Highways Geometric

(CE 443)

Prepared by:
Dr. Aslam Al-Omari
 Topic No. 4:
Roadways and Their
Geometric Characteristics
Chapter 15
Topic No. 4: Roadways & Their
Geometric Characteristics
3) Reversed curve
• Reversed curves usually
consist of two simple
curves with radii turning
in opposite directions
with a common tangent.

Figure 15.24 Geometry of a

Reverse Curve with Parallel
Tangents
Topic No. 4: Roadways & Their
Geometric Characteristics
3) Reversed curve
• They are generally used
to change the alignment
of a highway.
• Figure 15.24 shows a
reversed curve with
Equal Radii and Parallel
Tangents.

Figure 15.24 Geometry of a

Reverse Curve with Parallel
Tangents
Topic No. 4: Roadways & Their
Geometric Characteristics
3) Reversed curve
• This Figure
shows a
reversed
curve with
non-Equal
Radii
and
Parallel
Tangents.
Topic No. 4: Roadways & Their
Geometric Characteristics
3) Reversed curve
Topic No. 4: Roadways & Their
Geometric Characteristics
3) Reversed curve
Topic No. 4: Roadways & Their
Geometric Characteristics
3) Reversed curve

Wrong Equation, Textbook, 4th

Edition, Page 782
Topic No. 4: Roadways & Their
Geometric Characteristics
3) Reversed curve
𝒅 = 𝒅 𝟏 + 𝒅𝟐
𝒅𝟏 = 𝑹𝑳 − 𝑹𝑳 𝐜𝐨𝐬 ∆𝑳
𝒅𝟐 = 𝑹𝑺 − 𝑹𝑺 𝒄𝒐𝒔 ∆𝑺
𝒅 = 𝑹𝑳 − 𝑹𝑳 𝐜𝐨𝐬 ∆𝑳 + 𝑹𝑺 − 𝑹𝑺 𝒄𝒐𝒔 ∆𝑺

If DL = DS = D and RL = RS = R, then
𝒅 = 𝑹 − 𝑹 cos ∆ + 𝑹 − 𝑹 cos ∆
𝒅 = 𝟐 𝑹 − 𝑹 cos ∆ = 𝟐𝑹 𝟏 − cos ∆
𝒅 𝒅
𝑹= cos ∆ = 𝟏 −
𝟐 𝟏 − cos ∆ 𝟐𝑹
𝒅
𝑫=
∆
𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝟐 d1 d2
Topic No. 4: Roadways & Their
Geometric Characteristics
3) Reversed curve
Example:
An arterial road is to be connected to a frontage road by a reverse curve
with parallel tangents. The distance between the centerline of the two
roads is 60 ft. If the PC of the curve is located at station (38+25.31) and
the deflection angle is 25°, determine the station of PT.
Solution:
𝒅 𝟔𝟎
𝑹= = = 𝟑𝟐𝟎. 𝟐𝟎 𝒇𝒕
𝟐 𝟏 − cos ∆ 𝟐 𝟏 − cos 𝟐𝟓°
𝑹∆𝝅 𝟑𝟐𝟎. 𝟐𝟎 × 𝟐𝟓° × 𝟑. 𝟏𝟒
𝑳= = = 𝟏𝟑𝟗. 𝟕𝟏 𝒇𝒕
𝟏𝟖𝟎 𝟏𝟖𝟎
𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝑷𝑻 = 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝑷𝑪 + 𝑳 + 𝑳
𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝑷𝑻 = 𝟑𝟖 + 𝟐𝟓. 𝟑𝟏 + 𝟐 𝟏 + 𝟑𝟗. 𝟕𝟏
𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝑷𝑻 = 𝟑𝟖 + 𝟐𝟓. 𝟑𝟏 + 𝟐 + 𝟕𝟗. 𝟒𝟐 = 𝟒𝟏 + 𝟎𝟒. 𝟕𝟑 𝐟𝐭