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Horizontal Alignment Superelevation Application & Transition Curves
Horizontal Alignment Superelevation Application & Transition Curves
Horizontal Alignment Superelevation Application & Transition Curves
2012
1
Company
LOGO
Chapter 3:
Horizontal Alignment
Superelevation Application
&
Transition Curves
In the actual design of a horizontal curve, the engineer
must select appropriate values of e and f
s
.
The value selected for superelevation, e, is critical
because high rates of superelevation can cause
vehicle steering problems on the horizontal curve, and
in cold climates, ice on the roadway can reduce f
s
such that vehicles traveling at less than the design
speed on an excessively superelevated curve could
slide inward off the curve due to gravitational forces.
AASHTO provides general guidelines for the selection of
e and fs for horizontal curve design, as shown in Table
3.5.
The values presented in this table are grouped by five
values of maximum e. The selection of any one of these
five maximum e values is dependent on the type of road
(for example, higher maximum e's are permitted on
freeways compared with arterials and local roads) and
local design practice. Limiting values of fs are simply a
function of design speed. Table 3.5 also presents
calculated radii (given V, e, and fs) by applying Eq. 3.34.
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Transition Design Controls
The design of transition sections includes consideration
of transitions in the roadway cross slope and possible
transition curves incorporated in the horizontal
alignment.
The former consideration is referred to as superelevation
transition and
The latter is referred to as alignment transition.
Where both transition components are used, they occur
together over a common section of roadway at the
beginning and end of the mainline circular curves.
from AASHTOs A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets 2001
Transition Design Controls
The superelevation transition section consists of the
superelevation runoff and tangent runout sections.
The superelevation runoff section consists of the length of
roadway needed to accomplish a change in outside-lane
cross slope from zero (flat) to full superelevation, or vice
versa.
The tangent runout section consists of the length of
roadway needed to accomplish a change in outside-lane
cross slope from the normal cross slope rate to zero
(flat), or vice versa.
from AASHTOs A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets 2001
Transition Design Controls
These two elements are applicable to superelevation on
both simple circular curves and spiral transition curves,
but the manner of application is somewhat different for
each.
General criteria for application of runoff and terminology
for both types of curves are shown in Figure.
from AASHTOs A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets 2001
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Superelevation Transition
from the 2001 Caltrans Highway Design Manual
Transition Design Controls
For reasons of safety and comfort, the pavement
rotation in the superelevation transition section should
be effected over a length that is sufficient to make such
rotation imperceptible to drivers. To be pleasing in
appearance, the pavement edges should not appear
distorted to the driver.
In the alignment transition section, a spiral or compound
transition curve may be used to introduce the main
circular curve in a natural manner (i.e., one that is
consistent with the drivers steered path).
from AASHTOs A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets 2001
Transition Design Controls
Such transition curvature consists of one or more curves
aligned and located to provide a gradual change in
alignment radius.
As a result, an alignment transition introduces the lateral
acceleration associated with the curve in a gentle
manner.
While such a gradual change in path and lateral
acceleration is appealing, there is no definitive evidence
that transition curves are essential to the safe operation
of the roadway and,
As a result, they are not used by many agencies.
from AASHTOs A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets 2001
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Transition Design Controls
When a transition curve is not used, the roadway
tangent directly adjoins the main circular curve. This
type of transition design is referred to below as the
tangent-to-curve transition.
Some agencies employ spiral curves and use their length
to make the appropriate superelevation transition. A
spiral curve approximates the natural turning path of a
vehicle.
One agency believes that the length of spiral should be
based on a 4-s minimum maneuver time at the design
speed of the highway.
from AASHTOs A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets 2001
Transition Design Controls
Other agencies do not employ spiral curves but
empirically designate proportional lengths of tangent and
circular curve for the same purpose.
In either case, as far as can be determined, the length of
roadway to effect the superelevation runoff should be the
same for the same rate of superelevation and radius of
curvature.
Review of current design practice indicates that the
length of a superelevation runoff section is largely
governed by its appearance.
from AASHTOs A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets 2001
Transition Design Controls
Spiral transition curve lengths as determined otherwise often
are shorter than those determined for general appearance, so
that theoretically derived spiral lengths are replaced with
longer empirically derived runoff lengths.
A number of agencies have established one or more control
runoff lengths within a range of about 30 to 200 m[100 to 650
ft], but there is no universally accepted empirical basis for
determining runoff length, considering all likely traveled way
widths.
In one widely used empirical expression, the runoff length is
determined as a function of the slope of the outside edge of
the traveled way relative to the centerline profile.
TANGENT-TO-CURVE TRANSITION
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Minimum length of superelevation runoff:
For appearance and comfort, the length of superelevation
runoff should be based on a maximum acceptable
difference between the longitudinal grades of the axis of
rotation and the edge of pavement.
The axis of rotation is generally represented by the
alignment centerline for undivided roadways;
However, other pavement reference lines can be used.
These lines and the rationale for their use is discussed
below in the section on Methods of Attaining
Superelevation.
from AASHTOs A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets 2001
Design Superelevation Tables
forth the basic design criteria based on design speeds for
the normal design superelevation rates of e
max
= 4 and 6
percent as well as othervalues ranging up to 12 percent.
