SUPERELEVATION
• Superelevation on a circular curve needs to be provided to counteract the
effect of centrifugal force on the vehicle.
• If superelevation is not provided, then it may cause either skidding or
overturning of a vehicle or both.
SUPERELEVATION
• Cases are:
• Not superelevated carriageway:
• Case 1: for skidding
• Case 2: for overturning
• Superelevated case:
• Case 3: for skidding
• Case 4: for overturning
SUPERELEVATION
• Case 1: Skidding, carriageway not superelevated
NUMERICAL
Flat Section:
• Example: A carriageway has been constructed without raising the outer section on a
horizontal curve. The radius of the curve is 600 m. Calculate the limiting speed of the
vehicle so that there is no possibility of skidding on the curve. Take coefficient of lateral
friction as 0.15 and acceleration due to gravity as 10 m/s2.
Solution:
Limiting speed for no skidding on flat cross-section
/
𝑚 𝑘𝑚
𝑉 𝑓 𝑔 𝑅 30 108
𝑠 ℎ
Hence, the speed on the section shall be kept up to 100 km/h, so that there is no chance of
skidding.
NUMERICAL
Flat Section:
• Example: A carriageway has been constructed without raising the outer section on a horizontal
curve. The vehicle are moving at a speed of 65 km/h. Calculate the maximum radius of the
circular curve so that there is no possibility of skidding on this curve. Take coefficient of lateral
friction as 0.15 and acceleration due to gravity as 10 m/s2.
Solution:
Limiting speed for no skidding on flat cross-section
/
𝑉 (65/3.6)
𝑉 𝑓 𝑔 𝑅 ≫ 𝑅 217.33 𝑚
𝑓 𝑔 0.15 10
Hence, the radius of curve on this section shall be kept more than 220 m, so that there is no
chance of skidding.
SUPERELEVATION
• Case 2: Overturning, carriageway not superelevated
NUMERICAL
Flat Section
• Example: A carriageway has been constructed without raising the outer section on a
horizontal curve. The radius of the curve is 400 m. Calculate the limiting speed of the
vehicle so that there is no possibility of overturning on the curve. The coefficient of lateral
friction as 0.15, acceleration due to gravity as 10m/s2. track (center-to-center) distance as
1.586 m and height of CG above pavement surface as 0.851 m.
Solution: Control speed against overturning on a flat cross-section is
𝑔 𝑏 𝑅 /
10 1.586 400 /
𝑚 𝑘𝑚
𝑉 61.05 219.78
2ℎ 2 0.851 𝑠 ℎ
Hence, there may not be chance of overturning on the section as vehicles usually drive at a
speed much lower than 220 km/h.
NUMERICAL
Flat Section
• Example: A carriageway has been constructed without raising the outer section on a horizontal
curve. The vehicles are moving on this curve with a speed of 80 km/h. Calculate the limiting
value of radius of the curve so that there is no possibility of overturning on this curve. Take
coefficient of lateral friction as 0.15, acceleration due to gravity as 10m/s2. track (center-to-
center) distance as 1.586 m and height of CG above pavement surface as 0.851 m.
Solution: Control speed against overturning on a flat cross-section is
80
𝑔 𝑏 𝑅 𝑉 2ℎ 2 0.851
𝑉 /
≫ 𝑅 3.6 52.99 𝑚
2ℎ 𝑔 𝑏 10 1.586
Hence, the radius of the curve shall be more than 55 m to reduce the chance of overturning on the
section for given on the section for given ‘b’ and ‘h’.
SUPERELEVATION
• Superelevation cases
SUPERELEVATION
Case: Against Skidding
• To get the relationship between the various forces there shall be restored
along the surface and perpendicular to the raised surface
SUPERELEVATION
Against Skidding
SUPERELEVATION
Against Skidding
• Control speed against skidding on a raised carriageway on outer side of
the circular curve is
• Minimum radius if the curve
NUMERICAL
Example:
• Vehicles are moving on a raised curved section of a road having a radius of
250 m. Considering coefficient of lateral friction as 0.15, acceleration due to
gravity as 10 m/s2., and rate of superelevation as 4%. Calculate the control
speed so that skidding does not take place.
Solution:
V = [(0.15 + 0.04) x 10 x 250]1/2 = 21.79 m/s = 78.46 km/h
• Hence, the vehicle should move at a speed not more than 75 km/h to avoid
the chances of skidding taking place.
SUPERELEVATION
Against overturning
• Taking movements at the center point between the wheels on an axle
SUPERELEVATION
Against overturning
• It includes the control speed to eliminate the chance of overturning is affected by the
inclination of the carriageway or the rate of the superelevation, along with the radius of a
curve, distance between wheels, and height of the center of gravity above surface.
