HIGHWAY ENGINEERING 1

FACTORS CONTROLLING THE GEOMETRIC DESIGN ELEMENTS

1. TOPOGRAPHY, LAND USE, ETC

Topography and land use are major factors in the determining the physical location,
alignment, gradients, sight distances and cross-sections of a road. Generally the
topography of an area is fitted into one of the following three classifications:

i) Level terrain

ii) Rolling terrain

iii) Mountainous terrain

Each of these terrains has its effects on the stated elements and should be considered
separately. For example, in flat or level terrain, it may be okay to follow the natural
profile but drainage could be a real problem. Also long straight stretches are found in
level grounds where they may be unsafe for careless drivers (over speeding). In
mountainous sections grade curves (horizontal and vertical), sight distances, etc, may
be the major problems and must be considered carefully.

2. FUNCTIONAL CLASS OF THE ROAD AND CONTROL OF ACCESS

Usually, roads authorities (ministries and municipalities) classify roads according to their
functions. In Kenya, roads are classified as class A (trunk roads) to class E (access
roads). The design standards for each class are taken differently, for example; as
horizontal curves of trunk roads will have a larger radius and the grades will be more
gentle as compared to access roads.

Also frequency of junction on major roads is usually limited and should not be allowed
especially where entering or leaving vehicles will create hazards situation. In urban
areas they are classified as Highways, Avenues, streets, etc.

3. DESIGN SPEED

The design speed is the maximum safe speed that can be maintained over a specified
section of a road, when conditions are so favorable that the design features govern. A
proper choice of the particular design speed will have a considerable effect on the
design of such features as horizontal and vertical curves, safe stopping and passing
sight distances, and acceptable highway grades.

Note:
Little is gained by using design speed greater than is necessary for this purpose, only a
comparatively few drivers are benefited driving periods of light traffic.
Design speed ranges between 40kph to 140kph.

Where changes in terrain or other conditions dictate a change in design speed, such
change should be made over a sufficient distance to allow drivers to change their
speeds gradually.
The choice of design speed will depend on:-

i) Terrain ie level or mountainous

ii) Road class (A – E)

iii) Traffic volume and composition

iv) Cost of road reserve and construction standards

v) Aesthetic considerations (comfort and safety)

4. DESIGN VEHICLE

The size and power of vehicles will definitely affect the geometric design elements e.g
curves, grades and lane widths. The width of the vehicle naturally affects the width of a
lane, the length affects the turning radius (curves), height affects the overhead
clearance for bridges and underpasses and, weight affects the structural design.

5. TRAFFIC VOLUME (CAPACITY)

Capacity is the ability of a road to accommodate traffic under given circumstances.

Factors which must be taken into consideration in determining the circumstances are
the physical features of the road itself and the prevailing traffic conditions.

Depending on the factual data on traffic volumes to be accommodated, a decision must

be made on whether a single carriageway (two lanes) or a dual carriageway (four or
more lanes)will be designed if funds are available.

6. ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS

It should be noted that no road project is without both positive and negative effects on
the environment. Positive effects include good service to the relevant communities while
negative effects include air pollution and noise.

7. ROAD SAFETY
Road engineers should provide design features aimed at preventing accidents, and in
case they occur, reducing their severity (ie the above factors must be taken into
consideration

8. ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS

Relationships between the construction costs and benefits are a measure of justification
and, a deciding factor in determining the geometric features of design.

The main objective in highway design is to create a road of appropriate type with
dimensional values and alignment characteristics such that the current resulting design
service volume will be at least as great as the design volume.

Once a level of service has been chosen for design, the corresponding service volume
logically becomes the design service volume. This implies that if the traffic volume using
the road exceeds that value, the operating conditions will be inferior to the level of
service for which the road was designed.

The costs of a road include provision of the road reserve, road construction and
maintenance. The benefits include reduced operational costs, comfort to passengers,
time saving, etc.
ELEMENTS (FEATURES) OF GEOMETRIC DESIGN

1. HORIZONTAL ALIGNMENT:

The horizontal alignment is the direction and course of the centerline in plan. It consists
of the following elements: the straight; the circular curve; the transition curve; the
super-elevation; curve widening and the cross sections.

