CONSTRUCTION

TECHNOLOGY
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LAND CLEARING AND
EARTHWORKS

Part II

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EQUIPMENT USED FOR LAND
CLEARING AND EARTHWORKS

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Wheel Loader

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Hydraulic Excavator

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 Wheel Loader
Loader is a versatile equipment designed to excavate at
or above wheel/track level. The hydraulic activated
lifting system exerts maximum breakout force with an
upward motion of the bucket. A wheel loader can
attain high speeds, which permits it to travel from one
job site to another under its own power.
Loaders are used extensively in construction work to;
Handle and transport bulk materials
Load trucks
Excavate earth
To charge aggregate bins at concrete and asphalt
plants
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Loader Attachments

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 Buckets
General Purpose This is made of heavy duty all
welded steel. Replaceable cutting edges are
bolted on to the bucket. They are available with
or without teeth.
Multipurpose Two piece hinged-jawed bucket is
made of heavy duty, all welded steel. They are
referred to as four-in-one bucket because they
can be used to dig in like a normal bucket, blade,
clam and grapple. They have replaceable cutting
edges. Bolt-on type replaceable teeth are also
available on these buckets.
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 Loader Attachments

Multipurpose Bucket General Purpose Bucket

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 Loading the Bucket
When loading the bucket, it should be parallel with the
ground so its cutting edge can skim the travel surface
and remove ruts, obstacles, and loose material on the
forward pass. As the cutting edge contacts the bank or
stockpile, move the loader forward at a slow speed and
increase the power. While penetrating the material,
raise the bucket. Crowd the material into the bucket
and roll the bucket back to prevent spilling. Maintain
the bucket in an upward position while backing away,
to prevent spilling.
Proper positioning of the equipment that will receive
material from the loader is necessary for maximum
production. This cuts down on maneuver time.
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Loading Trucks

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 Excavating Basements
A loader can dig excavations such as basements if
the material is not too hard. The operator should
first construct a ramp into the excavation. Because
the loader works best when excavating above
wheel level, the ramp allows the loader to work in
that manner and later provides egress to bring out
the material.

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Excavating Basements

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 Backfilling
When backfilling trenches, lower the bucket to
grade level and use the forward movement of the
machine to push the stockpiled earth into the
trench. This type of work is ideal for the loader as
long as the bucket is as wide as, or wider than, the
loaders wheels or tracks. Narrow buckets cause
the wheels to ride up the stockpile. This raises one
corner of the bucket and requires more passes.

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Backfilling a Trench

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Leveling the Ground

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Production Estimate

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Dump Truck

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Dump Truck

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 Hauling Equipment
The most common hauling equipment used for
construction work are the 5- and 20-ton dump
trucks. Equipment trailers are used to transport
heavy construction equipment not designed for
cross-country travel. They are also used to haul
long, oversize items and packaged items.

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 Capacity
The capacity of hauling equipment is expressed in
one of three ways:
The hauling capacity of Army dump trucks is
Gravimetrically by the weight of the load it will
carry (in tons), by its struck
Struck rear-dump body volume (in cubic yards)
Heaped rear-dump body capacity (in cubic yards).

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 Loading
For maximum efficiency, fill trucks as close to their
rated hauling capacity as practical. Adjust the load size
if haul roads are in poor condition or if the trucks must
traverse steep grades. Overloading will cause higher
fuel consumption, reduced tire life, and increased
mechanical failures.

Ensure that the trucks are within the working radius of

the dragline, the clamshell, or the hoe bucket. When
using a loader, position the truck and loader so that the
two machines form a V. This arrangement will reduce
the loader cycle time.
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Loading Position

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 Equipment Trailers
Use equipment trailers to transport heavy
construction equipment such as cranes, dozers, or
any equipment not designed for long distance
movement by their own power. Also use the
trailers to haul long items such as pipes or lumber,
or packaged items such as landing mats or
bagged cement.

