Chapter 4

Horizontal Alignment
of Highways

By
Dr. MANAL ABD ALLA
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 Definition:
Horizontal Alignment is a
series of horizontal
tangents connected by
horizontal curves.
Horizontal
Tangent

Horizontal
Curve
Plan of hwy.

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 Horizontal curves:
 Types,

 Design,

 Setting out.

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 H Curves Types
L

1-circular (part of circle)

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2-Spiral(Part of spiral curve):

R=∞
L1

R=0
R=R1
L2

R=R2
R=R3

R1L1=R2L2=A² R1>R2>R3

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Shapes of circular:

1-Simple Curve

PC PT

R R

Simple Curve

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2-Reversed Curve ( S Curve)

PT

PC
R2
R1 PT
PC

Reverse Curve ( S Curve)

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3-Two Centered Compound
Curves
P CC1

PT

PC

R1

R1
R2

Two Centered Compound Curves

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 Design Elements:
1-Simple Curve

T = R tan ∆ /2
PI
R = 1750 / Do ∆
E
Lc = 30.50 ∆ / Do Lc
PC M PT
Do = 1750 / R
L
L = 2 R sin ∆ /2
E = R ( sec∆ /2 – 1)
R
M = R ( 1- cos ∆ /2 ) R

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 Design Elements:
2-Spiral-Curve-Spiral
PI

Xc ∆
SC CS
Xm Lc
PC PT
Ls Ls
TS ST

θs ∆ c θ s

Yc

θs = Ls / 2Rc ( 180 / Л ) Lc = ∆c (Л / 180 ) Rc

∆ = ∆c + 2 θs Xc = Ls – ( Ls3 / 40 Rc2)
S = Ls2 / 24 Rc Yc = (Ls2 / 6 Rc ) – (Ls4 / 340 Rc3 )
Xm = Xc – Rc sin θs Ts = ( Rc + S) tan ∆ /2 + Xm
Ym = Yc + Rc cos θs

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 Spiral Curve Parameter (A)

V(kph) 40 60 80 100 120 140

A (m) 50 100 150 200 350 500

Ls = A 2 / R , or
Ls = V3 / 28 R
Where :
Ls = length of spiral curve (m),
V = vehicle speed (kph),
A = Spiral parameter (m),
R = Radius of the circular curve
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 How to get Rmin?

Two Basic Problems that

determine the minimum
radius of any horizontal
curve in highways:
1- Balance of vehicle
2- Sight Distance

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 1-Balance
Centrifugal
force

Cc
os
Ө
C Wf R
R

W
Ө

sin
sin

W Ө
fco
C

Ө sӨ e+f =V2/ 127 R

nӨ Ө
o s
c

Were : e=tan Ө
W
fsi

W C=WV²/gR
W

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 1-Balance
Maximum safe side Friction Factors (fs)

120 110 100 90 80 70 60 50 40

V
km/hr
12. 12. 13. 13. 14. 15. 15. 16. 17.
(fs)

Max. Superelevation Rate (e)

e ranges from 0.08 to 0.12 in rural areas,

and
ranges from 0.06 to 0.10 in urban are

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Example: A new HWY is to be
constructed in flat area. The design
speed is 90 kph. Determine the
degree of the sharpest horizontal
curve that can be used safely.

Solution
V = 90 kph (fs) = 0.13
Take e = emax. = 0.10 for
rural highway.
Applying the equation
e + fs = V2/127 R
0.10 + 0.13 = 902 / 127 R
R = 277.3 m
R = 1750 / D
D = 6.31
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2-Sight Distance

Sight distance

Line of sight M

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 2-Sight Distance
Sight distance S
M
Line of Sight
Sight obstruction
1

M n
e h
q

W X

M = W/2 + X + n (W/2 × e + X q + h)

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 2-Sight Distance

At : S < L M = S2 / 8 R

At : S > L M = L ( 2 S – L) / 8 R

Where:
M = Obstruction distance, m;
S = Stopping sight distance, m;
R = Radius of the circular curve, m;
L = length of the circular curve, m.

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 Superelevation
Runoff (Lt)

It is the term denoting the length of

highway needed to accomplish the
change in cross slope from a normal
crown section to a fully
superelevated section, or vice it virsa
It called Transition length
(Lt).
We will study two types of horizontal
curve :
1. Simple circular curve (without spiral)
2. Spiral Curve Spiral

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 Superelevation
Runoff (Lt)
1. Simple circular curve (without
spiral)
1/3Lt PI
∆
Lt=Ls
PC PT

R R
∆

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 Superelevation
Runoff (Lt)
2-Spiral Curve Spiral
≈0.5Ls
∆=2Өs+∆c
Ls
Lc
PC ≈1/2Lc
. C
S PT
S

Өs ∆c
Өs

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 Superelevation
Runoff (Lt)

CF=W V²/gR
CF=0
PC
e
PT
q
q

Lt

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 Method of attaining
superelevation
Case1 : Undivided Highways
1-Revolving about the
centerline profile(C.L).
2-Revolving about the
inside-edge profile ( I.E).
3-Revolving about the
outside-edge profile
(O.E).

