University of Kirkuk

College of Engineering

Civil Department

Report Title

Transvers or cross slopes

Presented by the Student: Bashdar azad abdulrahman

Presented by the Student: Stage: Fourth

Supervised by: Mr. Hayder Shanbara

Deliver Date: Sunday, March8.2021

Group: (A)

1
 Introduction

Cross slope, cross fall or camber is a geometric feature of pavement surfaces: the transverse
slope with respect to the horizon. It is a very important safety factor. Cross slope is provided to
provide a drainage gradient so that water will run off the surface to a drainage system such as
a street gutter or ditch. Inadequate cross slope will contribute to aquaplaning. On straight sections
of normal two-lane roads, the pavement cross section is usually highest in the center and drains to
both sides. In horizontal curves, the cross slope is banked into superelevation to reduce steering
effort and lateral force required to go around the curve. All water drains to the inside of the curve.
If the cross slope magnitude oscillates within 1–25 metres (3–82 ft), the body and payload of high
(heavy) vehicles will experience high roll vibration.

Cross slope or camber is a geometric feature of pavement surfaces: the transverse slope with
respect to the horizon. It is a very important safety factor. Cross slope is provided to provide a
drainage gradient so that water will run off the surface to a drainage system such as a street gutter
or ditch. Inadequate cross slope will contribute to aquaplaning. On straight sections of normal two-
lane roads, the pavement cross section is usually highest in the center and drains to both sides. In
horizontal curves, the cross slope is banked into superelevation to reduce steering effort and lateral
force required to go around the curve. All water drains to the inside of the curve. If the cross slope
magnitude oscillates within 1–25 metres, the body and payload of high vehicles will experience
high roll vibration. Cross slope is usually expressed as a percentage: Cross slope . Cross Slope is
the angle in the vertical plane from a horizontal line to a line on the surface, which is perpendicular
to the center line. Typical values range from 2 percent for straight segments to 10 percent for sharp
superelevated curves.

2
 Clarifications

Cross slope criteria apply to typical tangent alignments. On high-speed roadways, normal cross
slope is 1.5–2.0 percent, with the cross-slope break (the algebraic difference in slopes between the
lanes) at the centerline not exceeding 4 percent. In areas of intense rainfall and where there are
three or more lanes in each direction, additional cross slope may be necessary for adequate
drainage. Accomplishing other design features (superelevation transitions, pavement warping at
intersections, etc.) will inevitably require removal of cross slope in spot locations. These cases are
routine and necessary in design and a design exception is not required.

Cross Slope Resources

A Policy on Design Standards Interstate System, AASHTO, 2005.

A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets, AASHTO, 2004.

A Guide for Reducing Collisions on Horizontal Curves, NCHRP Report 500, Volume 7,
Transportation Research Board, 2004.

A Guide for Reducing Collisions Involving Heavy Trucks, NCHRP Report 500, Volume 13,
Transportation Research Board, 2004.

A Guide for Addressing Run-Off-Road Collisions, NCHRP Report 500, Volume 6, Transportation
Research Board, 2003.

Guidelines for Geometric Design of Very Low-Volume Local Roads (ADT ≤ 400), AASHTO, 2001.

Highway Drainage Guidelines, AASHTO, 2000.

3
What is the percent of the slope for an area that has 3 feet of rise over 100 feet of run?
And, if a trail is built, what is the percentage of cross slope necessary to adequately shed water
trailside?
To calculate the slope for 3 feet of rise over 100 feet of run is: 3 divided by 100 equals 0.03, and
multiplied by 100 to get the percentage, which is 3%.

To calculate cross slope is easy. The Rule of 1/3 states that the grade slope should be 1/3 of the
cross slope. Or, stated another way, cross slope should be three times larger than grade slope. If
the grade slope is 3%, then cross slope must be 3 times larger or 9%.
The answers are 3% grade slope and 9% cross slope.

Find The Slope Of Your Trail

It’s easy to collect this information in the field. Pound two stakes along the slope of interest. Tie
a rope at the base of the uphill stake. Next, tie the other end of the rope to the downhill stake at
the point where the rope is level. On the downhill stake, measure from the ground to the height
of the rope to determine the rise. Measure the length of rope between the two stakes for the run.
Do the math as stated above.

4
 Shape and Types of Cross Slope or camber

In the field of course, camber of the pavement cross section is provide with a suitable shape.
Different shapes that are commonly adopt are parabolic, straight line or as well as straights with
parabolic curve at the top. In cement concrete pavements, straight line camber is usually adopt as
it is easy to lay the same during construction and also as the camber require is relatively flat.

