9/23/2020

IOE Pulchowk Campus

CE 653 Transportation Engineering I

Rojee Pradhananga
(rojee.pradhananga@pcampus.edu.np)

Review
IOE Pulchowk Campus

❖ Discuss the major criterions to be considered in design of

horizontal curve
a) Overturning effect b) Skidding effect
c) Comfort to passenger d) Economy in travel

❖ What is superelevation? How it is measured?

❖ Expression for superelevation.
❖ What is equilibrium superelevation?
❖ Design recommendation for maximum and minimum
superelevation.

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IOE Pulchowk Campus

Chapter 3 Geometric Design of Highway

Elements of Horizontal Alignment

Rojee Pradhananga 3

Design of Superelevation
IOE Pulchowk Campus

❖ For fast moving vehicles, higher superelevation without

considering coefficient of friction is reasonable.
❖ For slow moving vehicles lower superelevation
considering coefficient of friction is safe.

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Design of Superelevation
IOE Pulchowk Campus

❖ Design procedure (suggested by Indian Road Congress IRC):

Step 1: Calculate the superelevation for 75% design speed without
considering coefficient of friction f:

(0.75𝑣)2 (0.75𝑉)2
𝑒= 𝑜𝑟
𝑔𝑅 127𝑅

Design of Superelevation
IOE Pulchowk Campus

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Step 2: If the calculated value of 𝑒 ≤ (7%), the value so obtained is provided.
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If 𝑒 > 7%, provide a maximum e of 7% and proceed to step 3 and 4.

Step 3: Check the coefficient of lateral friction for the maximum e=7%
𝑉2
𝑓= −e
127𝑅

If calculated 𝑓 ≤ 0.15, the maximum e of 7% is safe for the design

speed. If 𝑓 > 0.15, proceed to Step 4.

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Design of Superelevation
IOE Pulchowk Campus

Step 4: Calculate the allowable speed for e=7% and f =0.15.

𝑉𝑎 = 127 𝑅 𝑒 + 𝑓

If 𝑉𝑎 < design speed, the speed is limited to 𝑉𝑎 and needs warning sign
and speed limit regulations.

Design of Superelevation
IOE Pulchowk Campus

NRS 2070:

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Design of Superelevation
IOE Pulchowk Campus

NURS 2076:

Superelevation Problem
IOE Pulchowk Campus

The design speed of a highway with mixed traffic is

75kmph and radius of horizontal curve is 140m. Design
superelevation for the highway. If the maximum
superelevation of 7% is not to be exceeded, calculate the
maximum allowable speed on this horizontal curve.
Assume coefficient of lateral friction is 0.15.

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Method of Providing Superelevation

IOE Pulchowk Campus

❖ The provision of superelevation from cambered to full

superelevation should be made gradually.

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Method of Providing Superelevation

IOE Pulchowk Campus

❖ Involves:
A. Elimination of crown of the cambered section
B. Rotation of the pavement cross section to attain full
superelevation

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Method of Providing Superelevation

IOE Pulchowk Campus

A. Elimination of crown of the cambered section:

• By rotation of the outer surface:
- The outer half of the cross slope is rotated about the crown at a
desired rate such that the surface falls on the same plane as the inner
half.

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Method of Providing Superelevation

IOE Pulchowk Campus

• By shifting position of crown (Diagonal crown method):

- The crown is progressively shifted outwards, thus increasing the
width of the inner half of cross-section progressively.

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Method of Providing Superelevation

IOE Pulchowk Campus

B. Rotation of the pavement cross section to attain full

superelevation
• Rotation of roadway surface about its center line:
- Full superelevation is attained by depressing the inner edge and raising
the outer edge
- Balanced earthwork and least distortion to centerline

CL CL
CL
E/2

E/2

Rotation about CL Rotation about Inner edge

Rotation about Outer Edge
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Method of Providing Superelevation

IOE Pulchowk Campus

• Rotation of roadway surface about its inner edge:

- Inner edge is taken as axis of rotation. Outer edge is raised.
- Provided in very flat terrain with high rainfall to prevent drainage

CL
CL
E/2

out CL Rotation about Inner edge

Rotation about Outer Edge

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Method of Providing Superelevation

IOE Pulchowk Campus

• Rotation of roadway surface about its outer edge:

- Outer edge is taken as axis of rotation. Inner edge is depressed.

L
CL

out Inner edge

Rotation about Outer Edge

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Method of Providing Superelevation

IOE Pulchowk Campus

❖ Selection of method depends on rainfall and terrain type

❖The crowned cross-slope should be changed to single cross-
slope before start of the circular curve and full superelevation
should be provided at the start of the circular curve.
❖Where transition curve cannot be provided for some reasons,
2/3rd of the superelevation will be attained on the straight
section before start of the circular curve and balance 1/3rd on
the curve (IRC).

