Horizontal Alignment

CE 453 Lecture 16

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Objectives
1. Identify curve types and curve
components

See:
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/fle
x/ch05.htm (Chapter 5 from FHWAs
Flexibility in Highway Design)

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Horizontal Alignment
Design based on appropriate relationship between
design speed and curvature and their relationship
with side friction and superelevation
Along circular path, vehicle undergoes centripetal
acceleration toward center of curvature (lateral
acceleration)
Balanced by superelevation and weight of vehicle
(friction between tire and roadway)

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 Horizontal Alignment
1. Tangents
2. Curves
3. Transitions
Curves require superelevation (next lecture)
Reason for super: banking of curve, retard
sliding, allow more uniform speed, also
allow use of smaller radii curves (less
land)

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Radius Calculation
Rmin = ___V2______
15(e + f)
Where:
V = velocity (mph)
e = superelevation
f = friction (15 = gravity and unit conversion)

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Radius Calculation
Rmin related to max. f and max. e allowed
Rmin use 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 changes within a
lane when acceleration around a curve becomes
uncomfortable
AASHTO: 0.5 @ 20 mph with new tires and wet
pavement to 0.35 @ 60 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
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
Transportation
Officials,
2001 4th Ed.
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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: ftp://165.206.254.150/dotmain/design/dmanual/English/e02a-01.pdf

1. See handout
2. PC, PI, PT, E, M, and
3. L = 2()R()/360
4. T = R tan (/2)

Source: Iowa DOT

Design Manual
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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}]) = 9.43 feet
800

(in radians not degrees)

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 Horizontal Curve Example
Deflection angle of a 4 curve is 5525, PI at
station 245+97.04. Find length of curve,T, and
station of PT.
D = 4
= 5525 = 55.417
D = _5729.58_ R = _5729.58_ = 1,432.4 ft
R 4

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

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 Horizontal Curve Example
D = 4
= 55.417
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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