Crossfall of carriageway – definition of camber In highway cross-section terminology, the convexity provided from the crown to the edges of the pavement to facilitate drainage is called:

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: camber

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Water must be drained quickly from the pavement surface to avoid skidding, hydroplaning, and moisture damage. The designed crossfall (crown-to-edge slope) is a simple geometric feature that achieves this across all pavement types.



Given Data / Assumptions:

  • A crowned carriageway with edges lower than the centerline.
  • Use of standard road crossfall terminology.



Concept / Approach:
Camber is the intentional transverse slope from the crown toward the edges to shed water. It differs from super-elevation, which is a purposeful banking of the cross-section on horizontal curves to counteract centrifugal effects.



Step-by-Step Solution:
Identify the function: drainage under rainfall.Recognize geometric form: convex surface, crown at center.Terminology: this is called camber (not super-elevation).



Verification / Alternative check:
Standard drawings show typical camber values by surface type: earth roads have higher camber; bituminous and concrete have moderate camber.



Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Super-elevation addresses lateral acceleration on curves; “height of pavement” is not a standard term for crossfall.



Common Pitfalls:
Confusing camber with super-elevation; specifying excessive camber causing driver discomfort or excessive edge wear.



Final Answer:
camber

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