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Broken Slopes

Use this dialog to define broken slopes in the normal profile.

Where do I find the dialog?

In the toolbox, select the SFI Properties... icon, then the Road Body tab.

What are broken slopes?

Broken slopes are a sequence of elements in the normal profile. You can continuously see the result of the definition in the display window.

They are inserted after:

  1. Outer edge of the sidewalk, if a sidewalk is defined
  2. Outer edge of the shoulder, if no sidewalk is defined
  3. Outer edge of the carriageway, if neither sidewalk nor shoulder is defined
  4. Centerline, if sidewalk, shoulder, and carriageway are not defined

After the last element, cut or fill follows as normal, unless the final element is defined to stop at the terrain.

Note

The subgrade is not extended beyond where there are broken slopes. It will slope upward and stop at the endpoint of the first broken slope.

How do you define broken slopes?

Define broken slopes separately for the left and right sides. For each side, specify a sequence of elements (value, slope, and code). The sequence applies until you define a new start profile with a new sequence.

Info

If a sequence of elements should apply up to a certain profile without defining anything new, do this by defining a sequence without elements at that profile.

Each element is normally defined with width and slope (positive slope upward from the centerline).

Warning

You can specify a negative width, but note that mass calculation may be incorrect (for example, in bridge constructions).

Code Types for Broken Slopes

Define broken slopes with a code. Each code has an interpolating and a non-interpolating variant.

  • Non-interpolating codes: The definition applies for all subsequent profiles until the number of points in broken slopes changes.
  • Interpolating codes: Provide a smoother drawing. Interpolation occurs when two consecutive chainages have the same interpolating codes in the same order within each profile. Both width/height and slope are interpolated.

Available Codes

No. Code Description
1 Width Standard width definition
2 Width (stop at terrain) Width that stops at terrain intersection
3 Width (stop directly) Width that stops directly
4 Distance from centerline Defined as distance from the centerline
5 Distance from centerline (mean slope) Distance with mean slope calculation
6 Height Defined as height
7 Width interpolated Interpolating variant of width
8 Width interpolated (stop at terrain) Interpolating variant with terrain intersection
9 Width interpolated (stop directly) Interpolating variant with direct stop
10 Distance interpolated from centerline Interpolating variant of distance
11 Distance interpolated from centerline (mean slope) Interpolating variant with mean slope
12 Height interpolated Interpolating variant of height

Example: Using Interpolating Codes

  • Value setup:

    Profile No. Code Value Slope
    100 Width int. 1 0.1
    Width int. 4 1.0
    200 Width int. 1 0.2
    Width int. 8 0

  • Result for profile no. 150:

    Profile No. Value Slope
    150 1 0.15
    6 0.5

Example: Mixed Code Usage

  • Setup:

    Profile No. Code Value Slope
    200 Width 1 0.2
    Width int. 8 0
    Width CL 15 1

  • Result for profile no. 150:

    Profile No. Value Slope
    150 1 0.1
    6 0.5

Note

Interpolation is only performed for values with interpolating codes, even if a different number of values is specified for each chainage.