Superelevation Calculations - AASHTO 2001 "Green Book" Method 5

Project: Podunk Backroad, 00001

Date: February 4, 2005 Shaded blocks = usual input variables Double border = all input variables Output

Design speed (VD) 35 mph Must be multiples of 5 in this spreadsheet, 15 mph to 80 mph (15 to 60 mph when emax = 4%).
Normal crown slope (eNC) 0.020 ft/ft Alaska Preconstruction Manual page 1130-1 section 1130.1.2 (January 1, 2005). 2001 AASHTO GB p 166
Max. Superelevation (emax) 0.06 ft/ft 0.06 = Alaska Preconstruction Manual page 1160-22 section 1160.5.6 (January 1, 2005).
Lane width (w) 12 ft Minimum runout and runoff may not be correct in this spreadsheet for lane widths other than 12 ft. See the last
paragraph on page 172 in the AASHTO 2001 "green book" (GB), and see the bw column below.

Preliminary selections Foundational calculations

fmax VR Δ Rmin RPI 1/RPI hPI S1 S2 MO
AASHTO Average run- Max relative Rounding Rounding AASHTO AASHTO AASHTO AASHTO AASHTO AASHTO AASHTO
2001 GB ning speed gradient method method 2001 GB 2001 GB 2001 GB 2001 GB 2001 GB 2001 GB 2001 GB
p 145 AASHTO AASHTO select used p 143, 152 p 152 p 154 p 152 p 152 p 153 p 153
2001 GB 2001 GB (ft) (ft)
p168 Ex 3-26 p170 Ex 3-27 (note 10) (note 11)
(mph) (%)
(see note 6) (see note 12) (note 10) 2 381.744 1143.467 0.0008745 0.0117773 0.0023504 0.0143248 0.0199846
0.155 32 0.62 Auto select

Curve information Intermediate calculations Final calculations Extras

Curve ID R nl bw Is 1/R > f1 f2 0.067(VD)2/R ed_preliminary ed Minimum Minimum % runoff Transi- Runoff Suggested
number or Radius of Number of AASHTO 1/RPI ? AASHTO AASHTO AASHTO AASHTO AASHTO tangent runoff (Lr) before tion on on tan- advisory
PI station curve lanes rotated 2001 GB 2001 GB 2001 GB 2001 GB 2001 GB 2001 GB 2001 GB runout (Lt) length curve tangent gent speed
(ft) GB p 171-2 page 172 p 154 (YES page 154 page 154 page 155 page 155 page 155 (ft) (ft) page 175 (ft) (ft) (mph)
(see note 11) (see note 1) or NO) (see note 9) (note 9) (note 2) (note 3) (note 4) (note 7) (note 8) (note 5)

25+00.000 1,000.000 1.0 1 YES 0.0392891 0.0820750 0.0427859 0.043 39 83 80 105 67

1,000.000 2.0 0.75 YES 0.0392891 0.0820750 0.0427859 0.043 58 125 90 170 112
57+50.000 2,500.000 1.0 1 NO 0.0095676 0.0328300 0.0232624 0.023 39 45 80 74 36
90+00.458 3,000.000 1.0 1 NO 0.0073923 0.0273583 0.0199660 RC 39 39 80 70 31
110+00.000 379.000 1.0 Entered R is below mimimum radius. 30
135+00.000 3,500.000 1.0 1 NO 0.0059808 0.0234500 0.0174692 RC 39 39 80 70 31
165+00.000 4,000.000 1.0 1 NO 0.0049999 0.0205188 0.0155189 RC 39 39 80 70 31
185+49.874 5,000.000 1.0 1 NO 0.0037386 0.0164150 0.0126764 NC 0 0 0 0 0

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Note-1: Number of lanes rotated (nl) is per side (not the total number of lanes) on an undivided road (must be from 1 to 3.5 in increments of 0.5 in this spreadsheet), see page
171 and 172 of the AASHTO 2001 "green book." For a curve with an odd number of lanes (i.e. one lane left of CL and two lanes right of CL), a practice is to transition both sides
of the road based on the direction of travel having the most lanes. The side having fewer lanes will have a longer transition than necessary. This is acceptable since it is
acceptable for the corresponding inner lane(s) on the side having the most lanes because they transition identically. Also see next to last sentence p 168 of 2001 AASHTO GB.

Note-2: Tangent runout (Lt) is 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, AASHTO 2001 "green book" page 168. This spreadsheet value is calculated from the formula on page 173 of the AASHTO 2001 "green book." At reverse and
compound curve transitions, runout may be a little as Lt = 0 at the transitions between both curves involved (also see note 4 and 8 and AASHTO 2001 GB p 234 and p 184).