It should be noted that, the maximum comfortable speed on a horizontal curve is

primarily dependent upon the radius of the curve, the super-elevation, presence of extra
carriageway widths and the insertion of transition curves between the straights and the
curves.

Consequently, improper design of the above features will result in lower speeds, lower
capacity and high accident potential. All the features stated above are briefly explained
here below:

i). The Straight: this is the stretch in a road section between two curves. A long stretch
of a straight may be possible in flat areas but rarely so in rolling or mountainous terrain
(but could be unpractical and very expensive).

It has been noted that the straights, besides leading to excessive speeding (dangerous),
also increase the accident potential because of monotony and headlights glare.
(Diagram A below).

Diagram A

To control the length of straights, the following steps are used (in Kenya):

a). The maximum straight stretch should not exceed 20VD (m), where VD is the design
speed in kph.
b). The minimum straights between circular curves following the same direction
(Diagram B) should not be less than 6VD (m).

Diagram B

Note: This type of circular curves is not common and is accident potential.

ii). The Circular Curve: The horizontal curve is a curve in plan. A circular curve may be
described by either its radius (R) or its curvature (D). The degree of curvature is the
angle subtended by a circular arc at the centre of the circle of which the centre arc is a
part, the length of the arc being limited by a given chord, usually 30m long i.e;

Radius (R) and Degree of Curvature (see sketches below)

Radius (R) & Degree 0f Curvature (Ბ) Sketches

In Kenya, the radius of the curve is usually used to describe the size of horizontal
curves. For calculation of the minimum horizontal radius for any given design speed
(VD), the following equation is used:

R = VD2 / 127(e+µ) (m)

Where:

R = minimum curve radius (m)

VD = Design Speed (km/hr)

e = Superelevation (%) ie ≈ 0-6%

µ = Developed lateral coefficient of friction (≈ 0.1%)

Note: The radius of curvature varies between 0.17 at 40kph to 0.10 at 140kph.

Particular care should be taken to avoid sharp curves at the ends of long straights. The
following guidelines may be applied:

a) If L ≤ 500m, then R≥L

b) If L > 500m, then R ≥ R 500m

Where: L = Length of the straight &, R = Radius of the curve

The table below gives the minimum radius (m) depending on the design speed as given
(currently) by the MORPW.

Design 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 140

Speed (kph)

Min. Radius 60 100 160 250 350 450 600 750 1000 1400
(m)

iii). Transition Curves:

Transition curve is a spiral curve in plan provided to effect the transition of the horizontal
alignment from straight to circular curve to a straight gradually meaning the radius of
transition curve varies between infinity to R or R to infinity.

Objectives for providing transition curves:

1. To make it possible to pass from one curve to another, from a straight to a curve,
gradually introducing Centrifugal force.
 2. To introduce super elevation gradually
3. To introduce extra widening gradually
4. To provide comfort for the driver that is to enable smooth vehicle operation on
road.
5. To enhance aesthetics of highways.

These curves are required for all curves with radius less than 2000m and at a design
speed of over 60kph.

Usually the transition path, varies depending on the speed vehicle, the radius of the
circular curve, the superelevation and the steering action of the driver. The radius of
transitional curve decreases gradually from infinitely at the tangent to the radius of the
circular curve intersection.

The major factors governing the transition curve design are :-

1. Radius of the circular curve (R)

2. Length of the transition curve (L)

The minimum length of the transition curve is therefore given by the expression given
below:

L = VD3 / (3.63).CR

Where:

L = minimum transition curve.

VD = Design speed (kph)

R = Circular Curve Radius

C = Radial Acceleration (0.3 – 0.6)

(see diagram C).

 Diagram C

iv). Superelevation:

Superelevation is the tilting of the road or carriageway laterally so that it slopes towards
the centre of the curve. It is introduced on horizontal curves in order to counteract the
centrifugal acceleration forces. Usually when changing from a straight section to a
curved section, the vehicle is driven at reduced speeds for the safety as well as for the
comfort of the occupants. This is due to the fact that a force is acting on the vehicle that
tends to cause an outward skidding away from the centre of the curve.

