres deep, which really is not very deep at all; a relatively short person could comfortably see over the top. Deep excavations, on the other hand, are defined as being any excavation which is more than 4.5 metres in depth – a considerable height indeed.

How to Calculate Footing Size

1. Determine the width and length of the cement slab in inches.
2. Divide the width by 12 to convert it to feet.
3. Divide the length by 12 to convert it to feet.
4. Determine the depth or thickness that is required for the footing in inches.
5. Multiply the width by the length and then by the depth.

All footings should be a minimum of 150mm (6″) in depth, with the bottom 350 – 400mm (14-16″) below ground level on most soils. For clay soil however, thicker and deeper footings should be used.

A buried structural footing is usually required for larger retaining walls. To create this, a landscaper pours concrete below frost level (the depth to which the ground will freeze during the winter). Footings poured too shallow are prone to shifting and moving if moisture in the soil freezes and heaves.

Due to soil erosion, your retaining wall should be built on a solid foundation made from gravel.

• Choose gravel that has stones sized between 1/2-inch and 3/4-inch.
• Fill the trench with a 2- to 3-inch layer of gravel.
• Use a rake to ensure the stones are evenly distributed.

For the average do-it-yourselfer, building a retaining wall is easiest when using masonry blocks that will be stacked no taller than three feet, with no mortar binding the stones or concrete members. (For a curved wall, mark instead with a garden hose or spray paint.) …

The cheapest types of retaining walls are wood and concrete blocks, followed by concrete and stones or bricks. Each material has benefits and drawbacks, including strength, longevity, and attractiveness.

Whether the wall is made from stones, bricks or wood, it is important to provide a barrier between the building blocks and the soil. Landscape fabric is thin and sturdy and is a simple way to preserve a retaining wall’s construction.

When building a tiered set of retaining walls, position the higher wall behind the lower wall at twice the distance as the height of the lower wall. For example, if the lower wall is three-feet high, the higher wall should be set back at least six feet from the lower one.