Highway Engineering

Solved Problem Summary

Minimum Radius Calc

1. A horizontal curve at the site of an accident has a measured superelevation of 3 %. The

posted speed limit is 40 mph and the radius of the curve is 1000 ft. Tests on the pavement at
the site indicate the transverse friction varies in a linear manner from 0.2 at 30 mph to 0.1 at
60 mph. Show by calculation the curve is adequate/inadequate. (Would this be a good time
to call my lawyer?)

 V 2 
R   
 15 ( f  e ) 
 
 V 2 
1000   
 15 (. 3  . 1V  . 03 ) 
 30 
. 1V . 1V
V 2  15 , 000 (. 3   . 03 )  15 , 000 (. 33  )
30 30
V 2  4950  50 V
V 2
 50 V  4950  0
 50  50 2
 4 * 1 * 4950
V 
2 *1

 50  149.33
V 
2
99.33
Vmax   49.67  50 MPH
2

Also acceptable

V2
R
15( f  e)
40 2
R
.1 * 40
15(.3   .03)
30
R40  542 ft  1000 ft

Safe for 40 MPH

2. An icy road has a side friction factor of 0.0, a 0.07 ft/ft maximum superelevation and a
radius of 1909 ft. What happens if the vehicle speed is 20 mph. Show by calculating the
developed forces.
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tan   .07
  4
sin   .0699
Down slope forces  W * sin   .0699W
W V2
Up slope forces  Fc * cos   * * cos 
g R
W 5280 2 1
Up slope forces  .998 * (20 * ) *  .014W
32.2 3600 1909
.07W  .014W
Down slope forces  Up slope forces : vehicle sets to inside of curve

3. What is the minimum radius required on a horizontal curve such that the centripetal and
gravitational forces on a vehicle in the outside lane are balanced by the frictional forces.
Assume the normal crown is 0.015 ft/ft, the side friction factor, f, is 0.024 and the design
speed is 60 mph.

W * sin   f * N  W * sin  * f
sin 
f   tan   .015 not a function of R
cos 
W V2
 Wf
g R
5280 2
2 (60 *
)
V 3600
R 
g* f 32.2 * .024
R  10,020 ft

F parallel to road

Fc cos   W sin   Fr  f ( N )
Fc cos   W sin   f ( Fc sin   W sin  )
Fc  W tan   f ( Fc tan   W )

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W V2 W V2
 W tan   f ( tan   W )
g R g R
V2 V2
f tan   f  tan 
g*R g*R
V2
(1  f tan  )  ( f  tan  )
g*R
V 2 1  f tan  88 2 (1  .024 * 0.15)
R ( )
g f  tan  32.2 (.024  .015)
R  26721(1  .024 * .015)
R  26712 ft

V 2 (1  f tan  )
R
g f e
88 2 (1  .024 * .015)
R
32.2 (.024  .015)
R  6167(1  .024 * .015)
R  6164 ft

Rmin  26712 ft

4. An icy road has a side friction factor of 0.0, a 7% maximum super elevation and a
radius of 600 m. Show by summing forces what happens if the vehicle speed is reduced to
40 km/hr.

tan   .07
  4
sin   .0699
Down slope forces  W sin   .0699W
W V2
Up slope forces  Fc cos   cos 
g R
W 1000 2 1
Up slope forces  .998 * (40 * ) *  .021W
9.81 3600 600
.07W  .021W
Down slope forces  Up slope forces : vehicle sets to inside of curve

5. A vehicle travels around a horizontal curve with a radius of 500 ft at 40 mph. If the
side friction value is 0.15 and the road is flat (no cross slope) show by force calculation that
the vehicle will stay/leave the roadway. Assume the vehicle weight is 2000 lb and the

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centripetal acceleration is a = m*V2/R, where m is the mass, V is the velocity and R is the
radius of the curve.

5280 2
2 (40 * )
WV 2000 3600
Fc  ma  
g R 32.2 500
Fc  429.5lbs
FR  f * W  .15 * 2000  300lbs
Fc  FR  vehicle will leave road

6. A vehicle on a tangent is traveling at 60 mph. If the cross slope of the pavement is - 2

%, what is the factor of safety against sliding to the side of the road.

FD  W sin 
FR  W cos  * f
FR W cos  * f f .12
FS F    
FD W sin  tan  .02
FS F  6

7. A friction measuring trailer has a weight of 1000 lbs. If the

locked wheel force measured between the trailer and the towing vehicle is 200 lbs at 40
mph, what is the friction factor between the tires and the road surface?

