Geometric Design

Winter 2006
CEE 320

CEE 320
Steve Muench
 Horizontal
Alignment
Winter 2006
CEE 320
 Horizontal Alignment

• Tujuan:
– Geometry transisi pengarah untuk menjamin:
• Safety (Aman)
• Comfort (Nyaman)
• Tantangan Utama Δ
– Transisi antara dua arah
– Kurva Horizontal
• Fundamental
– Kurva Lingkaran
– Superelevasi
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 Horizontal Alignment
• Design berdasarkan kesesuaian hubungan
antara design speed dengan curvature
maupun keterkaitannya dengan side
friction dan superelevation
• Sepanjang jalur lengkungan (tikungan),
vehicle berupaya mempertahankan arah
pergerakan (via inertia)
• Perputaran roda depan, gaya gesekan
samping, dan superelevasi menimbulkan
akselerasi untuk keluar alur (offset inertia)
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 Alinyemen Horizontal

1. Tangents (Jalan Lurus)

2. Curves (Tikungan)
3. Transitions (Peralihan/Transisi)
Tikungan memerlukan superelevasi
Alasan : banking of curve, retard sliding,
allow more uniform speed, also allow
use of smaller radius curves (less land)
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 Horizontal Curve Fundamentals
PI
T Δ
E

T  R tan L
M
2 PC Δ/2 PT

 100
L R 
180 D R R

 180  Δ/2 Δ/2

100 
   18,000
D 
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 R
CEE 320

R
 Horizontal Curve Fundamentals
PI
T Δ
E
M
L
PC Δ/2 PT

 1 
E  R  1
 cos  2  R R

Δ/2 Δ/2
 
M  R1  cos 
Winter 2006

 2
CEE 320
 Example 4
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?
Since we know R = 1500 ft, and T = 400 ft,
we can use T = R * tan Δ/2
400 = 1500*tan Δ/2
= tan Δ/2
to get delta = 29.86 degrees
D = 5729.6/R. Therefore D = 3.82
L = 100(delta)/D = 100(29.86)/3.82 = 781 ft.
PC = PT – PI = 2000 – 781 = 12+18.2
PI = PC +T = 12+18.2 + 400 = 16+18.2.

Note: cannot find PI by subtracting T from PT!

Winter 2006
CEE 320
 Superelevation W p  F f  Fcp

Rv

Fc≈

e
W 1 ft

 WV 2  WV 2
W sin   f s W cos   sin    cos 
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CEE 320

 gRv  gRv
 Superelevation

 WV 2  WV 2
W sin   f s W cos   sin    cos 
 gRv  gRv
V2
tan   f s  1  f s tan  
gRv
V2
e  fs  1  f s e
gRv

V2
Rv 
g  f s  e
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CEE 320
 Selection of e and fs

• Practical limits on superelevation (e)

– Climate
– Constructability
– Adjacent land use
• Side friction factor (fs) variations
– Vehicle speed
– Pavement texture
– Tire condition
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CEE 320
 New Graph

Side Friction Factor

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

 New Table

Minimum Radius Tables

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 New Table

WSDOT Design Side Friction Factors

For Open Highways and Ramps

from the 2005 WSDOT Design Manual, M 22-01

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 New Graph

WSDOT Design Side Friction Factors

For Low-Speed Urban Managed Access Highways

from the 2005 WSDOT Design Manual, M 22-01

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 New Graph

Design Superelevation Rates - AASHTO

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

 New Graph

Design Superelevation Rates - WSDOT

emax = 8%
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from the 2005 WSDOT Design Manual, M 22-01

 Example 5
A section of SR 522 is being designed as a high-speed divided
highway. The design speed is 70 mph. Using WSDOT standards,
what is the minimum curve radius (as measured to the traveled vehicle
path) for safe vehicle operation?
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 FYI – NOT TESTABLE

Supplemental Stuff

• Cross section
• Superelevation Transition
– Runoff
– Tangent runout
• Spiral curves
• Extra width for curves
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 FYI – NOT TESTABLE

Cross Section
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 FYI – NOT TESTABLE

Superelevation Transition
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from the 2001 Caltrans Highway Design Manual

 FYI – NOT TESTABLE

Superelevation Transition
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from AASHTO’s A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets 2001

 Radius Calculation
Rmin = ___V2______
15(e + f)
Where:
Rmin is the minimum radius in feet
V = velocity (mph)
e = superelevation
f = friction (15 = gravity and unit conversion)
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 Radius Calculation
• Rmin uses max e and max f (defined by
AASHTO, DOT, and graphed in Green Book)
and design speed
• f is a function of speed, roadway surface,
weather condition, tire condition, and based on
comfort – drivers brake, make sudden lane
changes, and change position within a lane
when acceleration around a curve becomes
“uncomfortable”
• AASHTO: f is from 0.17 @ 20 mph to 0.08 @ 80
mph
• f decreases as speed increases (less
tire/pavement contact)
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 Max 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 superelevation rates
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 Max e

