Geometric Design of Highways

Dr. Eman Magdy Ibrahim Youssef

Assistant professor, Civil Engineering Department, Delta Higher Institute of Engineering and Technology

1
March- 2022
Vertical Alignment
• Definition:
• It is the elevation or the profile of the center line of the road

• Objective: G1 G2
Determine elevation to ensure
• Proper drainage Crest Vertical Curve
• Acceptable level of safety

• Primary Challenge
• Transition between two grades
• Vertical curves Sag Vertical Curve

G1 G2
Vertical Alignment
• Gradients
• Maximum Grades

• Passenger vehicles can easily negotiate 4 to 5% grade

without appreciable loss in speed

• Upgrades: trucks average 7% decrease in speed

α • Downgrades: trucks average speed increase 5%

• % = tan α
• G = +ve )‫(الميل الصاعد‬
• G = -ve )‫(الميل الهابط‬
Vertical Curves
• Parabolic shape
• VPI, VPC, VPT, +/- grade, L
• Types of crest and sag curves G2
G1 G1
G1 G2

G2
Crest Vertical Curve

G2
G1 G2
G1
G1

Sag Vertical Curve G2

Vertical Curves
• Crest – stopping, or passing sight distance controls

• Sag – headlight/SSD distance, comfort, drainage and appearance control

• Green Book vertical curves defined by K = L/A = length of vertical curve/difference in

grades (in percent) = length to change one percent in grade
• Vertical Curve Equations
L
Parabola K
y = ax2 + bx + c A
Where:
y = roadway elevation at distance x 𝐺1−𝐺2
a= b = G1
𝐿
x = distance from beginning of vertical curve
c = elevation of PVC
Crest Curve Fundamentals
y  ax 2  bx  c
PVI
G1 δ
2 PVC y e G2
AX
y PVT
200 L
L/2
Location of Highest Point

LG1 L
xhigh  x
100 A
2 Choose Either:
LG1
yhigh  • G1, G2 in decimal form, L in feet
200 A • G1, G2 in percent, L in stations
Vertical Curve AASHTO Controls (Crest)
• Minimum length must provide stopping sight distance S
• Two situations (both assume h1=3.5’ and h2=2.0’(
• Crest Curves consider only stopping, or passing sight distance controls
Assumptions for design
Assistant with Target Rod (2ft object height) h1 = driver’s eye height = 3.75 ft.
h2 = object height = 0.5 ft.
For SSD < L

ASSD   
2
2
L A SSD

200 h1  h2 
2 L
1329

For SSD > L

L  2SSD  

200 h1  h2  2

Observer with Sighting A

Rod (3.5 ft)

L  2SSD  
1329
A
Vertical Curves

Example: Try SSD > L, Design speed is 60 mph, G1 = 3% and G2 = -1%, what is L?
(Assume grade = 0% for SSD)
SSD = 570feet ( see: Lec 2)

2158’
Lmin = 2 (570’( – |)−1−3(| = 600.5’

S < L, so it doesn’t match condition

Vertical Curves

Example: Assume SSD < L, Design speed is 60 mph, G1 = 3% and G2 = -1%, what is L?
Assuming average grade = 0%
SSD = 570 feet - ( see Lec 2)

|)−3 − 1(|× )570 ft(2

Lmin = = 602 ft
2158
SSD < L, equation matches condition
Example: A crest vertical curve joins a +3% and –4% grade. Design speed is 75 mph.
Length = 2184.0 ft. Station at PVI is 345+ 60.00, elevation at PVI = 250 feet. Find
elevations and station for PVC and PVT. L/2 = 1092.0 ft
PVI: STA 345+60 PVI
EL 250 ft.
PVT

Station at PVC = [345 + 60.00] - [10 + 92.00] = 334 + 68.00

Distance to PVC: 0.03 x (2184/2) = 32.76 feet
ElevationPVC = 250 – 32.76 = 217.24 feet
Station at PVT = [345 + 60.00] + [10 + 92.00] = 357 + 52.00
Distance (vertical) to PVT = 0.04 x (2184/2) = 43.68 feet
Elevation PVT = 250 – 43.68 = 206.32 feet
Example: A crest vertical curve joins a +3% and –4% grade. Design speed is 75 mph.
Length = 2184.0 ft. Station at VPI is 345+ 60.00, elevation at VPI = 250 feet. Station at
VPC (BVC) is 334 + 60.00, Elevation at VPC: 217.24 feet.
Calculate points along the vertical curve.
X = distance from VPC

Ax2
Y=
200 L
Elevationtangent = elevation at VPC + distance x grade
Elevationcurve = Elevationtangent - Y
Sag Vertical Curves

L
G1 x

PVT
PVC

y
ym G2

PVI yf
A  G1  G2

A 2 AL AL
y x ym  yf 
200 L 800 200 •G1, G2 in percent
•L in feet
Sag Vertical Curves
• Sight distance is governed by nighttime conditions
• Distance of curve illuminated by headlights need to be considered
• Driver comfort
• Drainage
Light Beam Distance (SSD)
• General appearance

For SSD < L G1

headlight beam (diverging from LOS by β degrees) G2

ASSD 
2 PVC PVT

L
200h1  S tan  
h1 PVI
h2=0

For SSD > L L

200h1  SSD  tan  

L  2SSD  
A
Sag Vertical Curves
• Assumptions for design
• h1 = headlight height = 2.0 ft.
• β = 1 degree

• Simplified Equations

For SSD < L

ASSD 
2
L
400  3.5SSD 
For SSD > L

 400  3.5SSD  
L  2SSD    
 A 
Example: A sag vertical curve is to be designed to join a –3% to a +3% grade. Design speed is
40 mph. What is L?
Skipping steps: SSD = 313.67 feet S>L
Determine whether S<L or S>L

)400 + 2.5 x 313.67(

L = 2(313.67 ft) – = 377.70 ft
[3 – )−3(]
313.67 < 377.70, so condition does not apply
Example: A sag vertical curve is to be designed to join a –3% to a +3% grade. Design speed is
40 mph. What is L?
Skipping steps: SSD = 313.67 feet

L= 6 x (313.67)2 = 394.12 ft
400 + 3.5 x 313.67
313.67 < 394.12, so condition applies
Example: A sag vertical curve is to be designed to join a –3% to a +3% grade. Design speed is
40 mph. What is L?
Skipping steps: SSD = 313.67 feet
Testing for comfort:

AV2 )6 x [40 mph]2(

L = 46.5 = = 206.5 feet
46.5
Testing for appearance:
L = 100A = (100 x 6) = 600 feet
ANY QUESTIONS