METHODOLOGY FOR SUBGRADE CONSTRUCTION

Subgrade is the main part of the any  earth work .They are widely used in  road, railway and airport runway
construction but here we will discuss sequence wise working methodology for the earthwork in subgrade
for any highway work. 

1. Scope of Work
2. Reference Documents.
3. Setting Out.
4. Selection of Material & Borrow areas.
5. Equipments.
6. Methods of Operation.
7. Quality Control.
8. Work Safety
9. Environmental Safety

 1.0 Scope of Work:-

The work shall consist of Construction of Sub-grade with approved and specified materials obtained from
approved borrow areas or suitable material obtained from roadway excavation and drain excavation and in
accordance with clause 305 of MORT&H specification.

2.0 Reference: –

Reference Documents:-

1. Ministry of Road Transport & Highway Specifications.     

After completion of site clearance/embankment the limits of sub-grade shall be marked by fixing pegs on
both sides at regular intervals. The chainage boards and working bench mark shall be set outside the limits
of construction areas.

4.0 Selection of Material and Borrow areas: –

4.1 Material:                              

The material used in Sub-grade shall be soil, moorum, gravel, a mixture of these or any other material
approved by the Engineer. It shall be free from logs, stumps, roots, rubbish & any other material
detrimental to the stability of structure. The material for sub-grade shall be obtained from the approved
source with preference to the material becoming available from nearby roadway excavation or any other
excavation under the contract. The material requirements shall be in accordance with clause 305.2 of
MORT&H.

4.2 Borrow Material:

Samples should be taken from the known borrow area & to be tested as per IS 2720 for the suitability in
use in embankment as per project specification. On confirmation of the suitability material the area shall be
properly demarcated and satisfy the clause [Link] or project specification

5.0 Equipments: –

The following equipments shall be carried out for the Sub-grade Construction. If desired the contractor
shall demonstrate the efficacy of the type of equipment to be used, before commencement of work.

1. Hydraulic Excavator
2. Dozer
3. Dumper (Tipper Trucks)
4. Motor Grader
5. Vibratory Roller
6. Water Tanker
7. Tractor Trolleys
8. Survey Kit

6.0 Method of Operation: –

 After completion of embankment, the limits of sub-grade shall be marked by fixing pegs at regular
intervals  before commencing the earthwork. Construction toe line shall be more than the design toe
line for proper construction of the edges.

 The Embankment top shall be levelled to facilitate placement of first layer of Sub-grade, scarified,
mixed with water and then compacted by rolling so as to achieve minimum dry density as specified
in the modified Technical specification. Sub-grade treatment specified for Sub-grade shall be
carried out as per approved drawing. Unsuitable material occurring in sub-grade foundation shall be
removed as per direction and approval of the Engineer and replaced by approved materials laid in
layers and suitably compacted to the required and specified degree of compaction. Excavation at
approved borrow areas shall be carried out with excavator and transportation of excavated material
shall be done by dumpers/ tractor trolley.
 Maximum Dry density of borrow area soil shall be determined, and the soil shall be tested for dry
density, if found less than 97% of M.D.D., the layer shall be scarified mixed with required quantity
of water and compacted with soil vibratory roller to achieve minimum required specified dry
density.
  For construction adjacent to the existing embankment a continued, horizontal benching 300 mm
wide or as per drawing shall be provided in the existing embankment.
 The sub-grade material shall then be spread in layers not exceeding 250 mm compacted thicknesses
or as per direction of the Engineer over the entire area with the dozer and finished by a motor
grader. When the existing embankment to be widened continuous horizontal benches shall be cut
out into the old slope to ensure adequate bond. Where water is required to be added the same shall
be sprinkled from a water tanker fitted with sprinkler, uniformly on the surface but without flooding
and shall be mixed thoroughly in soil by blending or harrowing until uniform moisture content is
obtained throughout the depth of the layer. If the material delivered to the roadbed is too wet, it
shall be dried by aeration and exposure to the sun till the moisture content is accepted for
compaction.
 The compaction shall be done with the help of Vibratory Roller of 8 – 10 Ton static weight with
plain or pad foot drum or heavy pneumatic tyred roller of adequate capacity capable to achieve
required compaction. Compaction trial shall be carried out on a suitable stretch to determine the no.
of passes required for particular type of soil, dumped for sub-grade, to achieve densities specified in
the table 300-2 of the Technical specification. Based on the trial actual compaction will be carried
out with required no. of passes of Vibratory Roller until the specified density is achieved. Rolling
shall progress parallel to the centerline of the road uniformly overlapping each preceding track by
one-third width. Rolling shall be continued till the specified density is achieved as per table 300-2.
In case specific compaction is not achieved the material in the soft area shall be removed and
replaced with approved material. Densities shall be tested by sand replacement method / nuclear
density gauge.
 Subsequent layers shall be placed only after the finished layer has been tested as per the clause
903.2.2 and accepted. The top levels of the sub-grade shall be checked with reference to the
longitudinal and cross profile of the road as per drawing to keep the variation within tolerance limit
as per table 900-1. or as per standard specification.

7.0 Quality Control:-

Minimum compaction for sub-grade layers is 97% of modified proctor value of project specification.

8.0    Work Safety:-                   

8.1  During construction of widening works, adequate safety and traffic signs shall be installed adjacent to
the road shoulders to protect the ongoing works as per location specific safety plan.

8.2  For locations where the dumping of embankment  materials by tippers are performed from the road
shoulder, a minimum of 2 flagmen with reflective vests and holding a red  flag each be deployed to control
the traffic which may be affected by the  unloading operation.
8.3  All locations adjacent to existing road where embankment construction is in progress shall be provided
with safety and road signs.

8.4  No machines or equipment’s shall be permitted to remain on the existing road or shoulder unattended
at all times unless it is properly protected and secured in a safe manner.              

8.5  The Safety Officer shall make frequent patrols along the highway to ensure that the safety equipment
and signs are operational at all time.

8.6  Trucks sometimes fall over a tip head because the driver backs over the edge or the edge collapses
under the weight of the truck. A protective berm or timber baulk should be used. Alternatively,  a
signalman should be deployed in order to avoid this possibility.

8.7  When excavating trenches, place the excavated material at least 600 mm clear of the edge, where there
is no danger of it falling back into or collapsing the side of the trench.

[Link] Safety: –

[Link] streams, water courses, lakes, reservoir shall be protected from contamination by the soil erosion
from areas exposed during excavation by constructing temporary berms, dykes, sediment Basins, slopes,
drains & by the use of temporary mulches, seeding or other control devices.

[Link] tracks shall be kept moist to prevent flying of dust particles with the vehicle movement.