5
 Roadway Cross Slope

The cross slope on tangents and curves is a main element in roadway design. The cross slope or
crown on tangent sections and large radius curves is complicated by the following two
contradicting controls:

 Reasonably steep cross slopes aid in water runoff and minimize ponding as a result of pavement
imperfections and unequal settlement.

 Steeper cross slopes are noticeable in steering, increase the tendency for vehicles to drift to the
low side of the roadway, and increase the susceptibility of vehicles to slide to the side on icy or
wet pavements.

A 2% cross slope is normally used for tangents and large-radius curves on high and intermediate
pavement types, although cross slopes may vary from the target 2%. The algebraic difference in
cross slopes is an operational factor that can affect vehicles making a lane change across a grade-
break during a passing maneuver on a two-lane two-way roadway. Its influence increases when
increased traffic volumes decrease the number and size of available passing opportunities. On
ramps with metering, consider how cross slopes can impact driver comfort within the queue.
Additionally, larger cross slopes may present concerns about maintaining vehicle lateral position
within the queue lane, depending on weather and resulting pavement conditions. A somewhat
steeper cross slope may be needed to facilitate recommended drainage design, even though this
might be less desirable from an operational point of view. In such areas, consider not exceeding
design cross slopes of 2.5% with an algebraic difference of 5%. For a two-lane two-way roadway,
provide an algebraic difference to meet the appropriate conditions stated above except when
drainage design recommends otherwise.

6
 Shoulders

Shoulder cross slopes are normally the same as the cross slopes for adjacent lanes. With
justification, shoulder slopes may be increased to 6%. On the high side of a roadway with a plane
section, such as a turning roadway in superelevation, the shoulder may slope in the opposite
direction from the adjacent lane. The maximum difference in slopes between the lane and the
shoulder is 8%. Locations where it may be desirable to have a shoulder slope different than the
adjacent lane are:

 Where curbing is used.

 Where shoulder surface is bituminous, gravel, or crushed rock.

 Where overlays are planned and it is desirable to maintain the grade at the edge of the
shoulder.

 On divided highways with depressed medians where it is desirable to drain the runoff into the
median.

 On the high side of the superelevation on curves where it is desirable to drain stormwater or
meltwater away from the roadway.

 At intersections where pedestrian signal accommodations are provided within the shoulder.

7
 Calculation

One way to express slope is as a percentage. To calculate percent slope, divide the
difference between the elevations of two points by the distance between them, then
multiply the quotient by 100. The difference in elevation between points is called the
rise. The distance between the points is called the run. Thus,

𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒆
Cross slope= 𝒓𝒖𝒏 * %100

𝟏𝟎𝟎
1. Cross slope=𝟏𝟎𝟎 * %100=100
𝟓𝟎
2. Cross slope= * %100=50
𝟏𝟎𝟎

Calculating percent slope. A rise of 100 feet over a run of 100 feet yields a 100
percent slope. A 50-foot rise over a 100-foot run yields a 50 percent slope. Another
way to express slope is as a slope angle, or degree of slope. As shown below, if you
visualize rise and run as sides of a right triangle, then the degree of slope is the angle
opposite the rise. Since degree of slope is equal to the tangent of the fraction rise/run,
𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒆
Slope degree= artcan ( )
𝒓𝒖𝒏

𝟏𝟎𝟎
1. Slope degree= artcan ( 𝟏𝟎𝟎) = 45°
𝟓𝟎
2. Slope degree= artcan ( 𝟏𝟎𝟎) = 26.6°

A rise of 100 feet over a run of 100 feet yields a 45° slope angle. A rise of 50 feet
over a run of 100 feet yields a 26.6° slope angle.

8
 Conclusion

1) When the vehicle travels at mid or high speed (90 km/h above), the impact of standing water
depth on hydrodynamic pressure is very apparent, especially with standing water depth ranging
from 5 mm to 8 mm, the increasing rate is the most apparent. Therefore it is suggested that the car
should travel at mid or low speed (65 ~ 85 km/h) on wet-weather road at the same time highway
designing department should pay attention to the design of drainage and maintenance in order to
reduce the standing water on the road surface.
2) The results show that when the standing water depth is far less than the tire tread groove depth,
the tire tread grooves can completely drain water and the hydroplaning phenomenon don t take
place any more, which explains the variation of hydrodynamic pressure is the most apparent when
the standing water depth ranges from 5 mm to 8 mm; when standing water depth closes to (or large
than) tire tread depth, he tire tread grooves cannot drain off hydrops in the tire grooves completely
timely, and the action coverage of the high pressure induced by hydrodynamic pressure will occur
in the front of the tire. And with the standing water depth increasing, the area of high-pressure
zone will increase markedly. The tire tread groove cannot drain water as original while the tire
deviates from the road.