Lec 24, Ch.16, pp.

720-723:
Superelevation runoff (objectives)
Know the definition of superelevation
runoff
Know the minimum superelevation runoff
lengths for 2-lane pavements and how to
adjust them to wider pavements
Become familiar with methods for attaining
superelevation
What we discuss in class today
Definition of superelevation runoff
Minimum superelevation runoff lengths for
2-lane pavements
How to adjust minimum superelevation
runoff lengths for wider pavements
Methods to attain superelevation
Relation between superelevation runoff
What is superelevation runoff?
Superelevation runoff the
length of highway needed to
accomplish the change in cross slope
from a section with adverse crown (in
a typical 2-lane pavement case)
removed to a fully superelevated
section, or vice versa.
Tangent runout the length of
highway needed to accomplish the
change in cross slope from a normal
crown section to a section with the
adverse crown removed, or vice
versa.
PC
Superelevation runoff
Tangent runout
(Normal Crown)
(Adverse Crown)
(Full Superelevation)
Where is the superelevation runoff
located in relation to PC?
Use similar
grades
Adverse crown
Relative grade
Min. superelevation runoff lengths for 2-lane pavements
See the handout given out in class for new values.
A few considerations about
superelevation runoff lengths
3-lane pavements: 1.2 times the corresponding length for 2-
lane highways
4-lane, undivided pavements: 1.5 times the corresponding
length for 2-lane highways
6-lane, undivided pavements: 2.0 times the corresponding
length for 2-lane highways
Attainment of superelevation
1. A crowned pavement is rotated
about the profile of the center
line. Most popular for 2-lane
pavements
2. A crowned pavement is rotated
about the profile of the inside edge
after the superelevation with the
normal crown % is reached. Because
of this the center line profile elevation
rises after point C.
Attainment of superelevation (cont)
3. The center line profile is lowered until adverse
crown is reached then this continues till you get
superelevation with the normal crown %. Then
after that the pavement is revolved around the
outer edge. Because of this the center line profile
continues to go down.
4. A straight cross-
slope pavement is
rotated about the
profile of the outside
edge.
Removing angular breaks
In practice, the angular
breaks are
appropriately rounded
by using short vertical
curves.
Sample problem:
Given:
Design speed: 70 mph
Superelevation: 6%
2-lane 2-way highway
Lane width = 12 ft
Cross slope = 1.5%
From Exhibit 3-29, the length of superelevation
runoff is 180 ft. Now what is the length of
tangent runout and the station of beginning and
ending of superelevation runoff and tangent
runout when the station of PC is STA 100 + 50?
PC: STA 100+50
Rise at the outer edge is: 12ft x 0.06 = 0.72ft
Relative gradient is: 0.72ft / 180ft = 0.004=0.4%
Tangent runout is: (12ft x 0.015)/0.004 = 45 ft
180ft 45ft
45ft
About 1/3 of superelevation
runoff in in the curve = 180/3
= About 60 ft in the curve.
About 2/3 is in the tangent =
120 ft.
STA 101+10
STA 99+30
STA 98+85 STA 99+75