8. A carnival rider drives a motorcycle up a circular vertical wall and continues around
the track until daylight. The radius of the track is 20 m and the measured friction along the
vertical wall is 0.1. How fast does the driver have to go to maintain a perfect horizontal
position (km/h)?

9. A circus rider is attempting to ride around a track with a vertical wall. If the side
friction is 0.15 how fast must the rider go (mph) to prevent sliding to the bottom of the wall?
Radius of the track is 25 ft.

gR 32.2 * 25
V2    5366.7
f .15
V  73.3 fps  49.95MPH

10. In the winter the side friction factor on a roadway may be reduced to 0. In this case
the only way to prevent sliding is to increase/decrease the velocity of the vehicle. If the
design speed of the road way is 100 km/hr, emax is 10% and the radius of the curve is the

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minimum determined by the conventional technique, what speed is required to just keep a
vehicle on the curve?

Horizontal Curve

1. The relationship between degree of curve and radius involves the constant 5729.5780.
Derive this constant from basic geometric principles.

RD
 100
180
100 * 180
R
D
5729.5780
R
D

2. A horizontal curve has a central angle of 45o and a Point of Intersection (PI) at Station
1+000.00 and radius of 1000.00 m. What is the station of the Point of Tangency (PT)?


T  R tan
2
45
T  1000 * tan  1000 * .41421  414.21
2
 
L *R*  * 1000 * 45  785.398m
180 180
PI  1  000.00
 414.21
PC  0  585.79
 785.40
PT  1  371.19

3. A circular curve with a radius of 400 m and a long chord of 400 m. The PI Station is
1+000.000 find the following:
a. The PT Station
b. The External distance
c. A parabolic curve with the same long chord and tangent as in problem 3 is used
instead of the circular curve. What is the external distance for this curve?

d. A horizontal curve has a deflection angle of 45o R with the PI at Station 900.00 and
a long chord of 500 m. What is the station of the Point of Curvature (PC)?

4. A horizontal curve with a deflection angle of 30o has a radius of 500 m. At what
distance (along the curve) from the PC is the deflection angle for an observer at the PC
equal to 15o ? What is the PT Station if the PI station is 1+000.000?

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Horizontal Sight Distance

1. A horizontal curve has a radius of 1000.00 ft. If the grade is flat and the distance
between the centerline and object is 30 ft, what is the maximum stopping distance (assume
no adjustment to center of the inside lane). Remember the arc length is proportional to the
circumference of a circle.


30  R  R cos
2

30  1000(1  cos )
2

.030  1  cos
2

cos  1  .030  .97
2

 14.07
2
  28.13
 S

360 2R
2 * 1000 * 28.13
S  491 ft
360

2. The stopping distance (rounded for design) of a two lane road (12 ft lanes) is 450 ft.
What is the required clear distance between the drivers location and the edge of the forest
(level terrain and no back slope) if the radius to the centerline is 1000 ft?

Robj  1000 ft  6 ft  994 ft

S  obj

2Robj 360
S * 360 450 * 360
 obj    25.94
2Robj 2 * 994
 obj 25.94
m  Robj (1  cos )  994(1  cos )
2 2
m  994(1  cos12.97)
m  25.4 ft

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3. A two lane road with a 1000 ft horizontal curve (centerline), 12 ft lanes and an interior
angle (deflection angle) of 30 degrees defines the line of sight for a vehicle on the curve.
For the standard stopping conditions (3.5 ft observer and 0.5 Ft object), what is the slope of
the line of sight (%)? Assume the grade is level.

elev
slope  * 100
LengthLC
 30
LengthLC  2 Robs * sin  2 * (1000  6) sin  514.53 ft
2 2
3 .5  0 .5
slope  * 100  0.6%
514.53

4. For a horizontal curve on a two lane (3.6 m per lane) road with a radius of 500 to the
centerline, what is the distance of the line of sight when an obstruction is located 10 m from
the centerline of the road? Assume the grade of the road is level

 3 .6
m  Robj (1  cos )  m  10   8 .2
2 2
  8 .2
8.2  (500  1.8)(1  cos )  cos  1 
2 2 500  1.8

 10.41
2

L  2 Robj sin  2 * 498.2 sin(10.41)
2
L  180m

5. Considering horizontal alignment, what slope is required to ensure the line of sight
around the curve is just tangent to the back slope given the cross section and data provided
below? (Needs Sketch)

6. The design speed of a road is 120 km/hr. Assuming adequate stopping distance (high
value) is provided, what is the required radius to provide a 10 m clear zone from the edge of
pavement to an obstruction. Pavement width is 3.6 m and the road is a two lane arterial
route.

