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Horizontal Alignment

Highway Design Project

Horizontal Alignment

Amir Samimi

Civil Engineering Department

Sharif University of Technology

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Curve Types Types of Circular Curves

1..S p e curves
Simple cu ves with
w t spirals
sp a s Si l Curve
Simple C Compound Curves Broken-Back Curves
2. Broken Back – two curves same direction (avoid)
3. Compound curves: multiple curves connected directly
together (use with caution) go from large radii to smaller
radii and have R(large) < 1.5 R(small)
4. Reverse curves – two curves, opposite direction (require
Broken-Back
B k B kC Curves should
h ld beb avoided
id d if
separation typically for superelevation attainment) possible. It is better to replace the Curves with a
Reverse Curves
larger radius circular curve.
A tangent should be placed between reverse
Curves.
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Typical Configurations of Curves Horizontal Alignment

 Spirals are typically placed  Objective:

between tangents and circular  Geometry of directional transition to ensure:
curves to provide a transition  Safety
from a normal crown section  Comfort Δ
to a superelevated one.  Primary challenge
 Transition between two directions
 Spirals are typically used at  Horizontal
H i t l curves
intersections to increase the  Fundamentals
room for large trucks to make  Circular curves
turning movements.  Superelevation

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Horizontal Alignment Horizontal Curve Fundamentals

1..Tangents
a ge ts
2. Curves

3. Transitions T  R tan
2
 Curves require superelevation
 100 
 Retard sliding,
g, L R 
 Allow more uniform speed, 180 D
 Allow use of smaller radii curves (less land)
 180 
100  
   18 ,000
D  D = degree of curvature

R  R (Delta / L = D / 100)
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Horizontal Curve Fundamentals Example

 A horizontal curve is designed with a 1500 ft. radius. The

tangent length is 400 ft. and the PT station is 20+00. What are
the PI and PT stations?

 1 
E  R   1 
 cos  2 

 
M  R  1  cos 
 2

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Superelevation Superelevation
Rv
W p  F f  Fcp
≈

 WV 2  WV 2

W sin   f s  W cos   sin    cos 
Fc
 gR v  gR v
V2
e
tan   f s  1  f s tan  
gR v
W 1 ft
V2
e  fs  1  f s e 
gR v
α
V2
 WV 2  WV 2 Rv 
W sin   f s  W cos   sin    cos  g  fs  e
 gR v  gR v
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Radius Calculation Selection of e and fs

 Rmin related to max. f and max. e allowed  Practical limits on superelevation (e)
 Rmin use max e and max f and design speed  Climate

 f is a function of speed, roadway surface, weather condition,  Constructability

tire condition, and based on comfort  Adjacent land use
 AASHTO: 0.5 @ 20 mph with new tires and wet pavement to  Side friction factor (fs) variations
0.35 @ 60 mph  Vehicle speed
 f decreases as speed increases (less tire/pavement contact)  Pavement texture
 Tire condition

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Maximum e Side Friction Factor

 Co
Controlled
t o ed by 4 factors:
acto s:
 Climate conditions (amount of ice and snow)
 Terrain (flat, rolling, mountainous)
 Frequency of slow moving vehicles who might be influenced by
high superelevation rates
 Highest in common use = 10%, 12% with no ice and snow on low
volume gravel-surfaced
gravel surfaced roads
 8% is logical maximum to minimized slipping by stopped vehicles

from AASHTO’s A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets 2004

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Minimum Radius Tables WSDOT Design Side Friction Factors

For Open Highways and Ramps

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WSDOT Design Side Friction Factors Design Superelevation Rates - AASHTO

For Low-Speed Urban Managed Access Highways

from AASHTO’s A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets 2004

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Design Superelevation Rates - WSDOT Radius Calculation (Example)

 Assume a maximum e of 8% and design speed of 60 mph, what

emax = 8% is the minimum radius?

 fmax = 0.12 (from Green Book)

V2 60 2
 .R min  
15 ( e  f ) 15 ( 0 .08  0 .12 )
 Rmin = 1200 feet

from the 2005 WSDOT Design Manual, M 22-01

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Radius Calculation (Example) Stopping Sight Distance

