What is Camber In Road? – Purpose, Types, Advantages

What is Camber In Road?

Camber is the cross slope given in the pavement in a transverse direction to drain out the rainwater from the road’s surface. 

Typically, a camber is constructed on the straight roads by upraising the carriageway centre concerning the edge, making the highest point at the centre. 

In the case of superelevation at the horizontal curve, the surface drainage is modified by upraising the outer edge of the road concerning the inner edge while providing the specified superelevation.

The cross slope or camber or cross fall rate is typically indicated by the ratio (1: n), which means the slope in the transverse direction is in ratio 1 vertical to n horizontal.

Cross slope or camber is also designated in percentage. For instance, if the cross slope or camber is 2.5%, that means the cross fall is 1 in 40.

Purpose of Providing Camber in Road

The primary purposes of providing camber in the pavements are as follows:

  1. To drain off or remove rainwater from the surface of the pavement.
  2. To block the access of water into the layer of bitumen.
  3. To stop the entrance of water to the subgrade of the road.
  4. For quick drying of the road surface after rainfall, to avoid accidents due to skidding.
  5. To assure the quality performance and durability of the road.

Types of Camber In Road

Generally, four types of cambers are used based on the type of pavement surface.

Barrel Camber

The barrel camber is constructed with a continuous curve that may be parabolic or elliptical.  In barrel camber, the surface shape is kept steeper near the edge and flat in the middle part. 

Camber In Road
Parabolic Barrel Camber
What is Camber In Road? - Purpose, Types, Advantages Civil Lead
Elliptical Barrel Camber

Barrel camber is suitable for the roads with fast-moving vehicles because they frequently cross the centre or crown due to overtaking.

Sloped Camber or Straight Camber

Camber In Road

Sloped camber is constructed with two straight slopes merging at the centre. It is suitable for rigid pavement surfaces such as concrete roads that are relatively impervious.

Two straight line camber

Camber In Road

When a camber is constructed with two straight lines flatter near the crown and steeper near the edge, it is called two straight-line camber.

Composite camber

It is the combination of barrel and sloped camber constructed with two straight slopes with parabolic at the centre.

Camber In Road

Composite camber is suitable for the road with slow-moving vehicles like iron-tired carts, bullocks carts. The iron tire decreases the contact pressure.

Rate of Camber

Considering the surface type and the quantity of rainfall in the locality, the minor camber required to drain the surface water may be determined. The too steep camber causes the following undesirable effects on the traffic.

  • The excessive camber causes uncomfortable side thrust and drags on the steering of the automobile. Also, the unnecessary thrust on the wheel along the road edge causes unequal wear of the tyre.
  • During overtaking operations, excessive camber causes discomfort to the occupants.
  • Excessive camber causes the problem of overtopping to highly laden bullock carts.
  • Crosscuts are more pronounced because of the rapid flow of water.
  • As it is comfortable to drive near the centre line, this portion wears out quickly.

The values of recommended camber for various types of road surface by IRC are as follows.

S.No.Surface Type Crossfall/Camber
Heavy Rainfall
Crossfall/Camber
Low Rainfall
1Cement Concrete or thick bituminous surface2% ( 1 in 50 )1.7% (1 in 60 )
2Thin Bituminius Surface2.5% (1 in 40)2% (1 in 50 )
3WBM, Gravel3% ( 1 in 33)2.5% (1 in 40)
4Earthen4% ( 1 in 25)3% (1 in 33 )

Method of providing camber

  • Firstly suitable value of the camber is determined based on the type of road.
  • Then the subgrade is prepared as per the desired shape of the camber by rolling.
  • The rolling should be carried out from the edge toward the centre.
  • Finally, the camber is checked with the help of a camber board or template. A board of specified thickness is cut in desired camber shape, and a metal sheet such as an iron sheet is fastened to the bottom, and the cross profile of the camber is checked.

Calculation of Camber in Road

By straight edge method

Suppose Carriageway width is 3 meter

half-width = 1.5 meter

Considering Value of N = 6 cm or 0.06

Camber = 0.06/1.5×100

= 4% or 1:25

By Level Method

RL of LHS = 98.60 m

RL of Centre = 98.620

RL of LHS = 98.55

Average of LHS and RHS RL = 98.575

Difference of Level = 98.620 – 98.575 = 0.045

Camber = 0.045/1.5×100

3% or 1:33

Advantages of Camber

  • Camber makes the pavement durable by draining out the water from the road surface.
  • Camber blocks the formation of a water pool on the road surface to eliminate the subgrade damage due to water percolation.
  • Camber allows smooth traffic flow and prevents accidents due to skidding by draining water from the road surface and making it dry quickly.

Also, Read

What is WBM Road? – Construction Procedure of WBM Road

Material Required For The Construction of WBM Road

Concrete Road vs Asphalt Road – Which Is Better?

Density of Cement, Sand and Aggregate, Bulk Density of Aggregate

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