Transcript Slide 1

Geometric Design (II)
Learning Objectives
• To calculate minimum radius of horizontal curve
• To understand design concepts for transition
curves and compute min length
• To understand the role of SSD in horizontal and
vertical design
• To define and apply grade considerations
• To develop vertical curves
(Chapter 6.1 ~ 6.4)
Horizontal Curve
• Minimum Curve
Radius
– Curve requiring the most
centripetal force for the
given speed
– Given emax, umax, Vdesign
min R( ft ) 
V (2mph )
15e  u 
R
Horizontal Curve Properties
Based on circular curve
Point of
Curvature
Point of
Tangency
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R: radius of curve
D: degree of curve
: central angle
T: length of tangent
L: length of curve
LC: long chord
M: middle ordinate dist
E: external dist
Horizontal Design Iterations
• Design baseline
– Curve radius above the minimum
– Superelevation and side-friction factor not
exceeding the maximum values
• Design is revised to consider:
cost, environmental impacts, sight distances,
aesthetic consequences, etc.
Horizontal Curve Sight Distance
V2
Recall SSD  1.47Vt r 
 a

30
 G
 32.2

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R

 28.65 SD 
M  R 1  cos

R



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Sight line is a chord
of the circular curve
Sight Distance is
curve length
measured along
centerline of inside
lane
Horizontal Curve Sight Distance
Figure 6-10
Transition Curves
• Gradually changing the curvature from
tangents to circular curves
Without Transition Curves
With Transition Curves
Transition Curves
• Gradually changing the curvature from
tangents to circular curves
– Use a spiral curve
L: min length of spiral (ft)
V: speed (mph)
R: curve radius (ft)
C: rate of increase of centrifugal accel (ft/sec3), 1~3
3.15V 3
L
RC
Transitional Curves
• Gradually changing the cross-section of the
roadway from normal to superelevated
(Figure 6-9)
Keep water drainage in mind
while considering all of the
available cross-section options
Vertical Alignment
Reduced
Speed
Increased
Speed
Vertical Alignment
• Grade
– measure of inclination or slope, rise over the run
– Cars: negotiate 4-5% grades without significant
speed reduction
– Trucks: significant speed changes
• 5% increase on short descending grades
• 7% decrease on short ascending grades
Grade Considerations
• Maximum grade – depends on terrain type,
road functional class, and design speed
Rural Arterials
Terrain
60mph
70mph
Level
3%
3%
Rolling
4%
4%
Mountainous
6%
5%
Grade Considerations
• Critical length of grade
– Maximum length which a
loaded truck can travel
without unreasonable
speed reduction
– Based on accident
involvement rates with
10mph speed reduction as
threshold
Grade Considerations
General
Design
Speed
Reduction
Vertical Curves
• To provide transition between two grades
• Consider
– Drainage (rainfall)
– Driver safety (SSD)
– Driver comfort
• Use parabolic curves
• Crest vs Sag curves
Vertical Curves
Vertical Curves
Given
– G1, G2: initial & final grades in percent
– L: curve length (horizontal distance)
 Develop the actual shape of the vertical curve
PVI point of vertical intersection
point of vertical curvature
G1%
point of vertical
tangency
G2%
Vertical Curves
• Define curve so that PVI is at a horizontal distance of L/2
from PVC and PVT
• Provides constant rate of change of grade: r  G2  G1
L
A
G1
Ax2
EP  EPVC 
x
100
200L
G1%
G2%
Example
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G1 = 2%
G2 = -4%
Design speed = 70 mph
Is this a crest or sag curve?
What is A?
Vertical Curves
• Major control for safe operation is sight
distance
• MSSD should be provided in all cases
(use larger sight distance where
economically and physically feasible)
• For sag curves, also concerned with
driver comfort (large accelerations due
to both gravitational and centrifugal
forces)
Crest Vertical Curves
• Critical length of curve, L, is where sight
line is tangent to the crest
• Assume driver eye height (H1) = 3.5 ft
and object height (H2) = 2.0 ft and
S=MSSD
Sag VC - Design Criteria
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Headlight sight distance
Rider comfort
Drainage control
Appearance