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7. For a horizontal curve on a two lane (3.6 m per lane) road with a radius of 500 m to
the centerline, what is the stopping distance available to a driver when an obstruction is
located 10 m from the centerline of the road? Assume the grade of the road is level.

8. A horizontal curve has a degree of curve of 3 o and a design speed of 60 mph. A

hotel wants to erect a sign 20 ft from the edge of a 12 ft pavement. Calculate the actual
sight distance and the available design speed for this condition. Should the hotel get
permission to erect the sign?

9. An object is located 30 ft to the inside of a 400 ft (CL) horizontal curve. What is

the maximum speed (calculated) that provides adequate sight distance if the observer and
object are directly over the centerline.

R Rm 400 400  30

S * cos 1 ( ) cos 1 ( )
28.65 R 28.65 400
V2 V2
S  311.78  1.47 * V * t   1.47 * V * 2.5 
a 11.2
30(  G ) 30(  0)
g 32.2
311.78  3.675V  .096V 2

 3.67  3.67 2  4 * 0.96 * 311.78  3.67  11.54


2 * .096 .192

Vmax  41MPH

Superelevation

1. A discussions with my engineering colleagues, we determine that slope of the

outside edge of pavement on a superelevation transition should be 0.5%. For a two lane
road (12 ft lanes) and emax = 6%, what is the length of the superelevation runoff. Show on a
sketch the relationship between the centerline and the outside edge of pavement. Assume
the centerline is at a constant elevation of 100.00 ft.

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.72
.005 
X
.72
X   144'
.005

2. Using the superelevation transition in Problem 4 and the following curve data, what
is the station of the beginning of the superelevation runoff at the exit end of the curve?

PI Station = 10+10.00
Deflection angle = 45 o R
Degree of curve = 4.5 o
1/3 of superelevation runoff on the curve

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5729.5780 5729.5780
R   1273.24 ft
Dc 4 .5
 * 100 45 * 100
L   1000 ft
Dc 4 .5
 45
T  R tan  1273.24 tan  527.39 ft
2 2
PI  10  10.00
5  27.39
PC  4  82.61
10  00.00
PT  14  82.61
1
 48.00  * 144
3
ST 14  34.61

3. A horizontal curve has its PC at station 10+00.00. If the design speed is 70 mph and the
maximum superelevation is = 0.08 ft/ft, what is the station of the beginning of the
superelevation transition assuming 60 percent of the transition is on the tangent. Assume a
two lane road, rotation about the center line and 12 ft lanes.

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Table 14.13
super runoff  240 ft
.96 ft
S  .004
240 ft
.24
X   60 ft
.004
L  240  60  300 ft
.6 L  .6 * 300  180 ft
BT  PC  1  80.00  10  00.00
1  80.00
BT  8  20.00

4. The super elevation runoff for a horizontal curve on a two-lane road with a design speed
of 65 mph and maximum superelevation of 0.08 ft/ft is rounded with a parabolic curve as
shown below. What is the outside edge of pavement elevation at the end of the transition?
Assume lane width is 12 ft and the centerline elevation is 100.00.

Table 14.13.......for e  .08 and V  65 MPH

Superelevation runoff  230 ft
12 * .08
G1   .00417 * 100  .417
230
G2  0
A  (G2  G1 )  (0  .417)  .417
(.417 * 50 2 )
O  .052
(200 * 100)
elevation  100  .96  .052  100.9078 ft

5. Using the data from Problem 3, calculate the inside and outside edge elevation at the
PC of the curve if 70 % of the superelevation runoff is on the tangent of the alignment.
Assume the centerline elevation is 100.00.

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Highway Engineering

L1  230 * 70%  161 ft

 1  L * A  161 * .00417  .671
Outerelev  PC elev   1  100  .671  100.671 ft
L 2  30% * 230  69ft
 2  69 * .00417  .287
Innerelev  PC elev   2  100  .96  .287  99.328 ft
6. A superelevated road has a transition that is defined by some key cross sections in
relation to the pavement surface. For the case where emax = 0.07 ft/ft, lane width is 12 ft,
and the normal cross slope is 0.015 ft/ft, what is the left edge of pavement elevation for the
following points:

a. A normal cross section 99.82

b. A fully superelevated section 100.84
c. The end of the tangent runout/ beginning of super elevation
runoff. 100.00

Assume the grade is 0.0% and the centerline elevation is constant and is 100.00.

a. elev  100  .015 * 12  99.82 ft

b. elev  100  .07 * 12  100.84 ft
c. elev  100

7. The outside edge of pavement on a superelevation runoff has a slope of 0.44%,

pavement width of 12 ft and a maximum superelevation of 10 %( 0.1 ft/ft). What is the
calculated length of the runoff?