In order to overcome this tendency of skidding and to maintain average speeds, it is

necessary to super-elevate the road i.e raise the outside edge.

Superelevation may be measured in ratio (1:n), in percentage (1:25 = 4%) or in tan α as

shown (diagram D) here below:-
 Diagram D

Superelevation run-off: This is the change from a normal camber to a super-elevated

section and is a function of the design speed and the rate of superelevation (i.e the
difference in grade between the centerline profile and the edge of a single carriageway
lane).

The length required to accommodate superelevation runoff (Lo) is calculated from the
expression below;

Lo = (e – eo) . (w)
Ბs(max) 2 mm

Where:

Lo = Superelevation runoff

e = Superelevation on the circular curve

eo = Camber or Crossfall on the straight section (normal camber)

W = Carriageway width (m)

Ბs = Rate of change of superelevation (usually between 0.3 – 1.5)

Note: It is accepted that, for every combination of radius of curvature and the road
design speed, there is a particular rate of superelevation that exactly balances the
outward force i.e centrifugal force.

When the superelevation is insufficient to balance the outward force it is then necessary
for some traditional force (f) to be developed between the tyres and the road surface in
order to keep the vehicle from skidding laterally.
The rate of change of superelevation (Ბs) is limited to the maximum and minimum
values i.e 1.5 for design speeds of 40kph and 80kph and decreasing to 0.3 for design
speeds of over 80kph. (See table below);

Design Speed (kph) 40 50 60 70 80 90 105 110 120 140

Max. Ბs (%) 1,5 1.25 1.0 0.75 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5

Min. Ბs (%) 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3

Superelevation is usually started on the tangent at some distance before the curve
starts and full superelevation is generally attained at the centre of the circular arc. The
normal road cross-section is to be tilted by rotating the section to be super-elevated
about the centerline axis. The effect of this rotation is to lower the inside edge of the
pavement and raise the outside edge without changing the centerline grade as shown in
the following diagram E & F;

Diagrams E & F
Referring to the Cross sections in E & F;

Note:

i. This is Cambered Straight Section

ii. This is Start of the curve i.e half super-elevated

iii. Centre of the curve i.e Full superelevation

Note: Straight sections should not be longer than 20VD and short straights not less than
6VD (VD = Design speed).

v). Curve Widening

curve widening refers to the extra width of carriageway that is required on a ccurved
section of a road over and above that required on a straight section . the amount of
widening varies with the width of the carriageway on straights, the design speed and the
curve radius. The primary reasons for curve widening are:-

i. Vehicles in curves occupy a greater width of carriageway, since their rear wheels
track inside the front wheels (see diagram G).

ii. Drivers generally experience some difficulty in holding their vehicles in the centre
of the lanes as they tend to shy away from the carriageway edge (i.e the vehicle
seems to be pulled inwards).

Curve widening is an expensive exercise but extra widths of less than 0.50m would
serve no purpose. Therefore, the widening which is required on both sides of the
carriageway should be introduced at a uniform rate along the transition length from
normal camber to full superelevation.

Extra width ranges from 0.50m to 1.20m and is calculated as follows (refer to diagram
G):-
 Diagram G

W = R – (R2 – L2)1/2

Where:

W = Extra Width (m)

R = Radius of the outer front wheel of the vehicle

r = Radius of the inner rear wheel

d = Lateral width between the wheels

L = Length of the wheel base

Therefore:

W = R – (r+d)

But (r+d) = (R2 – L2)1/2

W = R - (R2 – L2)1/2
The following points should be noted when widening horizontal curves:

1. On simple circular curves, the total extra width should be applied to the inside of
the carriageway while the outside edge and the centerline are both kept as
concentric circular arcs.

2. When transition curves are provided, before and after a simple circular curve, the
widening maybe equally divided between the inside and the outside of the curve
or it may be wholly applied to the inside edge of the carriageway.

3. The extra width should always be attained gradually and never abruptly, to
ensure that the entire carriageway is usable.

4. From an aesthetic point of view, the edges of the carriageway should at all times
form smooth and graceful curves.
Diagram H
Diagram (I)