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 Equipment Trailers
Loading - For maximum efficiency, load trailers as
close as possible to their rated loading capacity.
When loading, always station a spotter on the
trailer to direct the equipment operator and to keep
the machine centered on the ramps and trailer.
With rear-loading trailers, use low banks or built-up
earth ramps where possible. Some trailers carry
loading ramps for loading from level ground.
 Equipment Trailers
When using loading ramps to load a dozer, run the
machine slowly up the ramps (with the blade
raised) and as the balance point is reached, reduce
speed or stop, then lower the blade and allow the
front of the tracks to settle gently onto the trailer
bed. Then move the dozer slowly ahead onto the
trailer. Some low-bed trailers are designed for front-
end loading.
In areas that restrict rear loading, load the trailer
from the side. Take care not to damage the trailer
bed.
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 Equipment Trailers
Positioning and Securing - After positioning the
equipment on the trailer bed, block it
and chain it to the trailer. Properly distribute the
weight of large equipment on the trailer. Trailers
have their load-weight centering position marked.

Unloading - Unload heavy equipment slowly to

prevent damage to the trailer or the equipment.
Always use ramps to load and unload.

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 Equipment Trailers

Semi Trailer, Low Bed 60 Ton

Heavy Equipment Transporter 30
 Equipment Trailers

Semi Trailer, Low Bed 40 Ton

Heavy Equipment Transporter (Goose Neck)
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 Equipment Trailers

Semi Trailer, Low Bed 25 Ton

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Motor Grader

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 Motor Grader
Graders are multipurpose machines used for
grading, shaping, bank sloping, and ditching. They
are used for mixing, spreading, side casting,
leveling and crowning, general construction, and
road and runway maintenance. Graders cannot
perform dozer work because of the structural
strength and location of its blade. However, they
can move small amounts of material. They are
capable of working on slopes as steep as 3:1.
Graders are capable of progressively cutting
ditches to a depth of 3 feet.
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Grader Components

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 Grader Components
The components of the grader that do the work are the
blade and the scarifier. The blades position and pitch
are adjustable and are determined by the type of
operation being performed.
Blade - The major component of a grader blade is a
hydraulically controlled moldboard to which the
cutting edges are bolted. Use the blade to side cast
material. The ends of the blade can be raised or
lowered together or independently of one another.
o Blade position - The blade can be angled perpendicular to
the line of travel or parallel to the direction of travel. It can
also be shifted to either side or raised into a vertical
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Motor Grader Blade

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Blade Angle

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 Grader Components
o Blade pitch - The blade can be pitched forward or
backward. Keep the blade near the center of the pitch
adjustment; this keeps the top of the moldboard
directly over the cutting edge of the blade. Pitching the
blade forward decreases the blades cutting ability and
increases the dragging action. The blade will tend to
ride over the material rather than cut and push, and it
has less chance of catching on solid obstructions. Use a
forward pitch to make light, rapid cuts and to blend
materials.
Scarifier -

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Scarifier

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 Grader Components
Scarifier - Use a scarifier to break up material too
hard for the blade to cut. A scarifier has 11
removable teeth that can be adjusted to cut a
maximum depth of 12 inches. When operating in
hard material, it may be necessary to remove
some of the teeth from the scarifier. When
removing teeth, take the center one out first and
then alternately remove the other four teeth. This
balances the scarifier and distributes the load
evenly. With the top of the scarifier pitched to the
rear, the teeth lift and tear the material being
loosened. Use this position for breaking up
asphalt pavement. 41
Backfilling a Ditch by Sidecasting

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Sloping a High Bank

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Leveling Large Windrows

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Spreading Windrowed Material

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 Production Estimates
Use the following formula to prepare estimates of
the total time (in hours or minutes) required to
complete a grader operation.;

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 Production Estimates
Number of passes - Estimate the number of passes
(based on the project requirements) before
construction begins.
Distance traveled - Determine the required travel
distance per pass before construction begins.
Speed of the grader - Speed is the most difficult factor
in the formula to estimate accurately. As work
progresses, conditions may require that speed
estimates be increased or decreased. Compute the
work output for each rate of speed used in an
operation. The speed depends largely on the skill of
the operator and the material type.
Efficiency factor - For grader operations the efficiency
factor is usually no better than 60 percent.
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Scraper

