Calculate Superelevation
This exercise demonstrates how to automatically calculate superelevation and create a super elevation drawing using the Automated Superelevation design tool. The tool will generate an ascii input file used in several applications, primarily to draw dgn elements representing the roadway superelevation that is necessary to run proposed cross sections.
To begin open the shape dgn file, XX####_SHP.dgn. It is useful to have the horizontal alignment (HA) file referenced.
Next, Open the Project Manager, then go to Directory>Current Working Directory, next Select Project (.prj file) to work on, then Select OK, and then Select User [name] from Project Users menu.
Verify the proper working alignment is being used. Select Calculate Superelevation tab on the Project Manager menu.
The Select Run menu will appear. Create a new run. Go to Run>New.
Enter a run name and description. Use good a good description for documentation.
Select created run and then select OK.
The Automated Superelevation menu will appear. First set all tool settings . To do so, go to File> Select each command; Directories, Preferences, and Level Symbology separately.
Directories
The Superelevation Directories menu appears after selecting File>Directories. Select Default All, then Select OK. This will load the standard preference, superelevation rates (e), and length of transition files. The Autoshape Input Files Path field should be blank and is a user defined later in the exercise. Note the default file locations are in the ProjectWise C:\drive locations and is shown correctly below for an English units project. For Metric the path would be c:\myfiles\pw_production\d0107614.
Preferences
Because the directories have been set using the above menu, the preference files are now loaded for the Automated Superelevation tool to use. The preferences (.sep) files have been configured to WFL standards by the Standards Engineer. THERE IS NO NEED TO ADJUST THESE SETTINGS. See superelevation preferences for more information.
Level Symbology
The Superelevation Symbology menu appears After selecting File>Level Symbology. Double click on the symbology preview boxes and change symbology to settings shown below. Close menu after editing to save changes.
Dependent Shapes symbology. Level: P_RDW_Super_Shapes
Independent Shapes symbology. Level: P_RDW_Super_Shapes
Back to the Automated Superelevation menu. It is best to visit each field to assure proper operation.
- Select GPK file
- Select working chain
- Key in Design Speed
- Enter Begin and End Stations. To reset station fields, highlight station field and press delete key, then press tab button to populate station fields automatically with chain termini stations. Varied station ranges can be used for changing design criteria within a project. Individual input files can be generated and used.
- Select Facility. Most often the typical section applied at WFL are Undivided.
- Select L Section. Is the length transition table and automatically loaded and from the preferences file. The field should be AASHTO English (Metric)
Select Preference File. Preferences Files are loaded from the directions preferences shown earlier. The preferences file is chosen according to transition distribution ratio (tangent:curve) shown below (See AASHTO 2011, 3-67, Table 3-18).
- English preference file options, select transition preference according to the following criteria;
- FHWA_US_2004_80_20 (use w/ design speeds of 15-45 mph)
- FHWA_US_2004_70_30 (use w/ design speeds of 50-80 mph)
- FHWA_US_2004_67_33 (provides the traditional 1/3 - 2/3 split)
- Metric preference file options are;
- FHWA_METRIC_2004_80_20 (use w/ design speeds of 20-70 km/h)
- FHWA_METRIC_2004_70_30 (use w/ design speeds of 80-130 km/h)
- FHWA_METRIC_2004_67_33 (provides the traditional 1/3 - 2/3 split)
e Selection. The Superelevation rate tables have also been loaded from the directories preferences. Select "e" rate and design speed from the pull down. Note: each "e" rate is paired with a design speed.
Left and Right Tabs. The Left and Right tabs control values for each side of the shapes knows as shape clusters. The shape cluster consists of the slope (normal crown), Tie point, shape offset (width), and dependencies. Start with the Left Tab. Entries will be automatically be applied to the Right Tab.
- Select Profile; Use pull down to select the design profile
- Select Tie; Use pull down and set to Offset
- Offset; set to 0.0000
- Use Quick Entry button to enter cluster data.
Quick Entry Menu
- Select Facility. Undivided is most often the typical section applied at WFL.
- Enter Lane Widths. Use master units. This is the entire finished top width, generally lane plus shoulder, i.e. 11 foot lane + 1 foot shoulder = 12 foot lane widths
- Enter Total Number of Lanes.
- Enter Normal Percent Slope. This the normal slope of finished top for each side.
The cluster data will be entered on each tab. Select Right Tab and uncheck the Dependent box. This is done to keep each shape side designated.
Next, Create Input File. Select spyglass to name the input file.
Next, in ProjectWise select No Wizard. Then, Select Input File menu appears, designate Name, Description and File Name using best practices, then Select Save. This creates a writeable file to generate shape data.
Select Generate Superelevation Transitions to create input file.
The Text Editor menu appears with the newly created input file loaded (note input file name). This is the input file used to create the shapes in the dgn. To create the shapes select Create Superelevation Shapes icon. Note other file information highlighted is identified in the input file.
The shapes will be drawn in the dgn file. Below is a sample of superelevation shape in dgn with view attributes fill on.
Sample of superelevation shape in dgn with view attributes fill off. Note transition locations.
Other method to draw shapes
To process the input file separately. Select Autoshape Builder icon in the Road Tools task menu.
Superelevation Autoshape Builder menu appears. Select input file using spyglass and then select Draw Superelevation Shapes button.
Other information
The last line in input file specifies the dgn file to draw shapes in.
The input file (.inp) and the log file (.log) can be opened in UltaEdit and superelevation reviewed for conflicts and or/edited.
Caution should be used when editing transition lengths and locations and should be done with Green Book guidance.
Warning in input file example
Warning in log file example