8. The point of curvature for a 1000 ft horizontal curve is at station 10+00.00. What is the
station of the beginning of the tangent runout and what is the superelevation (%) at the point
of curvature. Assume emax = 0.08, speed is 50 mph, lane width is 12 ft and 2/3 runoff on the
tangent.

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Runoff  190 ft
e max * width . 08 * 12
S    . 0050
Runoff 190
. 24
Runout   47 . 5 ft
.0050
2
* 190  127 ft
3
STA PC  10  00 . 00
 1  27 . 00
8  73 . 00
 0  47 . 50
STA BT  8  25 .50

9. Use the sketch below and determine the inside edge, outside edge and the centerline
elevation for points A, B, C and E for the following conditions:
A. 2 lane road
B. Lane width = 12 ft
C. Lane slope = -2 %
D. Rotation about outside edge
E. On the tangent before the transition the centerline elevation = 100.0
F. emax = .1

Elevation
A B C E
Inside Edge 99.76 99.52 99.28 97.36
Outside Edge 99.76 99.76 99.76 97.76
Centerline 100.00 99.76 99.52 98.56

10. If a superelevation transition is applied to a curve with a runoff of 70 m, e max = 8%

and a lane width of 3 m, what is the length of the tangent runout? Assume the normal cross
slope of the pavement is -2%

  width * emax  3m * .08  .24m

 .24
S   .00343
runoff 70
width * cross slope 3 * .02
TR  * runoff  * 70  17.5m
 .24

11. A circular curve has 2 lanes (3.6 m each) and a maximum super elevation of 10%. If
the design speed is 110 km/h and 2/3 of the super elevation runoff is on the tangent, what is
the elevation of the inside edge of pavement at the PC. Assume the elevation of the
centerline is 100.00 and rotation is about the centerline

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12. The outside edge and centerline profile for a typical two lane pavement is shown
below. Label the beginning of the superelevation runoff, beginning of the superelevation
runout and the relative location of the point of curvature (PC).

13. A road has 8% maximum super elevation and a design speed of 70 mph. If the PC is
located at station 5+00.00, what is the outside edge of pavement elevation at station
4+00.00? Assume rotation about the centerline, 2-lane pavement, 12 ft lanes and 60% of
the runoff on the tangent.

Runoff  205 Runout  51

.6 * 205  123 ft
PC  5  00.00 4  00.00
 1  23.00 3  77.00
FS  3  77.00 0  23.00
23
e%  * 8  .90%
205
.90
elev  100  * 12  100.11 ft
100

14. The maximum super elevation rate for a two-lane road is 0.08 ft/ft and design speed
of 50 mph. What is the outside edge of pavement elevation 50 ft from the end of the
superelevation runoff. Assume rotation about the centerline, a flat grade and elevation of
100.00 ft.

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From Table 14.13  190 ft

x e * width 140 * .08 * 12
 x  .707
190  50 190 190
elev  100  .71  100.71 ft
or
.96
slope   .0051
190
offset  .0051 * (190  50)  .71
elev  100  .71  100.71 ft
.24
Tangent runout   47 ft
.0051
TL  190  47  237 ft

Stopping Distance

1. A driver’s eye height is 2 ft above the pavement. What percent reduction in stopping
distance (over normal) will this condition cause? Assume the following:
a. Object height = .5 ft
b. Crest vertical curve grade difference = 7%
c. Design speed = 70 mph
d. S < L
e. Normal stopping distance is based on the conservative value for the design speed.

AS 2 7 * 850 2
LN  where S  850 so L N   3805 ft
1329 1329
Ax 2
Offset 
200 L
2.0 * 200 * 3805
x1   466.3 ft
7
.5 * 200 * 3805
x2   233.1 ft
7
x1  x 2  699.4 ft
S  ( x1  x 2 ) 850  699.4
%reduction  * 100  * 100  17.7%
850 850

Vertical Curves

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1. Given the following measurements taken in the field find the length of vertical curve
and the station of the high point of the curve.