NUMERICAL
Example:
• A road is constructed with raising the outer section on a horizontal curve at a rate of 7%. The
radius of the curve is 300 m. Calculate the limiting value of the speed of vehicle so that there is
no possibility of overturning on this curve. Take acceleration due to gravity as 9.81 m/s2, track
(center-to-center) distance as 1.986 m and height of CG above pavement surface as 1.251 m.
Solution:
V = [9.81 x 300 x ((1.986 / 2 x 1.251) + 0.07) / (1 – (1.986 / 2 x 1.251) x 0.07]1/2
= 51.88 m/s = 186.77 km/h
Hence, vehicle shall move at a speed of less than 180 km/h to overcome chance of overturning.
SUPERELEVATION
• If coefficient of lateral friction f = 0 then e is termed as equivalent
superelevation. In this case pressure on both inner and outer tires will be
equal.
NUMERICAL
Example:
• Vehicle are moving on a curved section of road having radius as 300 m. Considering the
acceleration due to gravity as 9.81 m/s2, and rate of superelevation as 7%. Calculate the
limiting value of a vehicle speed on the section of road if superelevation is an equilibrium
superelevation.
Solution:
V = (9.81 x 300 x 0.07)1/2 = 14.35 m/s = 51.67 km/h
Hence, vehicle shall move at a speed of less than or equal to 50 km/h if the load supported
by both set of wheels be equal.
SUPERELEVATION
• Minimum Radius (Rmin)
SUPERELEVATION
• Minimum Radius (Rmin)
e = rate of superelevation, ft per ft (%)
f = side friction coefficient,
V= design speed, mph
• Rmin = v2 / g(e + f) = V2 / 15*(e + f) v = design speed, ft/s
g = gravitational constant, 32.2 ft/s2
R = radius of curve measured to a
vehicle’s center of gravity, ft
NUMERICAL
Example:
• Vehicle are moving on a raised curved section of road with a speed of 100 km/h.
Considering coefficient of lateral friction is 0.15, the acceleration due to gravity as
10 m/s2, and rate of superelevation as 7%. Calculate the minimum radius of the
curve so that skidding does not take place.
Solution:
Rc = (100 / 3.6)2 /[(0.15 + 0.07) x 10] = 350.73 m ~ 350 m
Hence, the radius of the curve shall be more than 350 m to avoid skidding.
NUMERICAL
Example:
• Vehicle are moving on a raised curved section of road with a speed of 80 km/h.
Considering coefficient of lateral friction is 0.15, and rate of superelevation as 7%.
Calculate the minimum radius of the circular curve if the radius of the
superelevation is reduced to 4%?
Solution:
For e = 7% R(min) = (80)2 / [127 x (0.15 + 0.07)] = 229.06 m
For e = 4% R(min) = (80)2 / [127 x (0.15 + 0.04)] = 265.23 m
NUMERICAL
Example:
• A two-lane-two-way (2-lane-2-way) highway has to be constructed with a horizontal circular
curve. Calculate the minimum radius if the circular curve if the road is (i) SH laid on rolling
terrain, (ii) MDR in plain terrain, (iii) NH in mountainous, and (iv) Sub-arterial in plain urban area.
Consider coefficient of lateral friction is 0.15, and rate of superelevation as 7%.
Solution:
(i) SH rolling terrain V = 80 km/h = 229.06 m ~ 230 m
(ii) MDR in Plain terrain V = 80 km/h = 229.06 m ~ 230 m
(iii) NH mountainous terrain V = 50 km/h = 89.47 ~ 90 m
(iv) Sub-arterial in plain urban area terrain V = 60 km/h = 128.85 ~ 130 m
NUMERICAL
Example:
• A two-lane-two-way (2-lane-2-way) highway has to be constructed with a horizontal circular
curve. Calculate the absolute minimum radius if the circular curve if the road is (i) SH laid on
rolling terrain, (ii) MDR in plain terrain, (iii) NH in mountainous, and (iv) Sub-arterial in plain
urban area. Consider coefficient of lateral friction is 0.15, and rate of superelevation as 7%.
Solution:
(i) SH rolling terrain V = 65 km/h = 151.22 m ~ 150 m
(ii) MDR in Plain terrain V = 65 km/h = 151.22 m ~ 150 m
(iii) NH mountainous terrain V = 40 km/h = 57.26 ~ 60 m
(iv) Sub-arterial in plain urban area terrain V = 60 km/h = 128.85 ~ 130 m
HORIZONTAL CIRCULAR CURVE
• On various function classification of roads
HORIZONTAL CIRCULAR CURVE
• On various function classification of roads
HORIZONTAL CIRCULAR CURVE
• On various function classification of roads