It should be noted that SuperElevation is used by OR in the following three features:
i) Visual depiction of train as it rounds curves, and tilts accordingly.
ii) Calculation of curve forces
iii) Calculation of maximum permissible speed around a curve.
It should be noted that the user defined values will only apply to items ii) and iii) above as item i) uses different algorithms to calculate the amount of superelevation.
To define the amount of superelevation on a curve insert the following statement into the include file for the TRK file. (see the end of this thread for info on the include file).
The statement is as follows:
ORTSTrackSuperElevation ( x1 y1 .................................................. xn yn)
A series of paired values is included in the statement, where the x values represent the curve radius (in metres), and y represents the amount of superelevation on the curve (in metres). As many pairs of values can be entered as desired.
The following statement is an example, and can be loosely interpreted as no superelevation on curves below 50m, 25mm on 300 and 400m curves, 50mm on 500m curves, etc.
ORTSTrackSuperElevation ( 0.0 0.00 50.0 0.0 300.0 0.025 400.0 0.025 500.0 0.050 1000.0 0.075 2000.0 0.100 10000.0 0.100 )
NOTE: If this parameter is not included, then the current default values of superelevation will be used. Thus this is an option and not a requirement.
These tables based upon FRA (Federal Railway Administration) standards give an indication of the amount of superelevation that might be applied to more modern railways. Older and narrow gauge railways may not use the same values.
This article provides an insight into the potential impacts of poor driving or designed track, as well as the physics supporting superelevation.