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Element Method in Alignment Design

This white paper discusses alignment element design using the element method in Civil 3D. It describes the different types of alignment elements as straights and curves. Elements can be fixed, floating, or free based on their fixity and how they are defined. Fixed elements have a completely fixed position, floating elements have more freedom of movement, and free elements have the most freedom. Examples are provided for how each type of element is defined in terms of points, lengths, radii, and other parameters. More advanced element design techniques are outlined for future white papers to cover.

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19 views5 pages

Element Method in Alignment Design

This white paper discusses alignment element design using the element method in Civil 3D. It describes the different types of alignment elements as straights and curves. Elements can be fixed, floating, or free based on their fixity and how they are defined. Fixed elements have a completely fixed position, floating elements have more freedom of movement, and free elements have the most freedom. Examples are provided for how each type of element is defined in terms of points, lengths, radii, and other parameters. More advanced element design techniques are outlined for future white papers to cover.

Uploaded by

BLG Infycons
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

White Paper

Reference: [gr0808] August 2014


Guide by Graham Riddleston

Page 1 of 5

Introduction to Alignment Element Design


Introduction
When designing horizontal or vertical alignments in Civil 3D there are two methods available to locate and join curves, straights
and transitions. They can be described as:

1. Design by Intersection Points (IP Method)

2. Design by Elements (Element Method)

This white paper will address the use of the Element Method only. The IP method is explained in a separate white paper.

Also see the short video on the Cadline Community: Back to Basics 20 – Introduction to Alignment Element Design.

Types of Alignment Elements


Geometric elements used in alignment design can be defined as Straights and Curves. Transition curves could be considered as
another element type but they are always associated with a curve and cannot be placed in isolation.

Types of Fixity
Each type of element can be given an amount of fixity which are: Fixed, Floating and Free. Below are examples of each.

Fixed Elements:
Fixed elements have a completely fixed positon in space. Examples of fixed elements are:

Fixed Straight – Defined by:

 2 points

 from curve end, length

Fixed Curves – Defined by:

 3 points

[Link] 01784 419 922 sales@[Link]


White Paper
Reference: [gr0808] August 2014
Guide by Graham Riddleston

Page 2 of 5

 Two points and a bearing at the first point

 Two points and a bearing at the second point

 Two points and a radius

 Centre point and a radius

 Centre point, through a point

 Through a point, bearing at a point, and a radius

 From an element end, through a point

[Link] 01784 419 922 sales@[Link]


White Paper
Reference: [gr0808] August 2014
Guide by Graham Riddleston

Page 3 of 5

Floating Elements:
Floating elements have more freedom of movement than fixed elements and are generally floated onto existing fixed elements.
Examples of floating elements are:

Floating Straight – Defined by:

 From a curve, through a point

 From a curve end, with a defined length

Floating Curves – Defined by:

 From an element, radius, through a point

 From an element end, through a point

[Link] 01784 419 922 sales@[Link]


White Paper
Reference: [gr0808] August 2014
Guide by Graham Riddleston

Page 4 of 5

 From an element end, radius, length

 from an element, through a point, bearing at point

Free Elements:
Free elements have the most freedom of movement. They are fitted between fixed or floating elements. Examples of free
elements are:

Free Straight – Defined by:

 Between two curves

Free Curves – Defined by:

 Between two elements, a radius

[Link] 01784 419 922 sales@[Link]


White Paper
Reference: [gr0808] August 2014
Guide by Graham Riddleston

Page 5 of 5

 Between two elements, through a point

Advanced Element Design

The methods described above cover the basic usage of Fixed, Floating and Free elements in Element Based Design. More
advanced tools that expand on these techniques are also available which will be covered in later white papers. They include:

 Best fit fixed and floating straights


 Best fit fixed, floating and free curves
 Floating straights with transitions
 Floating curves with transitions
 Floating reverse curves with transitions
 Free transition to curve to transition
 Free compound curves with transitions
 Free reverse compound curves with transitions
 Fixed transitions
 Free transitions
.

[Link] 01784 419 922 sales@[Link]

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