Geometric Design of Highways

Dr. Eman Magdy Ibrahim Youssef

Assistant professor, Civil Engineering Department, Delta Higher Institute of Engineering and Technology

1
February- 2022
 Horizontal Alignment
plan
The roadway horizontal alignment is a

24
+0
23+00

0
22+00
series of horizontal tangents (straight

21+00
20+00
19+00
18+00
17+0
16
roadway sections), circular curves, and

0
+0
0
15
+0
spiral transitions.

0
700
The geometric quality of road 700 profile
600
when seen from above in “plan” 500
400
view. 300
200

15+00 16+00 17+00 18+00 19+00 20+00 21+00 22+00 23+00 24+00

2
Plan view and profile
Highway Design Example

3
 General Types of Horizontal Alignment
Straight Tangent-Curve

Continuously Curved Road

4
 Horizontal Alignment
Geometric
Elements of
Horizontal
Curves

Super Transition
elevation Horizontal
or Spiral
Design Alignment
Curves

Sight
Distance

5
 Horizontal Alignment
Purpose:

To provide change in direction to the C.L of a road

Process:

When a vehicle transverse a horizontal curve, the P = W V2 / g R

centrifugal force acts horizontally outwards through
the center of gravity of the vehicle

The centrifugal force acting on a vehicle passing through a

horizontal curve has two effects:

1- Overturning Effect
2-Transverse Skidding Effect 6
 Types of Horizontal Curves

Simple Curve Compound Curve

7
 Types of Horizontal Curves

Broken Back Curve Reverse Curve

Spiral 8
 Types of Horizontal Curves

Simple Curve

Curve with Spiral Transition

9
 Geometry of Circular Curves
PI 
PI: Point of Intersection
PC: Point of Curvature
PT: Point of Tangency T L E
T: Tangent Length
R: Radius of Curve
L: Length of Curve / M
Lc: Chord Length PC 2 PT
: Deflection Angle
Lc
180 -  : Intersection Angle
E: External ordinate
M: Middle ordinate Direction

R R


10
 Degree of Curvature
Relationship of Da and R
Arc definition (Da)
Da 100'
 so
Central angle subtended by 100 feet of arc (along curve) 360 2π R'

Note: 100'  one full station 5729.58 (ft) Da

Da 
R
100ft
360
5729.58 (ft)
R
Da
2R
Metric equivalents by conversion, e.g.
5729.58
Da 
(R m)(3.28083ft/m)
1746.38
Da Da  (m)
R
11
 Design Elements of Horizontal Curves
Deflection Angle
Also known as Δ
T = RTan I
( 2)

Deflection Angle
Design Elements of Horizontal Curves
I
L = 100
D

5729.58
D=
R
Larger D = smaller Radius
Design Elements of Horizontal Curves

E=External Distance
M=Length of Middle
Ordinate
Design Elements of Horizontal Curves

L=Length of Long Cord

 Super Elevation
Purpose:
To provide change in direction to the C.L of a road
Process:
When a vehicle transverse a horizontal curve, the centrifugal force acts horizontally
outwards through the center of gravity of the vehicle

The centrifugal force acting on a vehicle passing through a horizontal curve has two effects:

1-Overturning Effect
P
2-Transverse Skidding Effect

P/W = V2 /g R
 Overturning Effect

∑M A = P h – w b/2

0.0 = P h – w b/2

P h = w b/2
P/W (Centrifugal Ratio) = b/2h

This means there is a danger of overturning when the Centrifugal

Ratio or V2/ GR attains a value of b/2h
 Transverse Skidding Effect

P = f RA + f RB

P = f (RA + RB)

P= fW
P/W (Centrifugal Ratio) = f

This means there is a danger of Transverse Skidding when the

Centrifugal Ratio or V2/ GR attains a value of f
 Horizontal Alignment
• Design based on appropriate relationship between design speed and curvature and
their relationship with side friction and super elevation
• Along circular path, vehicle attempts to maintain its direction (via inertia)
• Turning the front wheels, side friction and super elevation generate an acceleration to
offset inertia
Super elevation “e” & side friction coefficient “f” on horizontal
curves
 Relationship between speed v, e, f, and curve radius, R

0.01e  f v 2

1  0.01ef gR
In practice:

1  0.01ef  1 and g is calculated:

2 2
0.067v v
0.01e  f  
R 15R
v : vehicle speed, ft/s
R: radius of curve, ft
e: rate of superelevation, percent
f: side friction factor (lateral ratio)
 Radius Calculation
Radius Calculation
Rmin = ___V2______
 Rmin uses max e and max f (defined by AASHTO, DOT, and
15(e + f) graphed in Green Book) and design speed

Where:  f is a function of speed, roadway surface, weather condition,

tire condition, and based on comfort – drivers brake, make
Rmin is the minimum radius in feet sudden lane changes, and change position within a lane
when acceleration around a curve becomes “uncomfortable”
V = velocity (mph)
e = super elevation
 AASHTO: 0.5 @ 20 mph with new tires and wet pavement
f = friction (15 = gravity and unit to 0.35 @ 60 mph
conversion)
 f decreases as speed increases (less tire/pavement contact)
 Radius Calculation
normally, f is given ( from 0.12 to 0.16), e is also known when the location of the designed
highway is known.

