Page 169 - Moving the Earth_ The Workbook of Excavation

BASEMENTS

BASEMENTS 4.9

FIGURE 4.9 Irregular basement.

Figure 4.9(B) shows the same basement pushed up into four piles. The jogs are handled by sim-
ply moving the ramps and piles outward the extra distance.

Limited Access. Figure 4.10 shows a difficult situation where trees or other buildings permit
entrance by the dozer at only three points, and where all the spoil must be pushed out at one of
these spots. A detailed description of the work would be lengthy and tedious, and it is hoped that
the successive diagrams are sufficiently clear. The dozer movements indicated by the arrows
would have to be repeated on each cutting level.
In soft soils it might be possible to cut the corners with the dozer by pushing the dirt to loosen
it, then backdragging. However, it may be cheaper to dig them by hand and to throw the dirt out
into the dozer path.
This type of excavation takes several times as long as open digging.
Figure 4.11 shows a succession of steps in excavation of a basement in a hillside. This floor
base is at grade on the east (right) and requires a cut of 8 feet along the west line. The slope of this
hill is about 1 on 3, which a dozer can negotiate going up or down, but cannot safely work side-
ward, unless it is a wide model.
The easiest way to dig would be to push straight down the hill, but the yardage removed to
ramp down would be about two-thirds as much as for the basement itself; and the spoil would be
left in such a position that it could not be conveniently used to backfill the ramp.
Dirt may be pushed to the side as well as the bottom by pushing down from the center of the
upper line of the excavation to build a step which would be level or tipped oppositely to the hill
slope. The dozer may then be operated on this step, pushing to the north and south, along the west
line. The step will broaden as it is deepened, and will allow the dozer space to push downhill, first
diagonally and then directly, in addition to the back cut parallel to the rear wall. By leaving the
two rear corners for hand cutting, the excavation can be completed with small ramp cuts. If the dozer