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Method of Providing Superelevation

IOE Pulchowk Campus

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Radius of Horizontal Curve

IOE Pulchowk Campus

❖ Ruling radius (Maximum e and f ):

𝑣2
𝑅𝑟𝑢𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 =
𝑔 (𝑒+𝑓)

❖ Minimum radius for different combination of design speed and super

elevation:
NRS (2070) NRRS (2071)

Please check
Please check

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Radius of Curves from Night Visibility Considerations

IOE Pulchowk Campus

❖ Half of the road crashes occurs at night

❖ Visibility is attained by headlights

l: Length of the wheelbase

S: Distance of the object from driver
R: Radius of curve required to see the object
𝛼: Angle of headlight beam dispersion on
horizontal plane
𝛽: Angle subtended by an arc of a length equal
(S+l)

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Radius of Curves from Night Visibility Considerations

IOE Pulchowk Campus

𝜋
𝑆 + 𝑙 = 𝑅𝛽 ×
180
𝑆+𝑙 180
𝑅=
𝜋𝛽
𝑆+𝑙 180 28.6 𝑆+𝑙
From figure, 𝛽 = 2𝛼 𝑅= =
𝜋 ×2𝛼 𝛼

30𝑆
Since 𝑙 ≪ S, 𝑅≈
𝛼

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Radius of Curves from Night Visibility Considerations

IOE Pulchowk Campus

❖ 𝛼 is 20 approximately. For sight distance of 100m to

300 m, radius required is 1500m to 4500m.
❖ Often not possible in hill roads

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Extra Widening
IOE Pulchowk Campus

❖ It is common to widen the pavement for small radius

horizontal curve
❖ The increased width is called extra widening of the
pavement.

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Extra Widening
IOE Pulchowk Campus

❖ Reasons of providing extra width

• Off-tracking due to rigidity of wheel base
• Tendency of driver to use outer lane for greater visibility

Off-tracking Tendency to use outer lane

for greater visibility
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Extra Widening
IOE Pulchowk Campus

• Transverse skidding at higher speeds

• Psychological tendency to maintain greater clearance in
curves with safety consideration
• Trailer units require larger width at the curves

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Extra Widening
IOE Pulchowk Campus

❖ Amount of extra widening to be provided depends on:

a. length of wheel base of the vehicle l
b. radius of the curve R
c. psychological factor

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Analysis of Extra Widening

IOE Pulchowk Campus

a. Mechanical Widening:
• The widening required to account for the off-tracking

R1: Radius of the path traversed by the

outer rear wheel
R2 : Radius of the path traversed by the
outer front wheel
Wm : Mechanical widening
𝑙: Length of wheel base.

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Analysis of Extra Widening

IOE Pulchowk Campus

𝑅2 = 𝑅1 + 𝑊𝑚
𝑅22 = 𝑅12 + 𝑙 2 = (𝑅2 −𝑊𝑚 )2 + 𝑙2
𝑅22 = 𝑅22 − 2𝑅2 𝑊𝑚 + 𝑊𝑚2 + 𝑙2
2𝑅2 𝑊𝑚 − 𝑊𝑚2 = 𝑙2
𝑙2
𝑊𝑚 =
2𝑅2 −𝑊𝑚
𝑙2
𝑅2 ≅ 𝑅1 ≅ 𝑅 (Mean radius) and 𝑊𝑚 ≪ R: 𝑊𝑚 = 2𝑅
𝑛𝑙 2
For road with n lanes: 𝑊𝑚 =
2𝑅
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Analysis of Extra Widening

IOE Pulchowk Campus

b. Psychological Widening:
Widening provided for psychological reasons: tendency of
drivers to drive near outer edge of pavement in curves,
tendency of drivers to keep greater clearance for crossing and
overtaking.
Empirical relation proposed by IRC:

𝑉 V: Design speed in Kmph

𝑊𝑝𝑠𝑦 = R: Radius of curve (m)
9.5 𝑅

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Analysis of Extra Widening

IOE Pulchowk Campus

Total widening (We) required on a horizontal curve:

𝑊𝑒 = 𝑊𝑚 + 𝑊𝑝𝑠𝑦

𝑛𝑙 2 𝑉
𝑊𝑒 = +
2𝑅 9.5 𝑅

n: number of traffic lanes.

l: Length of wheelbase in m.
6.1m
V: Design speed, kmph
R: Radius of horizontal curve, m.

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Extra Widening
IOE Pulchowk Campus

NRS 2070:

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Extra Widening
IOE Pulchowk Campus

NRRS 2071:

NURS 2076: Please check

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Extra Widening Problem

IOE Pulchowk Campus

Find the total pavement width required for four lane

highway on a horizontal curve of radius 200 m. The
design speed is 50 kmph and length of the wheel base of
vehicle is 6.1m.

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Tasks
IOE Pulchowk Campus

➢Review design of superelevation and methods of providing

superelevation
➢Radius of horizontal curve, for night visibility
➢Review extra widening: mechanical and psychological
widening, design recommendations

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