HORIZONTAL

ALIGNMENT
ENGR. PAOLO T. MANUEL
09 OCTOBER 2021
 Session Objectives
At the end of the session, the students will be able to:
• Determine the major consideration when designing the horizontal
alignment of roads;
• Determine the effect of superelevation and side friction to the horizontal
alignment of roads;
• Determine the purpose of widening along curves; and
• Calculate the allowable horizontal curve sight distance when
obstructions are present.

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COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
Horizontal Alignment
This is usually a series of straights
(tangents) connected by circular curves.
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Major Design Consideration

Grade Profile Type of Facility

Safety

Topography Construction
Design Speed
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 Superelevation and Side-Friction
• The superelevation is normally
discussed in terms of the
superelevation rate, which is the
rise in the roadway surface
elevation as you move from the
inside to the outside edge of the
road.
• The side-friction factor is simply
the coefficient of friction between
the design vehicle's tires and the
roadway.

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 Superelevation and Side-Friction

For a given radius and speed, a set

force must be applied to maintain the
vehicle in a circular path and in road
design this force is provided by the
side friction developed between tire
and pavement and by
superelevation.

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 Superelevation and Side-Friction
෍ 𝐹𝐻 = 0

𝐹𝑊 = 𝑊𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
𝑊𝑉 2
𝐹𝐶𝐹 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
𝑔𝑅
𝐹𝑓 = 𝑓𝑊𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
𝑊𝑉 2
𝑊𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 + 𝑓𝑊𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
𝑔𝑅
𝑉2
𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 + 𝑓 =
𝑔𝑅
𝑉2
e+𝑓 =
𝑔𝑅
𝑉2
𝑅𝑚𝑖𝑛 =
𝑔(e + 𝑓)
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 Superelevation and Side-Friction
Several studies aimed at determining the maximum side-friction factors that are
comfortable for drivers have been conducted. Some of the results from these studies
are tabulated below. (AASHTO, 1994)

Speed (kph) Comfortable Side-Friction Factor

40 0.21
50 0.18
55-80 0.15
> 110 < 0.10

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 Superelevation and Side-Friction
Listed below are the maximum superelevation to be used for a particular portion of a
road.
Superelevation Condition for use
4% Desirable for downtown arterials
6% Maximum for downtown arterials
8% Maximum for rural highways with
snow and ice and for urban highways
10% Desirable for rural highways and
suburban freeways
12% Maximum for rural highways and
suburban freeway

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 Superelevation and Side-Friction
Example
A new transportation engineer is in charge with the design of a horizontal curve for the
Bataan-Cavite Highway. His final design calls for a curve with a radius of 520 meters.
Assume that the design speed for the said highway is 110 kph and the car should run
without skidding. What will be the allowed maximum superelevation of the road?

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 Superelevation and Side-Friction
Solution
R = 520 meters and V = 110 kph
For velocity of 110 kph, the comfortable side-friction factor according to AASHTO will
be 0.10.
𝑉2
𝑅𝑚𝑖𝑛 =
𝑔(e + 𝑓)
1000 2
110
3600
520 =
9.81(e + 0.10)
e = 0.083 or 8.30%

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COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
 Superelevation and Side-Friction
Example (CE Board 2005)
The superelevation of a highway curve is 6°. At what maximum speed can a car ran on
it such that there is no lateral pressure on the wheels. The radius of the curve is 150
m.
Solution
𝑉2
𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 + 𝑓 =
𝑔𝑅
𝑉2
tan(6°) =
9.81(150)
V = 12.44 𝑘𝑝ℎ

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 Superelevation and Side-Friction
Methods to attain superelevation
• Pavement revolved about the centerline
• Pavement revolved about the inner edge of pavement
• Pavement revolved about the outer edge of pavement

Normal Crown Superelevated State

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 Superelevation and Side-Friction
Pavement revolved about the centerline

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COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
 Superelevation and Side-Friction
Pavement revolved about the inner edge of pavement

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COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
 Superelevation and Side-Friction
Pavement revolved about the outer edge of pavement

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COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
Superelevation and Side-Friction

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 Widening on Curves
The objective of widening along horizontal curve is to make operating conditions on
curves comparable to those on tangents. The principal points of concern in the design
are:
• On simple curves, widening should be applied on the inside edge only.
• On curve design with spiral, widening may be placed on the inside or divided equally
between the inside and outside curve.
• Curve widening should be attained gradually over a length sufficient to make the
whole of the traveled way fully usable.
• Recommended minimum width of widening is 0.60m

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Widening on Curves

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 Horizontal Curve Sight Distance
Sight distance can be the controlling aspect of horizontal curve design where
obstructions are present near the inside of the curve.

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 Horizontal Curve Sight Distance
For Sight Distance < Length of Curve
(𝐴𝐶)2 = 𝑀2 + (𝐴𝐷)2
𝑅 2 = (𝐴𝐷)2 +(𝑅 − 𝑀)2
(𝐴𝐷)2 = 𝑅 2 − 𝑅 − 𝑀 2
(𝐴𝐷)2 = 𝑅 2 − 𝑅 2 − 2𝑅𝑀 + 𝑀2
(𝐴𝐷)2 = 2𝑅𝑀 − 𝑀2
𝑆
𝐴𝐶 = 𝐴𝑝𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑙𝑦
2
2
𝑆
= 𝑀2 + 2𝑅𝑀 − 𝑀2
2
𝑆2
= 2𝑅𝑀
4
𝑆2
𝑀=
8𝑅

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COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
 Horizontal Curve Sight Distance
For Sight Distance > Length of Curve (𝐴𝐶)2 = 𝑀2 + (𝐴𝐷)2
(𝐴𝑂)2 = (𝐴𝐷)2 +(𝑅 − 𝑀)2
(𝐴𝑂)2 = (𝐴𝐸)2 +𝑅 2
(𝐴𝐸)2 +𝑅 2 = (𝐴𝐷)2 +(𝑅 − 𝑀)2
(𝐴𝐷)2 = (𝐴𝐸)2 + 𝑅 2 − 𝑅 2 − 2𝑅𝑀 + 𝑀2
(𝐴𝐷)2 = 𝑑 2 + 2𝑅𝑀 − 𝑀2
𝑆−𝐿
𝑆 = 𝐿 + 2𝑑 ; 𝑑 =
2
𝑆
𝐴𝐶 =
2
2 2
𝑆 𝑆 − 𝐿
= 𝑀2 + + 2𝑅𝑀 − 𝑀2
2 2
𝑆 2 = 𝑆 2 − 2𝑆𝐿 + 𝐿2 + 8𝑅𝑀
𝐿(2𝑆 − 𝐿)
𝑀=
8𝑅
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 Horizontal Curve Sight Distance
Example
The clearance to an obstruction is 9 meters and the desirable sight distance when
rounding a horizontal curve is 180 meters. Determine the minimum radius of the
horizontal curve.

Solution
𝑆2
𝑀=
8𝑅
(180)2
9=
8𝑅
𝑅 = 450 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠

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COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
 Horizontal Curve Sight Distance
Example
The clearance to an obstruction is 40 meters and the desirable sight distance when
rounding a horizontal curve is 600 meters. Determine the minimum radius of horizontal
curve if the length of the curve is 550 meters long.
Solution
𝐿(2𝑆 − 𝐿)
𝑀=
8𝑅
550 2 600 − 550
𝑅=
8(40)
𝑅 = 1117.19 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠

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Questions?

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