Note-3: Superelevation runoff (Lr) is the length of roadway needed to accomplish a change in outside-lane cross slope from zero (flat) to full superelevation, or
vice versa, AASHTO 2001 "green book" page 168. This spreadsheet value is calculated from the formula on page 171 of AASHTO 2001 "green book." Also see note-4.

Note-4: % runoff before the curve is taken from the 2001 AASHTO "green book" page 175, exhibit 3-30. For reverse and compound curves, see note 2 and 8.

Note-5: "Suggested advisory speed" will appear when entered R is less than Rmin. This speed is for signage if realignment is not done. Correct superelevation should be
recalculated using the advisory speed as the design speed for this curve. The same emax value must be used or this speed may not be valid. "Suggested advisory speed"
is determined by comparing R with Rmin values at speed thresholds at the specified emax value. For threshold Rmin values, see the 2001 AASHTO GB table on p 145 (156
to 165) or the formula on p 143 (spreadsheet uses the p 143 formula values unrounded). The only input variables that affect the speed value in this column are emax and R.

Note-6: The fmax value was extracted from Exhibit 3-14 page 145 of the AASHTO 2001 "green book." The fmax values for emax = 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12% all appear to match at a
given speed except the 4% values are not given for speeds higher than 60 mph and the fmax value for 25 mph at emax = 8% appears to be a misprint (the AASHTO "green
book" says fmax = 0.185 but the number likely should be 0.165). This spreadsheet was tested using fmax = 0.165 with emax = 8% at 25 mph. Calculated ed matched the
e values in the AASHTO table on page 161 (meaning the fmax value on page 145 is indeed a misprint). This spreadsheet therefore uses 0.165 (not 0.185) in that case.

Note-7: "Transition on tangent" is useful for determining if the alignment has enough tangent before a normally crowned fixed part of the roadway (such as a bridge).

Note-8: "Runoff on tangent" is useful to find minimum tangent length (the sum of "Runoff on tangent" of two successive curves). Tmin = (Lr * %runoof)1 + (Lr * %runoff)2.
This applies in both cases, reverse or compound. Refer to the 2001 AASHTO "Green book" page 234 (third bullet) and p 184 for more about reverse & compound curves.

Note-9: The calculation for ed is derived as in the example on page 155 of the AASHTO 2001 "green book." RC = Remove adverse crown section, superelevate at normal
crown slope (0.75*eNC < ed_preliminary </= eNC). NC = Normal crown section (ed_preliminary </= 0.75*eNC). Example: If RC is displayed and eNC = 0.02, then ed = 0.02 (use
0.02 even though RC is shown in the ed cell). If RC or NC are not displayed then ed = ed_preliminary.

Note-10: Various rounding methods may be used in calculations. The "Rounding method used" box shows what method the spreadsheet is actually using. If "Auto
select" is shown in the "Rounding method select" box then the spreadsheet will select 1, 2, 3, or 4 automatically to make the calculations match the AASHTO tables most
closely. A rounding method number or "No rounding" in the "Rounding method select" box forces rounding of that method. The list below describes the different rounding
methods.
Auto select (in "select" box only) = Automatic rounding method selection (based on VD and emax) to most closely match 2001 AASHTO GB tables p 156 to 165.
1 = The fraction 1/15 is used instead of 0.067 where found in formulas on page 152 and 155 in the 2001 AASHTO "green book" (see page 143). In addition,
rounding is done within the Lt and Lr calculation on ed_preliminary. Otherwise the formulas used are exactly the same as found on p 152 to 155, 171, & 173.
2 = Like "No rounding" below, except rounding is done within the Lt and Lr calculation on ed_preliminary.
3 = Like 1 above, except the formula for Rmin is as found on page 152 of the 2001 AASHTO "green book" (0.067 used).
4 = The only rounding is within the Lt calculation on ed_preliminary.
No rounding = Uses the formulas found on pages 152 to 155, 171, and 173 in the 2001 AASHTO "green book" without rounding.

Note-11: Entered R values must be equal to or higher than Rmin as calculated using the formula on page 143 in the 2001 AASHTO "green book." The viewable Rmin cell will
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not agree with that Rmin value unless rounding method 1 is used. Thus it may be possible to enter an R value slightly lower than displayed Rmin for all but method 1.

Note-12: "Running speed" (VR) was extracted from Exhibit 3-26 on page 168 of the AASHTO 2001 "green book" (called "Average running speed") under the assumption
that "running speed" (VR) is the same for all emax values. This appears to be what the writers of the AASHTO book were using when calculating the tables on pages 156
to 165 based on tests of this spreadsheet.

