Scribd
Upload
124 views30 pages

Highway 4

This document discusses vertical curve alignment in road design. It defines vertical curves as gradual changes between tangent grades used to provide a comfortable transition for vehicles. There are two types: crest (summit) curves for uphill transitions and sag (valley) curves for downhill. Vertical curves are specified using their length and a constant K, with longer curves providing better comfort, appearance and sight distance. The minimum acceptable curve length depends on the design speed, grade changes, sight distance requirements and other factors like drainage and vehicle acceleration. Examples are provided to demonstrate calculating vertical curve lengths based on these criteria.

Uploaded by

Mohamad Duhoki
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
124 views30 pages

Highway 4

This document discusses vertical curve alignment in road design. It defines vertical curves as gradual changes between tangent grades used to provide a comfortable transition for vehicles. There are two types: crest (summit) curves for uphill transitions and sag (valley) curves for downhill. Vertical curves are specified using their length and a constant K, with longer curves providing better comfort, appearance and sight distance. The minimum acceptable curve length depends on the design speed, grade changes, sight distance requirements and other factors like drainage and vehicle acceleration. Examples are provided to demonstrate calculating vertical curve lengths based on these criteria.

Uploaded by

Mohamad Duhoki
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 30

Highway Engineering

Vertical Curve Alignment

Lecture 4

1
Road Vertical Alignment

What is road vertical alignment?


 The longitudinal profile (vertical alignment) of
a road consists of a series of straight
sections with grades and vertical curves
(VCs).

Longitudinal profile

• Vertical curves are used to provide a gradual


change from one tangent grade to another.
2 These curves are usually parabolic curves.
Types of VCs

 Types/forms of VCs:
– Convex or summit curves (Crests)
– Concave or valley curves (Sags)

 Why use VCs?


– Provide comfortable transition of a vehicle from one
grade to another,
– Increase the sight distance over crest, and
– Provide satisfactory appearance
3
When to Use VCs ?

 Where two gradients intersect and grade changes (A)


are > 0.3% at 110 km/h, varying to >1% at 40 km/h.

+g1 -g2

g1 = upgrade = +ve
g2= downgrade = -ve

For example: if g1=3% and g2 = -3%


Then A = algebraic difference in grade %
4 A = g2 - g1 = - 3 - (+3) = - 6%
Grade Limits and Effects
climbing lanes
• Maximum grade limits on highway range between 4 % to 12%
• 4% grade is the maximum desirable grade on major highways
• Grade has greater effect on trucks than on passenger cars
• Truck speed may increase by up to 5% on down grades and
may decrease by 7% on up grades; sometimes need to use
climbing lanes for trucks
• Minimum grade depends on the drainage conditions
• Zero% grade is used on uncurbed pavement having adequate
cross slope
• Minimum of 0.5% grade is used in curbed pavement to let
5 surface water flow.
Types of Crest and Sag Curves

Crest (summit) curves


+g2

+g1 True summit -g2 +g1


g1 =+ 5%, g2 = + 2%
g1 =+3%, g2 = -3% A = g2 - g1 = 2 - (+5) = -3%
A = g2-g1 = -3 - (+3) = -6%
(2)
(1) -g1

-g2

(3)
6
Types of Crest and Sag Curves

Sag (valley) curves -g1

g1 = - 7%, g2 = - 2%
A = g2 - g1 =- 2 - (-7) = 5%

-g1 True valley +g2

-g2 (2)
g1 = - 3%, g2 = + 2%
A = g2 - g1 = 2 - (-3) = 5%

(1)
+g2

(3)
7 +g1
Why Parabolic Vertical Curve (VC)?

y ∞ x2
A

Why Parabola? Has a constant rate of change of slope = constant vertical


acceleration, i.e. it enables a comfortable transition from one grade to another.
8
Selection of VC Length

 The parabolic VC is specified by the constant


(K)
– K is the length required for 1% change of grade
Then total length of VC, L = KA
A= change in grade = g2- g1
use absolute value of A in determining VC length

Small K Large K

9
Geometric Design Criteria for Selecting
the Length of a VC

 Sight distance (safety)


– Crest and sag

 Appearance
– Crest and sag

 Comfort (minimum passenger discomfort due to vertical acceleration)


– Sag

 Drainage
– Sag

10
Sight Distance on Sag Vertical
Curves

11
Length of Sag Curve
1. Headlight Sight distance (safety) criterion
STSD (S)

TP2
TP1
IP

• used mainly for high speed


roads without lighting

12
Length of Sag Curve
1. Headlight Sight distance (safety) criterion

13
Length of Sag Curve
2. Comfort criterion

AV 2
L  Kc. A
1300 a

V2
Kc 
1300 a

where: V= speed, km/h


a = vertical acceleration
= 0.05 g (arterials) or 0.1 g (minor roads)
g = gravity acceleration = 9.81 m/s2
14
Length of Sag Curve
3. Drainage control
4. General appearance

 Control of drainage : a minimum slope of 0.35% is required

 General appearance :
The minimum length of the V.C required is:
L=30 A if A>2
L=60 m if A< 2

15
Example(1)

Find the minimum length of a sag V.C connecting a -4% grade to


a +3% grade. The design speed= 100 km/hr, f = 0.4, perception-
reaction time = 2.5 sec, h = 1.05 m and a = 0.3 m/sec2. Assume
the direction of travel is from left to right.
Solution:

SSD= ?
Head light distance (safety): L= ? for S >L ok ?
L=? for S <L ok?
Comfort condition: L= ?
General appearance L=?

