DEBRE-TABOR UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

CEng3182: Highway Engineering-I, 3rd year (Regular)

Worksheet-I
Submission Date: 02/06/2013 Maximum Marks: 20%

SECTION-B: DESIGN AND EARTHWORK QUANTITIES Marks 30 (10+2x8+4)

1. List general guidelines of fixing a horizontal alignment. Show the circular curve orientation
if tangents have azimuth N50°E (start of curve) and S50°E (at point of intersection).
2. Differentiate between tangent runoff and super-elevation runoff. What are the names of start
and end points of these runoffs?
3. A certain section of a two-lane road is to be designed with a composite curve consisting of
simple circular curve and transition curve at either end. Design the composite using the
following data:
• Total deflection angle = 50°15’
• Lane width on straight section = 3.5m
• Wheel base = 6m
• Design speed = 80kmph
• Rate of change of radial acceleration = 0.3m/s3
• Chainage of PI = 2+300
• Coefficient of side friction = 0.13
• Camber slope = 2.5%
• Allowable rate of introduction of super-elevation = 1:200 (pavement rotated at inner
edge)
• e = 0.08 m/m

Worksheet-I, 2012/13 by: Amare T. 1

4. A circular curve to connect two tangents of a two-way two-lane highway. Determine whether
overtaking will be allowed or not on the curve assuming the following information:
• Maximum radius available on site is 510m
• Deflection angle is 60°
• Design speed of the highway is 110 kmph
• Speed limit is 10 kmph below the design speed
• Available line of sight equal to length of curve
• Coefficient of side friction and maximum super-elevation is possible 0.10 and 0.06
respectively.
• Average passing vehicle equals to speed limit
• Average impeder is 15 kmph below passing vehicle speed
• Motorist perception-reaction time is 2.5 seconds
• Coefficient of longitudinal friction is 0.28
5. A two-lane road (3.5 m lanes) with a design speed of 80 km/h has a 300 m horizontal curve
connecting tangents with bearings of S75°W and S78°E. Calculate super-elevation rate,
length of transition curve, chainage of different points on transition curve (setting of curves),
tangent and circular curve, assuming chainage of point of intersection as 1500.00m.
6. Derive the expression that in a parabolic shaped vertical curve, RL of any curve point ‘P’ is
(𝑔2 −𝑔1 )𝑋 2 𝑔 𝑋
1
equal to 𝑌𝑝 = + 100 + 𝑅𝐿 𝑜𝑓 𝐵𝑉𝐶
200𝐿

Where, g1 and g2 are percentage of grade of two tangents, L is the total length of curve and
X is the chord distance taken from BVC. Also find the formula to determine lowest and
highest point of the curve.
7. Prepare a table giving all necessary data for setting out a vertical curve. In a road alignment a
grade of -4.5% followed by +3.5%, RL of PVI = 1000m, chainage of PVI 1500 m connect
the two grades by a parabolic curve 200 m long. Take peg interval =20m.
8. What superelevation rate would you recommend for a roadway with a design speed of 100
km/hr and a radius of curvature of 500m? Assume f = 0.12.
9. A plus 2.8 percent grade intersects a minus 5.1 grade at station 2 + 087.224 at an elevation of
190.28m. Calculate the centerline elevation at every 20-m station for 150-m vertical curve.

Worksheet-I, 2012/13 by: Amare T. 2

10. A vertical parabolic curve is to be used under a grade separation structure. The curve is 250
m long, and the minus grade of 3.8 percent intersects with the plus grade of 5.4 percent at
station 0 + 120.424. Calculate the low point of the curve if the intersection at station 0 +
120.424 is at elevation 230.085.
11. Calculate the stopping sight distance over the crest of a 450 m vertical curve with a plus
grade of 5.6 percent and a minus grade of 3.2 percent.
12. Given a horizontal curve with a 410 m radius, estimate the minimum length of spiral
necessary for a smooth transition from tangent alignment to circular curve. The design speed
is 90 km/hr.
13. A two-lane trunk road in rolling terrain, 7.0 m carriageway width, is designed for a design
speed of 85 km/h and a maximum supper-elevation of 8%. A horizontal circular curve with
transition spiral on both ends needs to be laid at a location where the azimuth of the straight
section at the start and end of the curved section is S75°W and S75°E. In order to satisfy
requirements of users comfort, the maximum rate of change of radial acceleration is 0.3 m/s3
and the station of point of horizontal intersection (PI) is 48+00. You can use the coefficient
of lateral friction 0.12, camber slope (normal cross-fall) = 2.5% and the rate of application of
supper-elevation = 1:200 (pavement is rotated about inner edge). Design the following
components of the proposed combined curve.
(a) Lengths of both transition and circular curves
(b) Extra widening of circular curve (if needed)
(c) Stations of major points (TS, SC, CS and ST)
14. You are designing the vertical alignment to connect the two grades as shown in the profile
view below. An equal tangent sag vertical curve must go under a pedestrian walk-bridge at
station 50+30. The bottom of the bridge must be 5.5 m above the centerline surface of the
roadway to allow for proper vehicle clearance under the bridge. Known grades, stationing
and elevations are given in the drawing below. Design the curve for the highest possible
design speed without violating the 5.5 m clearance requirement for the following points.
(i) The required length of the curve
(ii) The station and elevation of PVC and PVT
(iii)The station and elevation of the lowest point on the curve

Worksheet-I, 2012/13 by: Amare T. 3

15. Estimate the cost of earthwork for a portion of a road from the following data. Road width at
the formation surface is 8m. Side slopes 2:1 in banking and 1.5:1 in cutting. Length of chain
is 30m.
Chainage 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 30
Ground level 71.20 71.25 70.90 71.25 70.80 70.45 70.20 70.35 69.10 69.70
Formation level 70.00 Upward gradient of 1in 200
Take the rates of earthwork as ETB275/per m3 in banking and ETB350/per m3 in cutting
16. Determine the quantities of earthwork for the portion of road between chainages 50 and 60
from the following data. Length being measured with a standard 20 m chain.
Chainage 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60
GL 131.1 131.2 130.9 131.2 130.8 130.7 130.6 130.4 129.1 129.5 129.7
The formation level at chainage 50 is 130.00 and the road is in a rising gradient of 1 in 200. The
width of formation is 10 m and side slope is 1.5:1 in embankment and 1:1 in cutting. The lateral
slope of the ground may be assumed as level.
17. The following table is an extract from the longitudinal section of a road earthwork survey.
Calculate the quantity of earthwork from the following data.
(i) Formation width: 12 m
(ii) Side Slopes: a) Banking – 2: 1 b) Cutting – 1.5: 1

Chainage 0 30 60 90 120 150 180

RL of Ground 99.70 99.80 100.30 100.50 100.80 100.90 100.60
RL of Formation 100.50 in 300(+) In 150 (-)

Worksheet-I, 2012/13 by: Amare T. 4

18. The ground levels at various chainages along centre line of a proposed road are:

Chainage 21 22 23 24 25
Distance, m 0 30 60 90 120
RL of Ground 180.50 183.36 185.52 187.10 186.50
The ground has uniform cross slope of 1 in 8. The length of chain is 30m. The road formation is
proposed at uniform gradient passing through G.L. at the end chainages with formation width as
8 m and side slope in cutting is 1:1. Estimate the quantity of earthwork for the proposed road
section in a tabular form.

Assignment: Problems # 3, 5 6, 7, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 18 are to be worked by the students
and the submission date to be held on Monday (08/06/2013).

Worksheet-I, 2012/13 by: Amare T. 5