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 The calculation below was used for preliminary testing in the creation of this spreadsheet.

AASHTO 2001 "green book"

Page 155 example superelevation calculation:

VD = 50
emax = 10
fmax = 0.14 this can be made to use table in Exhibit 3.14 on p
VR = 44
Rmin = 697.9167
RPI = 1297.12 this appears to be the desired radius value
hPI = 0.029132 this value turns negative with high R values
S1 = 0.006595
S2 = 0.029234
MO = 0.023097
(0.01e + f)D = 0.067(VD)2/R = 0.129132
f1 = 0.05223 use this not f2 since 1/R = 1/RPI in this example
Subtract the line above from the line above it = ed = 0.076903 This equals the value on page 155 and also agree

This example uses the exact AASHTO formulas found on pages 152 to 155 without rounding.
Shaded blocks are input variables

VD = 35 Enter design speed

emax = 6 Enter maximum superelevation (%)
R = 2500 Enter curve radius
fmax = 0.155 references table on another sheet
VR = 32 references table on another sheet
Rmin = 381.74418605 page 152
RPI = 1143.4666667 page 152
hPI = 0.0117773438 page 152
S1 = 0.0023504341 page 152
S2 = 0.0143247847 page 153
MO = 0.0199845567 page 153
1/R = 0.0004 page 154
1/RPI = 0.0008745336 page 154
Is 1/R > 1/RPI ? NO page 154

(0.01e + f)D = 0.067(VD)2/R = 0.03283 page 155

f1 = 0.0095676205 subtracts this if "NO" above, page 154 & 155
f2 = 0.0051614206 subtracts this if "YES" above, page 154 & 155
 ed = 0.0232624 this matches the table values on pages 156 to 165

Calculations for rounout and runoff (these reference the cells above)

w = 12 Lane width (feet)

n1 = 1 Number of lanes rotated per side
enc = 0.02 Normal crown
bw = 1 references table on another sheet
Δ = 0.62 %, references table on another sheet
Lr = 45.023960369 page 171, equation 3-25
Lt = 38.709677419 page 173, equation 3-26

Table Interpolator
To calculate exact value, enter values from
published table and needed value in shaded cells.
Calculated value is in non-shaded block.
Enter table values Needed
R 2500 3000 2473.526
e (%) 3.8 3.4 3.8211792

Table Interpolator
To calculate exact value, enter values from
published table and needed value in shaded cells.
Calculated value is in non-shaded block.
Enter table values Needed
R 1800 2000 1850
e (%) 4.6 4.3 4.525

Table Interpolator
To calculate exact value, enter values from
published table and needed value in shaded cells.
Calculated value is in non-shaded block.
Enter table values Needed
R 4000 5000 4600
e (%) 2.7 2.2 2.4
use table in Exhibit 3.14 on p 145

e desired radius value

tive with high R values

/R = 1/RPI in this example

on page 155 and also agrees with the appropriate AASHTO table.
AASHTO GB 2001 page 171

Lr =(wnl)ed(bw)/Δ

Lr = minimum length of superelevation runoff, ft

Δ = maximum relative gradient, %
nl = number of lanes rotated
bw = adjustment factor for number of lanes rotated
w = width of 1 traffic lane, ft (typically 12 ft)
ed = design superelevation rate, %
AASHTO GB 2001 page 173

Lt =eNCLr/ed

Lt = minimum length of tangent runout, ft

Lr = minimum length of superelevation runoff, ft
eNC = normal cross slope rate, %
ed = design superelevation rate, %
Note A: More rows of computations for individual curves can be added on the first page of the "Main sheet" by dragging (copying) the bottom row of the lower table
down. To add more rows than are available on page-1, the sheet must be unprotected and then the rows can be added. To do this highlight TOOLS > PROTECTION
UNPROTECT on the "Main sheet." Then use INSERT > ROWS to add more rows.

Note B: This spreadsheet uses no macros.

Note C: The calculation for ed is derived as in the example on page 155 of the AASHTO 2001 "green book."
The ed_preliminary cell value (rounded) will equal the ed cell, except in RC or NC situations. If rounded ed_preliminary is greater than 75% of normal crown and less
than or equal to 100% of normal crown, then the ed cell will display "RC." If 75% or less than normal crown the cell will display "NC."

Note D: This spreadsheet uses the Rmin formula on page 143 (fraction 1/15 rather than 0.067) for comparison with entered R to determine if the entered R value is belo
it. The reason for this is calculated Rmin was always smaller than when using the formula on page 152 and thus allowed the spreadsheet to accept the AASHTO table
Rmin in all cases.