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Scraper

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 Scrapers
The design of scrapers (tractor scrapers) allows for
loading, hauling, dumping, and spreading of loose
materials. Use a scraper for medium-haul
earthmoving operations and for moving ripped
materials and shot rock. The haul distance (zone of
operation), the load volume, and the type and
grade of surface traveled on are the primary
factors in determining whether to use a scraper on
a particular job. The optimum haul distance for
small- and medium-size scrapers is 3,000 feet or
less.
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 Scraper
The basic operating parts of a scraper are these;
Bowl - The bowl is the loading and carrying component. It
has a cutting edge, which extends across the front bottom
edge. Lower the bowl until the cutting edge enters the
ground for loading, raise it for carrying, and lower it to the
desired lift thickness for dumping and spreading.
Apron - The apron is the front wall of the bowl. It is
independent of the bowl and, when raised, it provides an
opening for loading and spreading. Lower the apron during
hauling to prevent spillage.
Ejector - The ejector is the rear wall of the bowl. Keep the
ejector in the rear position when loading and hauling
materials. Activate the ejector to move forward during
spreading to provide positive discharge of materials.
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Scraper

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 Capacity
Struck capacity means the bowl has a full load of
material that is level with its sides. Heaped
capacity means the material is heaped in the bowl
and slopes down on a 1:1 repose slope to the sides
of the bowl. In practice, these will be LCY of
material because of how a scraper loads.
Therefore, load volume in terms of BCY moved
depends on both the bowl size and the material
type being loaded. The rated volumetric capacity
of the 621B scraper is 14- cubic-yards struck and
20-cubic-yards heaped. The capacity of the CAT
613B scraper is 11-cubic-yards heaped.
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Folk Lift

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 Forklifts
Forklifts are effective over unprepared or
unstabilized surfaces. They work well in rough
terrain where high-flotation tires are necessary.
Most forklifts are four-wheel-steering machines.
The Army uses forklifts for loading, unloading, and
transporting crates and palletized loads. Examples
of such situations would be over a beach; in a surf;
and in deep sand, snow, or mud. Without a load, a
forklift can move at high speeds between
construction sites.
They are very useful in warehouses.
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 Forklifts
Forklifts were once restricted to use in warehouses
or terminals. The Army now uses them for various
activities, including;
Loading and unloading flatcars, trucks, flat
trailers, aircraft, and naval landing craft.
Stocking and transporting heavy crates and
palletized loads.

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 Operating Techniques
Positioning to load - When positioning a forklift to pick up
a load, bring it in square to the load. Then use the side
shift to align the forks rather than trying to align the entire
vehicle. Extend the boom as necessary when lifting a load,
and retract the boom against the frame when transporting
loads. Use oscillation to pick up loads easily at an angle.
Transporting a load - When transporting a load, tilt the
mast as far back as the load will permit and raise the load
only high enough (4 to 6 inches) to clear obstructions.
Always change speed gradually, as sudden starts and stops
will cause the load to shift. Gradual starts and stops also
prevent rapid wear of machine components. Use four-
wheel steering for normal material handling and two
wheel steering for high-speed runs.
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Grab

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Clamshell Grab

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Dredger

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Suction Dredger

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 Dredger
Dredging is the term given to digging, gathering, or
pulling out material to deepen waterways, create
harbours, channels, locks, docks and berths, desilt
lakes and keep river entrances and approaches to
boat ramps clear. The material removed during
dredging can vary greatly and can be any
combination of rocks, clays, silts or sands.

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 Dredging
Dredging is done to;
maintain the depth in existing ports, harbours and
channels to provide ready and safe passage for
commercial and recreational vessels.
create new or deeper access or berths for vessels.
This may mean the deepening and widening of
channels and anchorages as well as the excavation of
basins and marinas from areas of previously dry land.
to provide material for specific purposes, eg. beaches
in coastal areas subject to erosion are sometimes
renourished with sand dredged from other areas.
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End

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