The criteria shown includes the minimum radius of
curvature, crown treatment and superelevation runoff
lengths (L), all of which are related to the number of
lanes to be rotated. The minimum rate of cross slope for
a traveled lane is determined by drainage requirements.
from the 2005 WSDOT Design Manual, M 22-01
Design Superelevation Tables
Table 3-21 to 3-25 show, in addition to length of runoff or
transition, values of R and the resulting superelevation for
different design speeds for each of five values of
maximum superelevation rate (i.e., for a full range of
common design conditions).
The minimum radii for each of the five maximum
superelevation rates were calculated from the simplified
curve formula.
from the 2005 WSDOT Design Manual, M 22-01
Design Superelevation Tables
Under all but extreme weather conditions, vehicles can
travel safely at speeds higher than the design speed on
horizontal curves with the superelevation rates indicated
in the tables.
This is due to the development of a radius/superelevation
relationship that uses friction factors that are generally
considerably less than can be achieved.
This is illustrated in Exhibit 3-11,which compares the
friction factors used in design of various types of highway
facilities and the maximum side friction factors available
on certain wet and dry concrete pavements
from the 2005 WSDOT Design Manual, M 22-01
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The term normal cross slope (NC) designates curves
that are so flat that the elimination of adverse cross
slope is not considered necessary, and thus the normal
cross slope sections can be used.
The term remove cross slope (RC) designates curves
where it is adequate to eliminate the adverse cross slope
by superelevating the entire roadway at the normal
cross slope.
from the 2005 WSDOT Design Manual, M 22-01
Design Superelevation Tables
Table 3-21.
Values for
Design
Elements
Related to
Design
Speed and
Horizontal
Curvature
Table 3-21.
Values for
Design
Elements
Related to
Design
Speed and
Horizontal
Curvature
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Table 3-25.
Values for
Design
Elements
Related to
Design
Speed and
Horizontal
Curvature
Table 3-25.
Values for
Design
Elements
Related to
Design
Speed and
Horizontal
Curvature
from the 2005 WSDOT Design Manual, M 22-01 from the 2005 WSDOT Design Manual, M 22-01
The preferred cross slope (normal crown line) for high type
pavement surfaces is 2 percent.
Very flat curves will not require superelevation. In the table,
these are identified with the symbol NC meaning that the
normal crown slopes used on tangent sections can be carried
through the curve.
For slightly sharper curves, some superelevation is required
and the normal practice is to remove the adverse crown on the
outside lanes and carry the normal crown slope across all
lanes. In the table, this is identified with the symbol RC
meaning removal of the normal crown.
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from the 2005 WSDOT Design Manual, M 22-01
The indicated superelevation rates are applicable regardless of
the number of lanes.
The runoff lengths are for two-lane and four-lane highways.
For three-lane undivided pavements, the runoff length should
be 1.25 times the length shown for two-lane pavements.
On new construction and reconstruction projects, every effort
shall be made to provide the prescribed superelevation rate of
curves.
Where this is not practicable, advisory speed signs shall be
provided indicating the maximum safe speed for the curve at
the existing superelevation.
Minimum length of tangent runout
The length of tangent runout is determined by the
amount of adverse cross slope to be removed and the
rate at which it is removed.
To effect a smooth edge of pavement profile, the rate of
removal should equal the relative gradient used to define
the superelevation runoff length.
Based on this rationale, the following equation should be
used to compute the minimum tangent runout length;
from AASHTOs A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets 2001
Metric or US Customary
from AASHTOs A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets 2001
L
t
=minimum length of tangent runout, m or ft
e
NC
=normal cross slope rate,%
e
d
=design superelevation rate, %
L
r
=minimum length of superelevation runoff, m or ft
I
t
=
c
NC
c
d
I
m
= +R cos
Long tangent length of clothoid;
I
u
= X cot
Short tangent length of clothoid ;
I
k
=
sin
Length of throw or the distance from
tangent that the circular curve has been
offset ;
R =
m
R = R 1 cos
Geometry of Clothoid
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Chord of Clothoid ;
S = X
2
+
2
Deflection angle from TS to SC (degree);
o = orc tan
X
Geometry of Clothoid
R : Radius of simple curve
T : Spiral tangent distance (m),
: Angle of intersection
C : Angle of intersection of the
simple curve (degree),
Dc : Degree of simple curve.
Geometry of Clothoid
Angle of intersection of the simple
curve ;
c = 2
Spiral angle from tangent to SC
(raydan) ;
=
I
2R
Degree of simple curve ;
c =
2nRc
S6u
Spiral tangent distance ;
I = X
m
+ R +R tan
2
Geometry of Clothoid
In the selection of clothoid parameter, The
maximum value of radial accelaration change over
time (sademe) is taken into account in terms of
comfort.
Clothoid parameter A that provides following
conditions are determined according to a maximum
value of a
Then clothoid length are calculated using the
parameter.
Selection of Clothoid Parameter
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Optical Requirement:
R
3
A R
Dinamic Requirement: A
mn
= u.17 I
3
Superelevation Requirement: A
mn
=
b
2
d_q
0.005
R
Selection of Clothoid Parameter
b: platform width
d : full superelevation,
q : normal crown
R: raius of the circular curve,
After determining clothoid parameter, calculate length of
clothoid by following equation ;
I =
A
2
R
Clothoid Length should be consistent the length of
superelevation runoff ;
I I
,mn
4S m
In order to application of the clothoid, the horizontal curve
must be a certain length ;
I
2
2
Selection of Clothoid Parameter