Geometric Design – Horizontal alignment (1)

• Horizontal curve

- Plan view, profile, staking, stationing

- type of horizontal curves
- Characteristics of simple circular curve

• Stopping sight distance on horizontal curves

• Spiral curve
 24
+0
23+00
Plan view and profile

0
22+00
21+00
20+00
19+00
18+00
17+0
16

0
+0

plan
0
15
+0
0

700
700
600
500
profile 400
300
200

15+00 16+00 17+00 18+00 19+00 20+00 21+00 22+00 23+00 24+00
Surveying and Stationing

Staking: route surveyors define the geometry of a highway by “staking” out the horizontal
and vertical position of the route and by marking of the cross-section at intervals of 100 ft.

Station: Start from an origin by stationing 0, regular stations are established every 100 ft.,
and numbered 0+00, 12 + 00 (=1200 ft), 20 + 45 (2000 ft + 45) etc.
 Type of curves

R1

R2 R1

R2

(1) Simple horizontal curve (2) Broken back curve (3) Compound curve
 R2

R2

R1

R1

(a) With tangent (b) Without tangent

(4) Reverse Curve

Superelevation “e” and side friction coefficient “f” on horizontal curves

e
 Relationship between speed v, e, f, and curve radius, R

0.01e  f v2
 (3-8), P131
1  0.01ef gR

In practice: 1  0.01ef  1 and g is calculated:

0.067v 2 v2
0.01e  f  
R 15R
v : vehicle speed, ft/s
R: radius of curve, ft
e: rate of superelevation, percent
f: side friction factor (lateral ratio)
Application of Eq. (3-8): normally, f is given - Exhibit 3-12, e is also known
when the location of the designed highway is known. The rest is to determine
v when R is known, or determine R when v is given.

Application: Minimum radius

V2
Rmin 
15(0.01emax  f max )
Sight Distance on Horizontal Curve:

Minimum sight distance (for safety) should be equal to the safe stopping distance

Highway Centerline

sight

HSO
PC PT
Line of sight

Sight Obstruction
Centerline of inside lane

R R
 28.65SSD
HSO  R[1  cos( )] (3-38), p 227
R

HSO – Horizontal sightline offset, ft

R – Radius of curve
SSD – Stopping Sight Distance, ft

Passing sight distance is normally about 4 times longer than the SSD, application of PSD
is limited on very flat curves and tangent segments.
Stopping Sight Distance &
Horizontal Sightline Offset (HSO)
Exhibit 3-53, p 225.