You have 3 BCY of clay. After excavation you will have how many LCY?

• A. 4.2 LCY
• B. 3.75 LCY
• C. 3.50 LCY
• D. 5.0 LCY

Answer: (B)

When you excavate, the material loosens and takes up more volume than it did in the ground. That difference is described by the bulking factor, which relates bank cubic yards (in place) to loose cubic yards (after excavation). For clay, a common bulking factor used in practice is about 1.25. So the loose volume equals the bank volume times 1.25: 3 BCY × 1.25 = 3.75 LCY. This gives 3.75 LCY as the amount you’ll have after excavation. The other values would require unusual bulking factors for clay, which aren’t typical in this context.