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Superelevation is the banking of the roadway along a
horizontal curve so that the drivers can negotiate the
curve at safe and comfortable speed.

Normal crown

Dr. Rizwan Memon Fully superelevated 2

Superelevation “e” and side friction coefficient “f” on horizontal curves

Dr. Rizwan Memon 3

 From the laws of mechanics, the basic formula that governs vehicle
Operation on a curve is:

0.01e + f v2
=
1 − 0.01ef gR

In practice: 1 − 0.01ef  1
v2
0.01e + f =
gR
v : vehicle speed, (m/s or ft/s)
R: radius of curve, (m or ft)
e: rate of superelevation, percent
f: side friction factor (lateral ratio, cornering ratio, unbalanced
Dr. Rizwan Memon centrifugal ratio) 4
 Minimum Radius (Rmin)

It is minimum value of curvature for a given design speed and is

determined from emax and fmax

V2
Rmin =
127(0.01emax + f max )
v : vehicle speed, km/h
R: radius of curve, m
e: rate of superelevation, percent
f: side friction factor (lateral ratio)
Dr. Rizwan Memon
V2
Rmin =
15(0.01emax + f max )
v : vehicle speed, mph
R: radius of curve, ft
e: rate of superelevation, percent
f: side friction factor (lateral ratio)
5
 Get familiar with GB tables

Minimum radius with design speed

Dr. Rizwan Memon 6

Dr. Rizwan Memon 7
For a given design speed v, there are multiple combinations of e and f
for sustaining centripetal acceleration on curves. Green book
recommends 5 methods.

Method 1: Superelevation and side friction are directly proportional to

the inverse of the radius

Method 2: Start with using side friction f up to fmax, then f remains

fmax, then e is used until emax

Method 3: start with using e, until emax, then e remains emax, and f is
used until fmax

Method 4: same as method 3, but using average running speed instead

of design speed

Method 5: e and f are in a curvilinear relation with 1/R

Dr. Rizwan Memon 8
Dr. Rizwan Memon 9
Tangent runout (crown runoff) section :

Length of roadway needed to accomplish a change in out-

side cross slope from normal cross slope rate to zero

Runoff section :

Length of roadway needed to accomplish a change in

out-side cross slope from zero to full superelevation

Dr. Rizwan Memon 10

 Tangent Run-out Profile

0%

Normal crown

Dr. Rizwan Memon 11

 Supperelevation runoff

0% 
Normal crown Relative gradient

Dr. Rizwan Memon 12

Dr. Rizwan Memon 13
Minimum Length of Tangent Runout

eNC  Lr
Lt =
ed
where
◼ Lt = minimum length of tangent
runout (ft or m)
◼ eNC = normal cross slope rate (%)

◼ ed = design superelevation rate

◼ Lr = minimum length of superelevation

runoff (ft or m)
Dr. Rizwan Memon 14
Minimum Length of Superelevation Runoff

( wn1 )ed 12 e
Lr = (bw ) Lr = 
where  G
◼ Lr = minimum length of superelevation

runoff (ft)
◼ Δ or G = maximum relative gradient(%)

◼ n1 = number of lanes rotated

◼ bw or α= adjustment factor for number

of lanes
◼ w = width of one traffic lane

eRizwan
◼ Dr. d = design
Memon superelevation rate 15
Keep water drainage in mind while considering all of the
available cross-section options

Dr. Rizwan Memon 16

Axis of rotation:

Undivided highways are usually superelevated with the axis of rotation

at the roadways centerline

Axis of rotation

Superelevated section
Normal cross section

Dr. Rizwan Memon 17

Muti-lane highways with depressed medians are usually superelevated with the axis of
Rotation at the median edges of the traveled way.

Axis of rotation

Median width

Dr. Rizwan Memon 18

 Transition Curves

◼ Gradually changing the curvature from tangents to circular

curves
Without Transition Curves

With Transition Curves

Dr. Rizwan Memon 19

Spiral Curve:

Spiral curves are curves with a continuously

changing radii, they are sometimes used on
high-speed roadways with sharp horizontal
curves and are sometimes used to gradually
introduce the superelevation of an upcoming
horizontal curve

Dr. Rizwan Memon 20

Spiral Transition:

1. Spiral transition tends to promote uniformity in speed as a

vehicles enters and leaves a circular curve

2. The transition curve length provides a suitable location for

the superelevation runoff.

3. Use of spiral transition provides flexibility in accomplishing

the widening of sharp curves

4. The appearance of the highway or street is enhanced by

the application of spiral transition curves
Dr. Rizwan Memon 21
Dr. Rizwan Memon 22
 length of spiral – should be larger of 1, 2

V 3 V3
Ls ,min = 0.0214 OR Ls ,min = 3.15 (1)
RC RC

Ls ,min = 24( pmin ) R (2)

Maximum length of spiral: Ls ,max = 24( Pmax ) R (3)

Where,

Ls,min = minimum length of spiral, (m or ft)

Ls,max = maximum length of spiral, m
Pmin = minimum lateral shift that occurs as a result of the natural steering
behavior of most drivers (0.20m or 0.66ft)
Pmax = maximum lateral shift that occurs as a result of the natural steering
behavior of most drivers (1.0 m or 3.3 ft)
R = radius of circular curve, m
V = design speed, (kmph or mph)
C = maximum rate Memon
Dr. Rizwan of change in lateral acceleration, (1.2 m/s3 or 4 ft/s3) 23