Effect of Gravity and Centrifugal

Forces
Superelevation
• May be defined as the
one-sided transverse slope
obtained by raising the
outer edge of the
pavement with respect to
the inner edge throughout
the length of the curve to
counteract the effects of
centrifugal force like
overturning and skidding.
• It is expressed as the
height of the height of the
outer edge with respect to
the horizontal width.
Design of Roadwary Parameters

• Design of roadway curves should be based on

an appropriate relationship between design
speed and curvature and on their joint
relationships with superelevation and side
friction.
Two forms of Road Surface
Superelevation Transitions

Consists of Runoff and Tanent Runout Sections

• Runoff: length of roadway needed to
accomplish a change in outside lane cross
slope from zero to full.
• Runout: length of roadway needed to
accomplish a change in outside lane cross
slope from normal rate to zero
Superelevation Transitions
Superelevation Transitions
Analysis of Superelevation
• Consider the force diagram in
the figure.
• If the vehicle is traveling
around a curve with a radius R
at a constant speed v, there
will be radial acceleration
toward the center of the curve
(toward the left in the diagram)
of
• Which will be opposed by a
force of
Analysis of Superelevation
• Summing forces parallel to the roadway
gives

• and noting that

• may be rewritten as

• Dividing by leads to
Analysis of Superelevation

• But is the cross-slope of the roadway,

which is the same as the superelevation
rate e. Consequently,
or

• The term is small compared to one, and

may be omitted, so the relationship can be
simplified to
Also
Analysis of Superelevation

• Where e is the rate of superelevation and f is

the coefficient of lateral friction, V is the
velocity of the vehicle in km/h, R is the radius
of the curve in meters and g is the
acceleration due to gravity in m/s2 and K is the
design speed in km/h.
2 2
V 0 . 0079 K
e also e 
127 ( f  e ) R
Length of the Superelevation Runofff L

where: L = minimum length of spiral

V = speed, km/h
R = curve radius, m
C = rate of increase of centripetal
acceleration, m/s3
Difference in Grade
The difference in grade between the centerline and
the edge is:

Since the criterion that the difference in grade not

exceed 1/200 implies that

L is given by

L is normally rounded up to some convenient length,

such as a multiple of 20m.
Centrifugal Ratio
2
F V
Centrifugal Ratio  
W gr
where: V = speed, km/h
g = acceleration due to gravity, m/s2
r = radius of the curve

The Centrifugal ratio is equal to the Impact

Factor
Sample Problem 1

A car having a weight of 40 kN is moving at a certain

speed around a given curve. Neglecting friction
between the tire and pavement and assuming a
centrifugal ratio of 0.30
a. Compute the force that will tend to pull the car
away from the center of the curve in kN.
F F
Centrifuga l force  0 . 30  ; F  12 kN
W 0 . 40
Sample Problems

b. If the degree of curve is 4o, compute the max.

speed in kph that a car could move around the
curve.

V2 1145 . 916
Centrifuga l force  r ; r  286 . 48
gr 4

V2
0 .30  ; V  29 .04 m / s ; V  104 .53 kph
9 .81 ( 286 .48 )
Sample Problems

c. Compute the value of the superelevation to be

actually provided for the speed if the skid
resistance is 0.12.
V2
R
127 ( e  f )

(104 .53) 2
286 .48  ; e  0.18
127 ( e  0.12 )
Sample Problem 2

A two lane spiral easement curve having a spiral

length of 60 m has a super elevation of 0.06 and a
difference of grade of 1/250 between the center line
and the road edge. Radius of central curve is 420 m.
a. Compute the width required for each lane.

De 1 D ( 0 .6 ) 1
  ; D 4m
L 250 60 250
Sample Problems

b. Compute the velocity of a car moving along this

curve if it has a friction factor of 0.15.

V2
R
127 ( e  f )

V2
420  ; V  105 .84 kph
127 ( 0 .06  0 .15 )
Sample Problems

c. Compute its centrifugal ratio

2
V
Centrifuga l ratio 
gr

105 .84 (1000 )

V ; V  29.4 m / s
3600
 Thank you
End of Presentation