G1 = 5%
G2 = -2%
PC Station 10+00.00 Elev = 100.00
Station 11+00.00 Elev = 103.00

Ax 2  7 * 100 2
Offset  2 ft  L  175 ft
200 L 200 * 2
dy 2 Ax G
  1 0
dx 200 L 100
G 200 L 5 200 * 175
x 1 *  *  125 ft
100 2 A 100 2 * 7
G Ax 2 5  7 * 125 2
y  x * 1  100 ft   125 *  100   103.12 ft
100 200 L 100 200 * 175
STA  10  00.00
1  25.00
STA  11  25.00

2. The line of sight from an observer to an object along a crest vertical curve is tangent
at the high point of the curve. If the length of the curve is 1000 ft and the observer’s eye
height is 3.0 ft above the pavement, what is the Station of the observer if the Station of the
PIVC is 10+00.00.

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 G1 L 4 1000
High pt.  *  *  666.67 ft 600
100 A 100 6
STA  5  00.00
6  66.67
STA  11  66.67
Ax 2 6x2
Offset   3
200 L 200 * 1000
600 * 1000
x2   100000
6
x  316.23 ft
STAobs  11  66.67 11  66.67
 3  16.23 or  3  16.23
STAobs  8  50.34 or 14  83.00

3. Using the data from Problem 3, calculate the inside and outside edge elevation at the
PC of the curve if 70 % of the superelevation runoff is on the tangent of the alignment.
Assume the centerline elevation is 100.00.

4. A line of sight is tangent to a parabolic crest vertical curve at Sta 9+00.00. The
observer is on the curve at Sta 6+00.00, what is the height of the observer’s eye for the
given conditions. Assume G1 = 2%, G2 = -3%, the PI Sta is 10+00.00 and the length of
curve is 1000 ft. If all else fails remember y = ax2 + bx and solve for the offset
relationship.

Ax 2 (3  2) * 300 2
h   2.25 ft
200 L 200 * 1000

5. The general equation for a parabolic vertical curve is y = ax 2+bx+c. Assume the
origin of the coordinate system is at the PIVC, G1 = -5%, G2 = +3%, and the length =
1000 ft. Determine the specific equation for this vertical curve.

6. The equation for a parabolic vertical curve is

y = (Ax^2)/200L + (G1/100)X

If the observer is at the point of curvature for the vertical curve (VCPC=STA
10+78.61), what is the station at the point of tangency of the line of sight to the curve if

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the observer is at the VCPC, L = 1000 ft, G1=3%, G2=-2% and the observer eye height is
3.5 ft above the pavement.

A  G2  G1  (2  3)  5
Ax 2 offset * 200 * L 3.5 * 200 * 1000
offset  x   374.16 ft
200 L A 5
STA  10  78.61
3  74.16
STA  14  52.77
G 3
y  offset  1 * x  3.5  * 374.16  7.72 ft
X 100

7. The equation

Ax 2 G1 x
y   100
200 L 100

is for a parabolic curve with the origin at the PVC with x = 0.00 and y = 100.00. If the
eye level of an observer is 2 m above the pavement and the observer is at the PVC, what is
the distance to the point of tangency of the observer’s line of sight with the pavement?
G1 = 5%, G2 = -3% and the length of vertical curve is 200 m.

8. The equation for a parabolic vertical curve (beginning at the PCVC) is:
Ax 2 G
y  1 x
200 L 100

If the height of the observer is 2.0 m and the height of the object is 1.0 m, what is the
available stopping distance over the crest vertical curve if the vehicle and the object are on
the curve?

9. For a design speed of 60 mph, what decrease/increase in length of crest vertical curve
occurs when the object height is lowered from 2.0 ft to 0.5 ft. Assume S<L and A= 6%.

10. Catch basins are located at the low point of a 600.0 sag vertical curve with G1 =- 5%
and G2=+2%. If the PI is at station 10+00.00 and 100.00 elevation, what is the station and
elevation of the catch basins

11. An observer is 6 ft (eye height) and is looking up station from the PC. He is just
able to see the head of another person 5 ft 6 in. tall. What is the required length of vertical
curve? Assume they are both on the curve, at the same elevation, G1 = 3% and G2 = -5%

Compiled By:- Dr. Yonas Minalu Page

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Highway Engineering

2
 8 x1 1200 L 1100 L
6  x1  x2 
200 L 8 8
x  x1  x 2
Ax 2 G1 x
y  0
200 L 100
8(12.25 L  11.73 L ) 2 3
0  (12.25 L  11.73 L )
200 L 100
8 3
0 (23.97 L ) 2  (23.97 L )
200 L 100
0  22.99  .7191 L  .7191 L  22.99
L  1022.11 ft

12. A pipe 6 ft in diameter passes over a highway sag vertical curve with a clearance of
16 ft. What is the lowest elevation and station of the bottom of pipe? Assume the length
of the vertical curve is 400 ft, G1 = -3, G2 = 4%, PC Station is 5+00.00 and elevation is
100.00.

