CE354: Transportation Engineering

Module 2: Highway Alignment and Geometric Design

Principles of highway alignment, requirements,
controlling factors, engineering surveys, importance of
geometric design, design controls and criteria, cross
section elements, pavement surface characteristics,
camber, carriageway, kerbs, road margins, formation,
right of way, typical cross sections.
Sight distance, stopping sight distance, overtaking sight
distance, sight distance at intersections.
Design of horizontal alignment, super elevation,
transition curves, design of vertical alignment, gradients,
vertical curves.
CSRK Prasad
Radius of Horizontal Curve
 Radius of Horizontal Curve
Classification Plain Terrain Rolling Terrain
of roads Ruling Radius, Absolute Min., Ruling Radius, Absolute Min.,
m m m m
NH & SH 360 230 230 155
MDR 230 155 155 90
ODR 155 90 90 60
VR 90 60 60 45
 Radius of Horizontal Curve
Mountainous Terrain
Classification Area not affected by snow Snow bound areas
of roads Ruling Radius, Absolute Min., Ruling Radius, Absolute Min.,
m m m m
NH & SH 80 50 90 60
MDR 50 30 60 33
ODR 30 20 33 23
VR 20 14 23 15
 Radius of Horizontal Curve Steep
Terrain
Classification Area not affected by snow Snow bound areas
of roads Ruling Radius, Absolute Min., Ruling Radius, Absolute Min.,
m m m m
NH & SH 50 30 60 33
MDR 30 14 33 15
ODR 20 14 23 15
VR 20 14 23 15
Widening of pavement at horizontal curves

a) Automobile has a rigid wheel base off

tracking
Widening of pavement at horizontal curves
b) Transverse skidding due to centrifugal force
c) Towing vehicle trailer units
d) Drivers tendency to use the outer side at the
beginning of a curve
e) Psychological tendency by drivers to maintain
a greater clearance between the vehicles
Widening of pavement at horizontal curves
Mechanical widening; Wm = nl2/2R
Widening of pavement at horizontal curves
Psychological widening
Widening of pavement at horizontal curves

Radius of Up to 20 20 to 40 41 to 60 61 to 100 101 to 300 > 300

curve, m
Extra 1.5 1.5 1.2 0.9 0.6 Nil
width, m
on 2 lane
road
Extra 0.9 0.6 0.6 Nil Nil Nil
width, m
on single
lane road
Methods of introducing extra widening
Methods of introducing extra widening
 Horizontal Transition Curve
A transition curve has a radius which
decreases from infinity at the tangent point to
a designed radius of the circular curve
Horizontal Transition Curve - Functions
a) To introduce gradually the centrifugal force
between the tangent point and the beginning of
the circular curve, avoiding a sudden jerk on the
vehicle
b) To enable the driver turn the steering gradually
for his own comfort and security
c) To enable gradual introduction of the designed
superelevation and extra widening of pavement
at the start of the circular curve
d) To improve the aesthetic appearance of the road
 Types of Transition Curves
Spiral curve radius is inversely proportional
Spiral (clothoid) to the length & the rate of change of
centrifugal acceleration is uniform throughout
Lemniscate the length of the curve.

Cubic parabola
All the three
curves follow
almost the same
path up to
deflection angle
of 40 .
 Spiral Transition Curve
The spiral transition curve satisfies the
requirement of an ideal transition
The geometric property of spiral is such that
the calculations and setting out the curve in
the field is simple and easy
 Factors influencing Length of TC
Radius of circular curve, R
Design speed, V
Allowable rate of change of centrifugal
acceleration, C
Maximum amount of Super elevation, E
Type of rotation of pavement cross section
(about centre line or inner edge)
Allowable rate of introduction of super
elevation
 Calculation of Length of TC
The length of transition curve is designed to
fulfill three conditions:
1. Rate of change of centrifugal acceleration to
be developed gradually
2. Rate of introduction of the designed super
elevation to be at a reasonable rate
3. Minimum length by IRC empirical formula
The length of TC for the design should be the
highest of the three values
Rate of change of centrifugal acceleration
 Rate of Introduction of SE
Open country: 1 in 150 (N)
Built up areas: 1 in 100 (N)
Hill roads: 1 in 60 (N)
If the pavement is rotated about centre line:

If the pavement is rotated about inner edge:

 By Empirical Formula (IRC)
For plain & rolling terrain:

For mountainous and steep terrains:

Minimum transition lengths Plain & rolling terrain
Curve Design speed, kmph
Radius, m 100 80 65 50 40 35
45 - - - - NA 70
60 - - - NA 75 55
90 - - - 75 50 40
100 - - NA 70 45 35
200 - NA 60 35 25 20
300 NA 75 40 25 NR -
400 115 55 30 20 - -
500 95 45 25 NR - -
600 80 35 20 - - -
700 70 35 20 - - -
800 60 30 NR - - -
900 55 30 - - - -
1000 50 30 - - - -
Min. transition lengths Mountainous & Steep terrain
Curve Design speed, kmph
Radius, m 50 40 30 25 20
14 - - - NA 30
20 - - - 35 20
25 - - NA 25 20
30 - - 30 25 15
40 - NA 25 20 15
50 - 40 20 15 15
70 NA 30 15 15 15
80 55 25 15 15 NR
90 45 25 15 15 -
100 45 20 15 15 -
150 30 15 15 - -
200 20 15 - - -
300 15 NR - - -
Setting out of Transition Curve
Set-back distance on Horizontal Curves

Clearance distance or
set back distance:
distance from the
centre line of a
horizontal curve to
an obstruction on the
inner side of the
curve to provide
adequate sight
distance
Set-back distance on Horizontal Curves
Depends on
Required sight
distance, S
Radius of horizontal
curve, R
Length of the curve,
Lc, which may be
greater or lesser than
S
Set-back distance on Horizontal Curves
Length of the curve, Lc is greater than the
Sight Distance, S (Lc > S)
For Single Lane Roads
Set-back distance on Horizontal Curves
Length of the curve, Lc is greater than the
Sight Distance, S (Lc > S).
For Wider Roads
Set-back distance on Horizontal Curves
Length of the curve, Lc is lesser than the Sight
Distance, S (Lc < S).
For Single Lane Roads
Set-back distance on Horizontal Curves
Length of the curve, Lc is lesser than the Sight
Distance, S (Lc < S).
For Wider Roads
 Curve Resistance
Loss of tractive force due
to turning of a vehicle on a
horizontal curve
= T T cos
 References
Khanna, S.K., Justo C.E.G. and A. Veeraraghavan. Highway
Engineering. Nem Chand & Brothers, Roorkee
 Contact:
csrk@nitw.ac.in
csrk_prasad@yahoo.com
0870-2462117 (O)
9440347348