– Highest in common use = 10%, 12% with no ice

and snow on low volume gravel-surfaced
roads
– 8% is logical maximum to minimize slipping by
stopped vehicles, considering snow and ice
– Iowa uses a maximum of 6% on new projects
– For consistency use a single rate within a
project or on a highway
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 Source: A
Policy on
Geometric
Design of
Highways and
Streets (The
Green Book).
Washington,
DC. American
Association of
State Highway
and
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Transportation
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2001 4th Ed.
CEE 320
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CEE 320
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CEE 320
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 Radius Calculation (Example)
Design radius 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

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 Radius Calculation (Example)
For emax = 4%? (urban situation)

Rmin = _____602________________
15(0.04 + 0.12)
Rmin = 1,500 feet
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 Radius Calculation (Example)
For emax = 2%? (rotated crown)

Rmin = _____602________________
15(0.02 + 0.12)
Rmin = 1,714 feet
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 Radius Calculation (Example)
For emax = -2%? (normal crown, adverse
direction)

Rmin = _____602________________
15(-0.02 + 0.12)
Rmin = 2,400 feet
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 Curve Types
1. Simple curves with spirals (why spirals)
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 separation typically for
superelevation attainment)
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 Important Components of
Simple Circular Curve
See: http://www.iowadot.gov/design/dmanual/02a-01.pdf

1. See handout
2. PC, PI, PT, E, MO, and 
3. L = 2()R()/360
4. T = R tan (/2)
Winter 2006
CEE 320

Source: Iowa DOT 36

Design Manual
 Sight Distance for Horizontal
Curves
• Location of object along chord length that
blocks line of sight around the curve
• m = R(1 – cos [28.65* S/R])

Where:
m = line of sight
S = stopping sight distance
R = radius
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 Sight Distance Example

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

2-lane highway with a posted speed limit
of 35 mph. What is the minimum distance
that a large billboard can be placed from
the centerline of the inside lane of the
curve without reducing required SSD?
Assume p/r =2.5 and a = 11.2 ft/sec2
SSD = 1.47vt + _________v2____
30(__a___  G)
32.2
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 Sight Distance Example

SSD = 1.47(35 mph)(2.5 sec) +

_____(35 mph)2____ = 246 feet
30(__11.2___  0)
32.2
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 Sight Distance Example

m = R(1 – cos [28.65*S/R])

m = 800 (1 – cos [28.65*246/800]) = 9.43 feet

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 Horizontal Curve Example

• Deflection angle of a 4º curve is 55º25’, PI at

station 245+97.04. Find length of curve,T, and
station of PT.
• D = 4º
•  = 55º25’ = 55.417º
• D = _5729.58_ R = _5729.58_ = 1,432.4 ft
R 4
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 Horizontal Curve Example

• D = 4º
•  = 55.417º
• R = 1,432.4 ft
• L = 2R = 2(1,432.4 ft)(55.417º) = 1385.42ft
360 360
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 Horizontal Curve Example

• D = 4º
•  = 55.417º
• R = 1,432.4 ft
• L = 1385.42 ft
• T = R tan  = 1,432.4 ft tan (55.417) = 752.29 ft
2 2
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 Stationing Example

Stationing goes around horizontal curve.

For previous example, what is station of PT?
First calculate the station of the PC:
PI = 245+97.04
PC = PI – T
PC = 245+97.04 – 752.29 = 238+44.75
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 Stationing Example (cont)

PC = 238+44.75
L = 1385.42 ft
Station at PT = PC + L
PT = 238+44.75 + 1385.42 = 252+30.17
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 Suggested Steps in Horizontal
Design
1. Select tangents, PIs, and general curves
making sure you meet minimum radius
criteria
2. Select specific curve radii/spiral and
calculate important points (see lab)
using formula or table (those needed for
design, plans, and lab requirements)
3. Station alignment (as curves are
encountered)
4. Determine super and runoff for curves
and put in table (see next lecture for def.)
5. Add information to plans
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 HOMEWORK
• Your team is responsible for the design
of a small roadway project in Iowa. Your
individual task is to design a horizontal
curve to the right using an even value
radius slightly larger than the minimum
radius curve. Use a design speed of 55
mph and a superelevation rate of 4%.
Assume the PI has a station of
352+44.97; the Δ (delta) of the curve is
35° 24’ 55”.
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 HOMEWORK
Assignment Summary:
• Reading carefully the design guidance
with special attention to the items to be
included on the plans, calculate all of the
values to be shown on a plan set for this
curve. Be sure to calculate the stations
of the PC and PT in addition to the
values listed.
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 HOMEWORK
• At this time do not concern yourself with
superelevation runoff; just use the
design speed and superelevation rate to
determine the minimum radius curve
allowable. It may help you to create a
list of the items to be included before
doing your calculations.
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 HOMEWORK
• Repeat your calculations, using a design
speed of 60 mph and the same 4%
superelevation rate. Your PI station and
Δ will remain unchanged.
• Assignment due Friday.
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 HOMEWORK
Assignment Summary:
• Assignment handout
• DOT horizontal curve handout
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 HOMEWORK
• Refer to the Iowa DOT Design Manual to
find guidance on the design of horizontal
curves at
ftp://165.206.203.34/design/dmanual/02a-
01.pdf .
• This is your handout
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