Superstructure

Use this dialog to define or edit layers in the superstructure. You use packages so that each superstructure type is described only once, even if you use the same description in several places along the road alignment.

Where can I find the dialog?

On the toolbox, select SFI Properties..., go to the Road Body tab, and open the Superstructure table.

Using the dialog

The dialog has a dedicated preview window and allows you to change which profile you want to view.

Note

It is not possible to zoom in the preview window. In cross-section editing, there is also a preview directly in the cross-section, where you can zoom and, for example, measure distances. Material types are also updated when editing the table.

Procedure

The procedure for defining the superstructure consists of the following three main steps:

1. Define superstructure package
2. Define superstructure description
3. Define sections (where the superstructure packages should apply)

Repeat steps 1 and 2 to create as many packages as needed.

Superstructure package

Define the packages in the table at the top left of the dialog. Activate the column by pointing and clicking, then enter the name of the package.

Superstructure description

Enter the actual definition of the superstructure package in the bottom table of the dialog. Here you can define:

1. Layers in the superstructure
2. Inner fill slope
3. Transitions in the superstructure

This is compatible with VIPS 17.10 and newer.

Note

Special grading also depends on the method you have chosen for the superstructure. The simple method provides a Gemini table for special grading. If you select the extended method, you get a VIPS-compatible table for special grading (available from version 7.0).

Layers in the superstructure

This table contains the road surfaces relevant for the superstructure layers. Only intermediate surfaces (surface group 0-3) can have a superstructure.

Enter all road surfaces that should have a superstructure in the table. Each surface can have up to ten superstructure layers. Enter the thickness of the layers directly in the table.

If there is a median in the road surface, you can choose whether there should be a superstructure under these as well. Do this by selecting code 0: End or code 1: Continuous in the general surface Median.

Note

If the table contains a description for each median surface (for example, -0.01, 0.01, etc.), these will override the general surface for the median.

As mentioned, enter the thickness directly in the list for the road surfaces.

The extended method also has some special functions in the table. For subsequent road surfaces, you can select the options Inherit (A), Inherit slope (H), and End (V). These can save you a lot of typing. The options have shortcuts (the letter in parentheses).

• Inherit: The layer thickness is inherited from the previous surface that actually exists in the road. The slope is inherited from the road surface. Note that you can only inherit from the centerline and outward. Median surfaces, for example, cannot inherit from outer surfaces.

• Inherit slope: The slope is inherited from the previous road surface.

• End: Ends the superstructure layer. Note that the layer extends to the last point in the next surface if there is no intersection with the road surface.

You can also control the design of the layer edges in the extended method. Select the surface in the list and choose Edge with slope to the left or Edge with slope to the right with the right mouse button. Two extra rows are added to the table for edge description. The edge is defined with width and slope.

On the left side of the centerline, the option Edge with slope to the left will set the edges at the endpoint of the surface, while the option Edge with slope to the right will set the edges at the start point of the surface.

Example

The table and illustration show an example where the option Edge with slope to the left is set on surface -1.01 with width 0.1 and slope 0 (vertical).

Surface	Wearing course	...	Base course 1	...	Subbase 1	...
-1.01	Inherit		Inherit		Inherit
Width, Left	0.1		0.1		0.1
Slope, Left	99		99		99

Inner fill slope

In this table, you can set the inner fill slope for the superstructure, as well as the excavation slope.

Check the Activate checkbox and enter the slope in the Slope column. The rule is that the inner fill slope is constructed in the outermost surface with a superstructure.

In the figure, the inner fill slope is extended to the terrain surface in fill.

In the figure, the inner fill slope is extended to the deep blasting in cut.

If both benching and inner fill slope are defined, benching takes priority.

In connection with inner fill slope/stone slope, it is also natural to add an excavation slope.

Note that you can define the inner fill slope on only one side, either the left or right side.

Transitions in the superstructure

With this table, you can control the transition when the layers make a jump due to varying thicknesses (more than 5 cm difference). Note that transitions are not constructed for the two top layers (wearing course and binder course).

We have two variants:

1. From thick to thin

Figure: A = Transition line, B = Extra width, C = Load line, D = Start surface

1. From thin to thick

Figure: C = Load line, D = Start surface

Sections

In the tables for Soil cut and fill and Rock cut, you define the sections where the different packages should be used. Enter the first and last profile number for each section. Then select the superstructure package to apply to the sections. You must have at least one section for Soil cut and fill and one section for Rock cut. There is no limit to the number of sections.

If there is a gap between two sections, the program interpolates the superstructure in this area.

Note

You must have the same number of surfaces in the superstructure packages for interpolation to work.

For each cross-section, the program automatically determines whether the superstructure for Soil cut and fill or Rock cut should be used. By default, all points on the surface are checked (from surface -3.999 to 3.999). If the points are below the rock layer, the program selects rock cut; otherwise, it selects soil cut and fill.

With the Check all surfaces setting active, the program checks each surface individually. The start and end points for each surface are checked, and the superstructure type for the surface is selected according to the same rule as above.

This means you can build varying superstructure in partial cuts, i.e., the program selects superstructure for soil in fill and superstructure for rock in cut.

Here, the program has selected superstructure for soil in fill and superstructure for rock in cut.

Note

You can override this automation with the Occurring superstructure table.

Under the Frost protection layer settings button, you can automatically omit frost protection if certain criteria are met. With these settings, you can manage with fewer superstructure packages.

VIPS import

The import reads the contents of VIPS's superstructure tables. The exception is the table for rehabilitation. You will receive a message during import if the VIPS project contains this.

Editing in tables

Activate a field in the table for editing by pressing [F2] or clicking with the left mouse button. In edit mode, you can move between columns with [Tab] and [Shift] + [Tab]. Similarly, you can switch rows with [Up Arrow] and [Down Arrow]. Note that the arrow keys can also be used to move between fields when not in edit mode.

Preview

The preview requires that you are in a profile with road surfaces. It also indicates which superstructure package is shown in the window. You can control the content of the preview with the three radio buttons on the right side of the screen:

• Occurring: Shows the occurring superstructure for the profile you are in if specified, otherwise the current superstructure
• Soil cut and fill: Shows the superstructure for soil cut and fill used in the profile you are in
• Rock cut: Shows the superstructure for rock cut used in the profile you are in