Note E: Some of the cells restrict the entered data to values the spreadsheet can use (see the Excel menu: DATA > VALIDATION…).

Note F:

In order to verify the calculations using the AASHTO tables on pages 156 to 165, an attempt was made to find one single rounding method that made the
spreadsheet calculations match the tables in every (test) case. Initially no-rounding was used but the tables were not matched in every (test) case. In tests
of this spreadsheet it was found that the AASHTO tables on pages 156 to 165 do not round in a totally consistent way. The biggest difficulty seemed to be
with Rmin rounding. Since Rmin is the first calculation in the chain, it has a domino effect on the rest of the numbers. When it was discovered that no single
method matched the tables in every test case (including no rounding), the methods that came the closest (1and 2) were included in this spreadsheet with
the ability to select between them. A few more methods (3 and 4) were later added as necessary when the spreadsheet was more thoroughly tested (at
table extremes only). Finally, the "No rounding" option was added. Through all this the table below was added.

The table below was developed to "program" the rounding method the spreadsheet will use in a given case. The selected method depends on emax and
design speed (VD). The method selected from the table is shown in the "Rounding method used" box (the one in a hidden row of the "Main sheet"). See
note-10 on the "Main sheet" for descriptions of the different rounding methods. Method 4 will appear in the hidden "Rounding method used" box when "No
rounding" is shown in the "Rounding method select" box. This is because the only difference between method 4 and "No rounding" applies to Lt (runout) so
the switch is accomplished using an" "IF" function in the Lt cell rather than using a table entry (which would require making a lot of other cell formulas even
longer than they already are).

The "Rounding method selector table" back-up (below) contains values that make the spreadsheet match the 2001 AASHTO tables on pages 156 to 165
(tested only at extremes). The table used by the spreadsheet is found in hidden rows on the "Main sheet."
 BACK UP (the table actually used is in a hidden area of the Main sheet)

Rounding method emax

selector table
0.04 0.06 0.08 0.10 0.12
VD 15 2 1 2 2 2
(mph) 20 2 1 2 2 2
25 2 2 2 1 2
30 1 1 2 4 3
35 2 2 2 2 2
40 2 1 1 1 2
45 2 2 2 2 1
50 2 1 2 2 2
55 2 2 2 2 2
60 2 2 1 2 2
65 1 2 2 2 2
70 1 2 2 2 2
75 1 2 1 1 2
80 1 2 2 1 1

When "Auto select" appears in the "Rounding method select" box, the spreadsheet will use the hidden "Rounding method selector table" to
decide what rounding method to use in order to most closely match the AASHTO tables on pages 156 to 165. The decision making is accomplished using
"IF" functions in columns E, F, G, H, J, and L in the lower table of the first page. The cells look for a 1, 2, 3, or 4 in the "Rounding method used" box in a
hidden area of the Main sheet. The selected number is also shown in an unhidden "Rounding method used" cell to show what method is actually being
used by the spreadsheet.

The number selected by the spreadsheet was determined by testing the spreadsheet (at AASHTO table extremes only). The "Rounding method selector
table" entries can be changed by unprotecting the "Main sheet" and then unhiding the table rows. The "IF" statements mentioned earlier also
reference one of the three rows in the upper table on page one of the "Main sheet," depending on which method is selected (the unused rows in the table
will appear blank, determined using other IF statements that refer to the hidden "Rounding method used" box).

Note G: Rounding for decision making purposes is performed within the ed cell, to determine if RC or NC should be displayed. This rounding is done even when "No
rounding" is specified, however, when a number is displayed in the ed cell the numerical value is not rounded.
Note H: The hidden rows on the "Main sheet" would have been moved to another sheet but "Data validation" of Excel will not reference other sheets.

Note X: See the hidden column "Q" on the main sheet concerning the outdated method formerly used in Alaska for % runoff before the curve (2/3 of total transition
length). This column calculates the % runoff before the curve using the old method for comparison. Tests of this show that the difference from the AASHTO method
can be more than 50%. The old method was used until June 16, 2003 when the Alaska Preconstruction Manual was changed to use the AASHTO method. The
difference between the old Alaska method and the AASHTO method is that the old Alaska method used 2/3 of total transition length (runout plus runoff) rather than the
AASHTO method of using a percentage of runoff only. Page 175 of the 2001 AASHTO "green book" (first paragraph) talks about a majority of agencies using 0.67 of runoff on the
tangent. If this sounds like the old Alaska method, a careful re-read shows it isn't. Again, the outdated Alaska method used 0.67 (2/3) of TOTAL TRANSITION length (runout plus
runoff) before the curve, not 2/3 of runoff. Therefore beware of this when referencing Exhibit 3-30 on the same page and the paragraph below it.

