The 5 roads that have the largest superelevation in the world
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What are the superelevation?
Superelevation, also known as banking or cant, is a technique used in civil engineering and transportation engineering to allow vehicles to travel around a curve at a higher speed without sliding off the road.
Superelevation refers to the banking of the road or railway track in a curve, where the outer edge of the curve is raised above the inner edge. This causes a sideways force, called centrifugal force, to act on the vehicle, pushing it towards the center of the curve. By balancing the centrifugal force with the gravitational force, vehicles can safely travel at higher speeds around curves.
Superelevation is typically measured as a percentage, which represents the rise of the outer edge of the curve relative to the inner edge over a given length. For example, a 4% superelevation means that the outer edge of the curve is raised 4% higher than the inner edge over a given length.
Superelevation is an important design consideration for roadways and railway tracks, and it must be carefully calculated to ensure safe and efficient travel for all types of vehicles.
What are the 5 roads that have the largest bank in the world?
Here are five roads or racetracks that are known for having the largest banks in the world:
Talladega Superspeedway
1. Talladega Superspeedway, Alabama, USA – This NASCAR track has a bank angle of 33 degrees in its turns, making it the road with the largest bank in the world.
The track has a bank angle of 33 degrees in its turns, which allows the race cars to reach very high speeds while staying on the track. The Talladega Superspeedway is a 2.66-mile (4.28 km) long oval track and has been the site of many NASCAR races and other motorsport events. The high banking of the track provides a unique challenge to drivers and makes for exciting racing.
Daytona International Speedway
2. Daytona International Speedway, Florida, USA – This NASCAR track has a bank angle of 31 degrees in its turns and is known for hosting the Daytona 500, one of the most prestigious races in motorsport.
Autodromo Nazionale Monza
3. Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Italy – This racetrack has a bank angle of 38 degrees in its turns and is known for hosting the Italian Grand Prix and other major motorsport events.
Bristol Motor Speedway
4. Bristol Motor Speedway, Tennessee, USA – This NASCAR track has a bank angle of 30 degrees in its turns and is known for its high-speed racing and close-quarters competition.
Darlington Raceway
5. Darlington Raceway, South Carolina, USA – This NASCAR track has a bank angle of 25 degrees in its turns and is known for its unique “egg-shaped” layout and the Southern 500 race, one of the oldest and most prestigious races in NASCAR.
It’s worth noting that there may be other roads or racetracks with comparable or even greater bank angles, but these five are among the most well-known and recognized.
How are the superelevations of the roads built?
The superelevation of a road is built through a process of grading and paving. Here are the general steps:
Design: First, the superelevation for the road is determined based on various factors such as the design speed, the curvature of the road, and the type of vehicles that will use the road.
Grading: The roadbed is graded to achieve the desired superelevation. This involves shaping the road surface so that the outer edge of the curve is higher than the inner edge. Grading can be done using heavy equipment such as bulldozers and graders.
Base Course: A base course layer is laid on the graded surface. This may consist of crushed stone or other materials that provide a stable foundation for the road surface.
Binder Course: A binder course layer is then applied on top of the base course. This layer typically consists of asphalt cement and aggregates.
Surface Course: The final layer of the road, the surface course, is then applied on top of the binder course. This layer is the one that provides a smooth and durable surface for the road.
Superelevation Verification: Finally, the superelevation of the road is checked to ensure that it meets the design requirements. This is typically done using surveying equipment to measure the cross slope of the road surface.
The process may vary depending on the specific design and construction requirements for the road. However, the above steps provide a general overview of how the superelevation of a road is built.