 SSD
 Assume
ssu e a maximum
a u e of
o 4%
% SSD  Rv  s
180
 fmax = 0.12 (from Green Book) 180 SSD  Ms
s 
V2 60 2 Rv
 .R min  
15 ( e  f ) 15 ( 0 .04  0 .12 )   90 SSD  Obstruction
M s  Rv 1  cos   
 Rv
 Rmin = 1500 feet
  Rv

 Rv  1  R v  M s 
SSD   cos    Δs
90   Rv 
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Sight Distance Example Sight Distance Example

 A horizontal curve with R = 800 ft is part of a 2

2-lane
lane highway  Now estimate the minimum distance that the billboard can be
with a posted speed limit of 35 mph. What is the minimum placed :
distance that a large billboard can be placed from the centerline
of the inside lane of the curve without reducing required SSD?   90 SSD 
m  Rv 1  cos   
Assume p/r =2.5 sec and a = 11.2 ft/sec2    Rv 
V2  28 .65 ( 246 ) 
SS  1 .47
SSD 4 Vt   R  1  COS   9 .43 feet
f t
 (800 ) 
30   G 
a
 32 . 2 
(35 mph ) 2  in radians not degrees
 1 .47 (35 mph )( 2 .5 sec)   246 feet
30 
11 .2
 0 
 32 .2 

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Horizontal Curve Example Horizontal Curve Example

 Deflection
e ect o angle
a g e of
o a 4º cu
curve
ve iss 55
55º25’,
5 , PC
C at station
stat o 238
38 +  Stat
Stationing
o g goes around
a ou d horizontal
o o ta curve.
cu ve.
44.75. Find length of curve, T, and station of PT.  What is station of PT?
 D = 4º
  = 55º25’ = 55.417º
 PC = 238 + 44.75
100  180 5729 .58  L = 1385.42 ft = 13 + 85.42
 .D    R  1432 .4 ft
R R  Station at PT = (238 + 44.75) + (13 + 85.42) = 252 + 30.17

2R  2 (1432 .4 ft )( 55 .417 )

L   1385 .4 ft
360 360
 55 .417
T  R tan  1432 .4 tan  752 .3 ft
2 2
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Superelevation Transition Superelevation Transition

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Superelevation Runoff/Runout Superelevation Runoff - WSDOT

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Purpose of Transition Curves Characteristics of Transition Curve

 Provides path for vehicle to move from straight to a circular  Should have constant rate of change of radius of curvature
curve  Transition should be equal to zero at start of straight and equal
 Improved appearance of curve to driver to radius of curvature at circular curve
 Allows introduction of superelevation and pavement widening  Allows passengers to adjust to change in rate of curvature

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Types of Transition Curve Geometry of Clothoid

 C
Clothoid
ot o d  K = Lp..R
 Most commonly used  Lp = Length of plan transition
 Will be examined in more detail  R = Radius of circular curve

 Lemniscate  K = constant

 Used for large deflection

angles on high speed roads  Coordinates can be represented by
 Cubic Parabola  x = l – l5/40(RLp)2 - …
 Unsuitable for large  y = l3/6RLp – l7/336(RLp)3 +…
deflection angles

 x and y are measured along the tangent and at right angles from
the tangent respectively.
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Shift of Curve for Transition Shift of Curve for Transition

 To accommodate the transition curve the circular curve is  The shift can be calculated by:
normally shifted inwards towards the centre of the curve.  Shift = S =Lp2/24R
 Lp is the length of transition
 If S <0.25m then the transition
is usually ignored or not required

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Terminology Tangent Length

 W
When
e a ttransition
a s t o curve
cu ve iss used :

 Tangent Length = (R +S) tan (/2)

 The distance from the IP to the TS = (R+S) tan (/2) + Lp/2

 The circular arc length from SC – CS is reduced by Lp:

Arc = R* - Lp
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Transition Length Transition Length

 Radial Acceleration Method:  Rate of Rotation of Pavement Method:

 Lp = V3/46.73Ra  Most calculations for plan transition are done in conjunction with
 Lp = length of plan transition the superelevation development length (Le).
 V = design speed (km/hr)  Usually relies on design speed and rate of rotation of pavement:
 R = radius of circular curve
 a = radial acceleration
 Lp = Le – 0.4V
 a varies with design
g speed
p and design
g authority.
y
 Typical values:  Le = (e1 - e2) V / 0.09
 Rotations of 2.5%/sec – this is most common, where e1 = 0

 Le = (e1 - e2) V / 0.126

 Rotation rates of 3.5%/sec

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