G1 3
Low pt  * 400  * 400  171.43 ft
A 7
STA  5  00.00
1  71.43
STA  6  71.43
Ax 2 G 7 * 171.43 2 3
elev  100   1 * x  16  100   * 171.43  16
200 L 100 200 * 400 100
elev  100  2.57  5.14  16  113.43 ft

13. A sag vertical curve has a –4% grade followed by a 5% grade. The station at the
PIVC is 1+000.000 with an elevation of 100.000. What is the station and elevation of the
low point on the curve?

14. I’m standing at the VCPC of a 120 m crest vertical curve. How tall do I have to be
to see the VCPT? G1 = +2% and G2 = -1%

Vertical Sight Distance

1. The eye height for a truck is 5.0 ft and for a car is 3.5 ft. If an object on a crest vertical
curve is 0.5 ft high, how much additional stopping distance does the truck have over the car
assuming the design speed is 60 mph, length of vertical curve is 2000 ft, G1 = +4% and G2
= -2%.

Compiled By:- Dr. Yonas Minalu Page

19
Highway Engineering

Offset Truck
AX 2 t 6 X 2t
ot    5 .0
200 L 200 x 2000
X t  577
Offset Car
2
AX 2 c 6X c
oc    3 .5
200 L 200 x 2000
X c  483
Difference  577  483  94

Note: The offset for the object is the same and the difference is determined from the
difference of the offset between the truck and the car.

2. A crest vertical curve must pass through elevation 95.00 at station 9+00. If the PIVC
is at station 10+00.00 with elevation 100.00, what is the required length and the resulting
design speed for this vertical curve (h1=3.5 and h2=0.5). Assume that G1 = +2% and G2 = -
4%.

Elev at 9  00  100  2  98
Offset  98  95  3
L
6(  100)
AX 2 2
3 
200 L 200 L
L  746
AS 2
L  746
1329
S  stopping _ disance  407
From Table 16.5
V  45 to 50mph

3. A truck driver’s eye height is 6 ft above the pavement. Based on the usual criteria for
stopping sight distance on a crest vertical curve, what is the percent increase in sight
distance for the truck driver compared to the design driver?

Compiled By:- Dr. Yonas Minalu Page

20
Highway Engineering

2
AX 1
6
200 L
1200 L 700 L .5 * 200 L
X LT  X Lc  X2 
A A A
1200 L 100 L

X  X 2T A A
%increse  1T 
X 1c  X 2c 700 L 100 L

A A
L
( 1200  100 )
ST A 34.64  10 44.64
    1.22
Sc L 26.46  10 36.46
( 700  100 )
A

4. The stopping sight distance over a crest vertical curve is given as

AS 2
L
100( 2h1  2h2 ) 2

What are the variables h1 and h2?

h1=height of observer
h2=height of object

5. A headlight for a truck is located 1000 mm above the PCVC. If the light beam
spreads upward at an angle of 2o above the horizontal, what is the sight distance provided
by this headlight system? Assume G1=0% and G2=10% and the length of the vertical curve
is 200 m.

6. The Conventional equation for a sag vertical curve is based on the height of the
headlights and a 1o cone of illumination by the lights. The resulting equation is
AS 2
L S<L
(120  3.5S )
Where S is the stopping distance and L is the length of vertical curve.

If the headlights are not aimed correctly and the cone of illumination is 0 o, what is the
required length of vertical curve? Assume the design speed is 80 km/hr.

Compiled By:- Dr. Yonas Minalu Page

21
Highway Engineering

7. On a crest vertical curve at the PCVC + 50 ft the offset from a vertical tangent to the
curve is 0.2 ft. If the grade difference is 8 % what is the design speed for the vertical curve
based on stopping sight distance?

Ax 2 8 * 50 2
offset   .2 
200 L 200 L
L  500 ft
3.5 * 200 * 500 .5 * 200 * 500
S  x1  x 2    209.17  79.06  288.23 ft
8 8
V2
288.23  2.5V 
2 * 32.2 * .34
V  56.6 fps  39 MPH  40 MPH

Compiled By:- Dr. Yonas Minalu Page

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