The rest is to determine

v when R is known, or determine R when v is given.

Application: Minimum radius

2
V
Rmin 
15(emax  f max )
 Max SUPERELEVATION (e)
Controlled by 4 factors:
• Climate conditions (amount of
ice and snow)
• Terrain (flat, rolling,
mountainous)
• Type of area (rural or urban)
• Frequency of slow moving
vehicles who might be
influenced by high super
elevation rates

Source: A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets (The Green Book).
Washington, DC. American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials,
2001 4th Ed.
 Radius Calculation
Example: assume a maximum e of 8% and design speed of 60 mph, what is the
minimum radius?
fmax = 0.12 (from Green Book)
Rmin = _____602_______________
15(0.08 + 0.12)
Rmin = 1200 feet

For emax = 4%? (urban situation)

Rmin = _____602
15(0.04 + 0.12)
Rmin = 1,500 feet
 Minimum Safe Radius

R = V2/127 (e+f)
Where:
R: Radius in meters
V: Speed in Kilometers per hour
e: super elevation, 0.06-0.08
f: Side-friction factor, 0.14 for 80 kph
 Horizontal Curves Spiral (Transition)
A spiral curve is a curve which has an infinitely long radius at its junction with the tangent end
of the curve; this radius is gradually reduced in length until it becomes the same as the radius
of the circular curve with which it joins.

Curve with Spiral Transition

 Advantages of Spirals Curve
a. Provides natural, easy to follow, path for drivers (less encroachment, promotes more
uniform speeds), lateral force increases and decreases gradually

b. Provides location for superelevation runoff (not part on tangent/curve)

c. Provides transition in width when horizontal curve is widened

d. Aesthetic

Source: Iowa DOT Design Manual

 Minimum Length of Spirals

Larger of L = 3.15 V3 L = 1.6 V3

RC R

Where:
L = minimum length of spiral (ft)
V = speed (mph)
R = curve radius (ft)
C = rate of increase in centripetal acceleration (ft/s3)
(use 1ft/s3 to 3 ft/s3 for highway)
 Super elevation Design
Desirable super elevation:
V2
for R > Rmin ed   f max
gR

Where,
V= design speed in ft/s or m/s
g = gravity (9.81 m/s2 or 32.2 ft/s2)
R = radius in ft or m
Various methods are available for determining the desirable super elevation, but the
equation above offers a simple way to do it. The other methods are presented in the next
few overheads.
 Attainment of Super elevation - General
1. Tangent to super elevation
2. Must be done gradually over a distance without appreciable reduction in
speed or safety and with comfort
3. Change in pavement slope should be consistent over a distance
4. Methods
a. Rotate pavement about centerline
b. Rotate about inner edge of pavement
c. Rotate about outside edge of pavement
 Super elevation Transition Section
• Tangent Run out Section • Super elevation Runoff Section
• Length of roadway needed to accomplish • Length of roadway needed to accomplish
a change in outside-lane cross slope from a change in outside-lane cross slope from
normal cross slope rate to zero 0 to full super elevation or vice versa
• For undivided highways with cross-
section rotated about centerline

For rotation about centerline

 Method 1: (Centerline)
L1 = 200 c Ls = 200 s or 1.6 v3 /R

1 : 200 s
c
C = w *0.02 c c s

S=w*e
 Method 2: (Inside Edge)

C = w *0.02
s

s
c
c c c
S = w * e
 Method 3:(Outside Edge)

c
c c
c c s

C = w *0.02
s

S = w * e
 Which Method?
• In overall sense, the method of rotation about the centerline (Method 1) is
usually the most adaptable

• Method 2 is usually used when drainage is a critical component in the

design

• In the end, an infinite number of profile arrangements are possible; they

depend on drainage, aesthetic, topography among others
 Widening on Horizontal Curves
1- Mechanical Widening
Wm = n l2/2 R
l = length of wheel base (m)
n = Number of lanes
R = radius of the curve

2- Psychological Widening
Wps = V/9.5 √ R
V = Design speed (Km/hr)
 Sight Distance on Horizontal Curve
Minimum sight distance (for safety) should be equal to the safe stopping distance
 Sight Distance on Horizontal Curve
Example
• Consider M = 12'
• Curve with R = 1909.86 ft LC = ?
• Sight obstruction (e.g. building) 12 ft from
curve (M = 12 ft)
• Question
• Recall: car going 60 mph needs SSD of 475 ft
• Does curve have enough SSD for a car going R = 1909.86'
60 mph?


M  R 1 cos 
2
  2
LC  2Rsin 

R M • Available sight distance = 428';

 cos  
2 R Required SSD60 = 475'

1909.86'  12'
1909.86'
 
LC  2Rsin Δ
2 • Not enough sight distance for 60 mph
 2  1909.86 sin(635'34") • Post lower speed limit or redesign
   635'34"  427.5' curve
2
ANY QUESTIONS