Horizontal & Vertical Curve Design

Jeff Wheeler, P.E.

Engineering
Branch
 Background

¾ Sources for Road Geometry Design guidance

– Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Ministry of Public Works
(MPW)
• Road and Highway Standards – March 2005
• Road and Highway Standards Supplement – March 2007
– AASHTO, Geometric Design of Roads & Highways
– Standard Engineer Handbook, 5th Ed. Ricketts & Loftin
¾ Code dealing with curve design
– MPW page 7 – Table 2 – Major Roads – Basic Geometric
Standards
– AASHTO, Chapter 3
– Standard Handbook, Chapter 16

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 Why Emphasize Curve Design?

¾ Horizontal Curves
– Super elevation counteracts centripetal forces
– Side friction of tires may not be enough on aggregate surfaces
– Water or ice on the road reduces tire friction, hydroplaning
– Many vehicles (Jingle Trucks) have high centers of gravity
– Many drivers fail to observe posted speed limits

¾ Vertical Curves – Crest and Sag

– Adequate stopping distance crucial to driver & pedestrian safety
– Improving headlight distance and road visibility aids security
– Big impact on construction costs (cut and fill, culvert lengths)

¾ Proper Curve design can save thousands of lives!

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 Typical Horizontal Curve?

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 Typical Curve Cross Section

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 Super Elevation Transition

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 Typical Horizontal Curve

Design review:
1. Checks design speed
2. Checks design e
3. Checks design Lr
4. Checks design Lt
5. Checks curve widening

Vd = 50 kph

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 AASHTO Super-elevation Table

MPW Interim Road and Highway Standards, paragraph IX (c) limits super elevation to 10%

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 Check Rate of Super-elevation

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 Super elevation is 9.2%

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 Not quite this steep?

Talladega Super Speedway, e = 33%

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 Check Minimum Transition Runoff Length

¾Lr = [(wn)(ed)] b

- w is lane width (here 3.5m)

- n is number of lanes rotated (here 1)
- ed is design super elevation rate (here 9.2%)
- b is adjustment factor for number of lanes
- is maximum relative gradient, in percent

Length of roadway required to change outside lane cross slope from flat to full e

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 Adjustment Factor, b

Runoff lengthens as # of lanes

affected by transition increases

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 Relative Gradient,
Change in longitudinal elevation during transition to super elevation

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 Calculate Length of Transition Runoff, Lr

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 Runoff Table

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 Calculate Minimum Tangent Runout, Lt

¾Lt = (enc/ed) Lr
– enc is normal cross slope of road (2.5%)
– ed is design super elevation rate
– Lr is minimum length of runoff

Length required to change outside lane from normal cross slope rate to flat

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 Calculate Length of Transition Runout, Lt

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 Why are Lr and Lt important?
Typical Reverse Curve

Vd = 30 kph
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 Overlap of Transition

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 So, Designer must suggest…

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 Check Curve Widening

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 Check Curve Widening

Call out or show widened area

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 Vertical Curves

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 Typical Crest Curve

Review steps:
1. Check Math
2. Check K
against
AASHTO
design controls

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 Typical Crest Curve – check Math

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 Design Controls - Kcrest

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 Evaluate K against Kcrest control

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 Typical Sag Curve

Vd = 50 kph
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 Typical Sag Curve – check Math

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 Design Controls - Ksag

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 Check K against Ksag control

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 Presenting Data

Suggested Sample Curve Table

Would like to see Lr and Lt as well

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 Questions?

Thanks for your attention

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 Possible Next Topics - Civil
9Septic Tank and Leach Field Design
9Road Curve and Widening Design
¾Sanitary Sewer Design
¾Water System Design
¾Booster Pump Design
¾Water Tank Design
¾Well pump Design
¾Chlorination System Design
¾Hydro-pneumatic Tank Design
¾Grease Interceptor Design
¾Package Waste Water Treatment Plants
¾Full size Waste Water Treatment Plants

¾These subjects can be briefed by our sustaining members as well!

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