16 Therefore the minimum length that satisfy all criteria = ?m


Example(1): solution

L= K*A
1) Head light sight distance (safety):
A = g2 – g1= 3-(-4)=7
V*t V2 100 * 2.5 (100) 2
SSD   SSD  
3.6 254 (f  g) 3.6 254 (0.4  0.04)
SSD = 178.81 m

Assume: S >L

K = 34.06, L= K*A = 34.06*7 = 238.42 m

S= 178.81m < L= 238.42 m not Ok


17
Example(1): solution

Assume: S < L

K = 38.33 , L= K*A = 38.33*7 = 268.29 m


S= 178.81m < L= 268.29 m Ok (match assumption)

So, the length of sag curve according to safety criterion is 268.29 m.

2) Comfort condition: L = Kc A

V2
Kc   25.64
1300 a
18 L = 25.64 * 7= 179.49 m
Example(1 ): solution

3) General appearance :
L=30 A when A>2
L = 30* 7 = 210 m

Therefore, the minimum length that satisfy all criteria = 268.29 m.

19
Example(2)

Find the best length of a sag V.C to satisfy the design controls
criteria that connecting a -3% grade to a +3% grade with the
following data: design speed= 65 km/hr, f = 0.32, perception-
reaction time = 2.5 sec and a = 0.3 m/sec2.

20
Sight Distance under Crossing
(Clearance)

When a structure cut the line


of sight and limit the sight
distance, the two conditions of
sight distance under crossing
must be checked.

21
Sight Distance under Crossing
(Clearance)

22
Sight Distance under Crossing
(Clearance)

C: vertical clearance, if not


given then use 5.2 m.
h1: height of the driver eye
for truck, use 2.4 m.
h2: height of tail light of a
vehicle, use 0.6 m.

L s
s h1 h2

L
23 S<L S>L
Example(1)

Determine the minimum length of valley curve required to connect a


descending 4% grade to an ascending 3% grade. The vertical
clearance is to be 5.2m and the required sight distance is 300m.

Solution:
Assume: h1= 2.4m & h2=0.6m
A = g2 –g1 = (3 – (-4)) = 7

1) S<L L = 212.84 m < S =300m not ok

2) S>L L = 177.14 m < S =300m ok


(match assumption)
24 Use case No. 2, L = 177m
Sight Distance on Crest Vertical
Curves

25
Length of Crest Curve
Stopping Sight Distance

1) L>S (most common, longer curves, better appearance)


L= K * A
A.S 2
L
200[ h1  h2 ) 2

For h1=eye height = 1.07m (car)


& h2= object height = 0.15m
A.S 2
L
404
26
Length of Crest Curve
Stopping Sight Distance

2) L < S (short curves)

200
L  2S  ( h1  h2 ) 2
A

For h1 = 1.07 , h2 = 0.15m

404
L  2S 
A

27
Example (1)

Determine crest curve length suitable for design speed


of 100 km/h, to ensure stopping sight distance is
provided. Assume t =2.5 sec and f= 0.35
A
Solution: g2 = -3%
g1= 4%
A = - 3 - 4 = - 7%
V*t V2
SSD  
3.6 254 (f  g)
V = 100km/h, S = [(2.5*100)/3.6]+[1002/254*0.39] = 171m
2
Assume L>S then L  A.S ,
404
L= (7*1712)/ 404 = 507m > S OK i.e. match assumption

28
Example (2)

Is it safe to adopt 120 km/hr as a speed on the following


curve? If not, what is the safe speed to be adopted?
Assume f= 0.45 & t= 2.5sec.
Solution:
A = - 3 - 4 = - 7%
V*t V2 L = 500m
SSD  
3.6 254 (f  g)
SSD = [(2.5*120)/3.6]+[1202/254*(0.45+0.04)] = 199m required SSD for
V=120 km/hr
A.S 2
As, L>S then L  ,
404

500 = (7*S2)/ 404 S= 169.9m available SSD


29
Example (2)…..cont.

 S = 199m required
 S = 170m available

As S (available) < S (required), this means that the adoption of V =120


km/hr is not safe.

V*t V2
SSD  
3.6 254 (f  g)

V * 2.5 V2
170   V ~ 110 kph
3.6 254 (0.45  0.04)

30

You might also like