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 Method of attaining
superelevation
1-Revolving about
Centerline
e
q
e

Normal crown section Superelevation section

Lt
OE

∆s ew
qw
qw CL
qw
ew
IE
Lt = ew / ∆s max
PC

X 2/3Lt 1/3Lt
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 Method of attaining
superelevation
2-Revolving about Inner
Edge

q
e

Lt
X 2∆s
OE

ew
CL
qw ew
qw qw
IE
Pc
Ls = (2ew-qw)/2∆s max

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 Method of attaining
superelevation
3-Revolving about Outer
Edge
q
e

X ∆s
Lt
qw
qw
OE
qw
ew
CL
ew
IE
2/3Lt 1/3Lt

Ls = ew/∆s Pc

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 Value of Transition
Length (Lt)
Case1 : Undivided Highways

a-Two Lane-Two way:

Lt= the biggest value of Lt1,Lt2,Lt3,
Were:
Lt1=Ls=V3 / 28 R , or
Lt2=Ls=A2 / R , or
Lt3=function of ∆s

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 Value of Transition
Length (Lt)
Case1 : Undivided Highways

b-Three Lanes-Two way:

Lt*=1.2(Lt)
c-Four Lane-Two way undivided:
Lt*=1.5(Lt)
6-Six Lane-Two way undivided:
Lt*=2.0(Lt)
 Max. Relative Slope ∆s
Def.
It is the max. relative slope between
pavement edge and center line for
two lane two way hwy.

Design speed, Max. relative slope

kph ∆s
30 0.75
50 0.67
65 0.58
80 0.50
100 0.45
105 0.41
115 0.40

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 Method of attaining
superelevation
Case2 : divided Highways

Runoff with median

1-Revolving about the median centerline,
median width < 4.5m.
2- Revolving about the median edges,
median width 4.5 - 12m.
3-Revolving as a separate pavement ,
median width > 12m

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 Pavement Widening
on Horizontal Curves

Two lane pavement widening varies from 0

to 2 m,Values recommended are calculated
from a formula,
W = L2/2R + 0.1V/√R
where:
W = widening for 2-lane pavement
on curve, m
L = wheel base; 6 m for SUT
R = radius on centerline of 2-lane
pavement curve, m
V = design speed; kph

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 Examples
Ex 1 : Determine the station of PC and PT of a simple horizontal
curve with two tangents with 20o deflecting angle and intersected at
station ( 15 + 20). The degree of curve is 4.
Solution 15+20 20

PC PT

437.5
20

R = 1750 / D = 1750 / 4=437.5 m

T = R tan ∆ /2 = 437.5 tan 10 = 77 m
L = 30.5 ∆ / D = 152.5 m
Station of PC=St. of PI – T=1520 – T=1520 – 77=1443 = 14 + 43
Station of PT = St. of PC + L = 1443 + 152.5 = 1595.5 = 15+95.5

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 Examples

Ex 2: A corner of an existing building is 11.8 m from the

centerline of a 12 o curved portion of a 2-lane highway having a
lane width of 3.60 m. calculate the safe operating speed on that
section.
Solution
D = 12 W = 3.6 m M = 11.8 - 3.6/2 = 10 m
R = 1750/D = 1750/12 = 145.83 m
M = S2 / 8 R 10 = S2 / ( 8 × 145.12 ) S = 108 m
S = 0.278 Vt + V2/ 255 ( f ± g) = 108
Assume t = 2.5, g = 0.0, f = 0.30
108 = 0.278 × 2.5 × V + V 2 / 255 ( 0.30 + 0.00)
V = 70 kph
The safe operating speed on this section is 70 kph.

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 Examples
Ex 3 : What is the minimum degree of curve that may be designed to
provide for safe operation of vehicle of speed 100 kph. Take fs = 0.10
and e = 0.06. Will this provide for adequate sight distance if there is
a corner of a building 10.00 m from the edge of the shoulder ( lane
width is 3.75 m and the shoulder width is 1 m).
Solution
V = 100kph, fs = 0.10, e = 0.06
e + fs = V2 / 127 R 0.06 + 0.10 = 1002 / 127 R
R = 492.13 m D = 1750 / R
D = 1750 / 492.13 = 3.56 M = 10 + 1 + 3.75 / 2 = 12.88 m
M = S2 / 8 R 12.88 = S2 / (8 × 492.13)
S = 255 m S = 0.275 Vt + V2 / 255 (f ±g)
Assume
t = 2.5, f = 0.30, g = 0.00
255 = 0.278 × 2.5 × V + V 2 / 255 (0.30 + 0.00)
V = 115.5 kph > vehicle speed ( 100 kph)
The curve provides safe operation for stopping.

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 Examples
Ex 4: A horizontal curve of a 2-lane highway is built in a cut
section as shown in the figure. Determine the maximum
operation speed that would allow a safe operation on this
curve given that R = 305 m. 1
Solution 3
M
0.06 0.6
0.08
3.5 1.2
Considering obstruction ( sight distance)
M = W/2 + X + n (W/2 × e + X q + h)
M = 3.5 / 2 + 1.20 + 3 (3.5 / 2 × 0.06 + 1.2 × 0.08 + 0.60)
M = 5.35 m, M = S2 / 8 R, 5.35 = S2 / 8 × 305, S=114.25 m
S = 0.278 V t + V2 / 255 ( f ± g)
Assume t = 2.5, g = 0.00, f = 0.30
114.25 = 0.278 × 2.5 × V + V2 / 255 ( 0.30 + 0.00) V= 70.6 kph
Considering balance
Assume fs = 0.13, e + fs = V2/ 127 R 0.06 + 0.13 = V2/ 127 × 305
V = 85 kph the max. safe speed is 70.6 kph

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