Note-Y: Apply this note to column "R" hidden on the main sheet. This minimum transition length is not valid at reverse or compound curve transitions.

Note Z: This spreadsheet was created by Chris Pillar, Alaska Department of Transportation, Anchorage, Alaska.

Version History

Prior to version 4.1

The idea for this spreadsheet originated with a metric spreadsheet obtained from John Linnell. That spreadsheet dates to as far
back as 1998, perhaps earlier. It was used between 1998 and 2003. It required looking up the superelevation rate in the AASHTO
Green Book tables for each curve radius. That required some interpolation work because the tables only have certain radiuses in
them. From the entered radius and other input, the spreadsheet calculated runout, runoff, the entire transition length, and the
percent runoff before the curve for use in Land Desktop (and previous Softdesk-8) software. These calculations had to be done to
accommodate the long used Alaska Preconstruction manual method of positioning two thirds of the entire transition outside of the
curve (not the same as % runoff before the curve). In 2003 a change was made to the Alaska Preconstruction manual requiring
total use of the AASHTO Green Book for superelevation, rather than specifying the long used two thirds method. An update to the
spreadsheet was therefore needed.

As it turned out, the spreadsheet had to be totally rewritten for two reasons. First the AASHTO Green Book method of positioning
the transition is different. Second the spreadsheet had to be converted to English since the DOT converted back to English after a
few years of producing plans in metric units. As it ended up, nothing in the spreadsheet went unchanged.

The initial rewrite was done in the second week of January 2004. It still required looking up the superelevation rates in the AASHT
 Green Book tables. In the January 13, 2004 design meeting, Rick Oldford mentioned that the method for positioning superelevatio
had recently changed. Since the change was incorporated in the new spreadsheet, it was sent to him in an EMAIL attachment. He
responded by suggesting the spreadsheet be made to automatically look up the superelevation rate so the user didn't have to.

That work was done between mid January and the beginning of March 2004. Rather than look up superelevation rate, the
spreadsheet was made to calculate it. Test (beta) versions were sent out to Rick Oldford, Gary Steffens, and John Linnell. Some
their suggestions were incorporated.

Version 4.1 - March 8, 2004

The first distributed version.

Version 4.2 - April 30, 2004

The main reason for the update was version 4.1 had unintentional password protection.
Version 4.2 has no password protection.
Two other changes were made to make the formulas more efficient.
An error was corrected in a note on the "Spreadsheet Info" sheet (this sheet).

Version 5.3 (this version) - February 4, 2005

Version history notes were clarified and improved (this sheet).

Note-1 (Main sheet) was changed (clarified).
Note-2 (Main sheet) was changed (corrected / clarified).
Note-4 (Main sheet) was changed (corrected / clarified).
Two notes (Main sheet) involving the Alaska Preconstruction Manual were changed (manual date updated).
The word "except" was deleted from the design speed note (Main sheet)
"Transition on tangent" column (Main sheet) was added.
"Runoff on tangent" column (Main sheet) was added.
The "1/R" column (Main sheet) was removed to make room for the added columns.
The formula removed was incorporated into the cell to the right of the old one.
The hidden rows (Main sheet) that were there only as formula reference were deleted.
Old note-C (this sheet) was deleted (referred to hidden rows on the main sheet that no longer exist).
Old note-D (this sheet) was deleted because it was included in old note-H (this sheet).
Two notes on this sheet were moved up in the order of notes.
The notes on this sheet were relabeled in order (including new note C & D).
Note-7 (Main sheet) became note-12.
A new note-7 (Main sheet) was written about the new "Transition on tangent" column.
Note-8 (Main sheet) became note-11.
A new note-8 (Main sheet) was written about the new "Runoff on tangent" column.
Note-9 (Main sheet) had a sentence added and was clarified.
"Extras" header was added (Main sheet).
"Curve information" header was added (Main sheet).
Spacing and text of the "Entered radius (R)" message was changed to "Entered R" and the spacing of the rest of
the message was changed in new columns E through H (Main sheet).
Redundant "(see p 155)" note was deleted from column H (Main sheet).
The Lt column formula (Main sheet) was changed. When correct, the Lt value should equal the Lr value when RC is
displayed in the ed cell. In previous versions this was not always true because the formula used ed_preliminary
not eNC. The calculated Lt may therefore have been slightly longer than necessary. This was fixed by adding
another IF function to the formula in the Lt cell to account for the RC case.
The last paragraph of Note-F (this sheet) was corrected.
Centered the vertical alignment of text and made the row height of cells uniform (this sheet).
ttom row of the lower table
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