CVL 316
Transportation Engineering
Winter 2025
Yoassry Elzohairy, Ph.D., P.Eng.
Adjunct Professor
Wednesday, January 29, 2025
Example: Superelevation
A two-lane undivided urban arterial has the following characteristics:
⁻ Design speed 70 km/h
⁻ Lane width 3.75 m
⁻ Cross slope 0.02
⁻ A horizontal circular curve with rate of superelevation 0.05
⁻ Coefficient of side friction 0.15
⁻ Station at tangent to spiral (TS) = 4+120
⁻ Elevation of the highway centreline at tangent to spiral (TS) = 100
Calculate
a) The radius of horizontal curve (R) to the nearest 10 m
b) The length of the spiral curve (Ls) to the nearest 10 m. Use
average of min and max
c) Station and elevation at spiral to circular (SC)
d) Draw a neat sketch showing the development of superelevation
along the spiral and circular curve with rotation around centreline.
2
3
Stopping Sight Distance (SSD)
The total distance to bring a vehicle to a full stop.
SSD = reaction distance (dr) + breaking distance (db)
Minimum stopping sight distance (S):
2
Vi t Vi V f2
S
3.6 254( f G )
Where
S = the stopping sight distance (m)
Vi = Initial speed (km/h)
Vf = final speed (km/h)
t = the perception/reaction time, 2.5 (sec)
f = coefficient of longitudinal friction = (a/g)
= if not given, use AASHTO standard value of 0.348
a = deceleration rate 3.4 m/sec2
G = grade (decimal), positive for uphill
g = acceleration due to gravity =9.81 m/s2
Stopping Sight Distance on Level Roadways
Brake reaction distance predicated on a time of 2.5 s; deceleration rate of 3.4 m/s2 used to
determine calculated sight distance.
© 2018 by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.
All rights reserved. Duplication is a violation of applicable law.
Example
6
Lateral Clearance on Horizontal
Curves for Stopping Sight Distance
∆
𝑀 = 𝑅(1 − cos )
2
2𝜋𝑅 𝑆
=
360 ∆
28.66𝑆
𝑀 = 𝑅(1 − cos )
𝑅
7
Example
8
9
10
Vertical Alignment
GRADES … Rise (+) or fall (-) in meters over 100 m length
a. Upgrade limits
Passenger cars can negotiate 5% without difficulty
Truck operation is affected at 3% on long grades and when roads
are icy.
b. Maximum Grade
Rural, urban roads: 6% to 12% (depending on traffic volume and
design speed: flatter slope for heavy traffic and high speed)
Freeways: 3%
c. Minimum grade for drainage
Desirable minimum 0.5%
Vertical Alignment
Tangents and Curves
Like the horizontal alignment, the vertical alignment is made up of tangents
and curves
In this case the curve is a parabolic curve rather than a circular or spiral
curve
Crest Curve
G2 G3
G1
Sag Curve
Design of Vertical Curves
Vertical
Curves
K= rate of vertical curvature
Example
BVC
G1
G2
EVC
PI
Given: Determine
G1 = -1% G2 = +2% Length of curve
Station of lowest point
Elevation of PI = 125.00 m
Elevation at lowest point
Station of EVC = 25+00
Elevation at station 23+50
Station of PI = 24+00 Elevation at station 24+50
Assume Station = 100m
G1 = -1% G2 = +2% Elevation at lowest point?
Elevation of PI = 125.00 m Elev. BVC = Elev. PI + g1L/2
Elev. BVC = 125 m + [0.01][100 m]
Station of EVC = 25+00
Elev. BVC = 126 m
Station of PI = 24+00 y = ((0.02-(-0.01))/(2*200))*(66.67)2- 0.01*66.67+126
y = 125.67 m
Length of curve?
L/2 = Sta. EVC – Sta. PI
L/2 = 2500 m - 2400 m = 100 m Elevation at station 23+50?
L = 200 m y = ((0.02-(-0.01))/(2*200))*(50)2- 0.01*50+126
y = 125.69 m
Station of lowest point?
Elevation at station 24+50?
XLP = g1L/(g1-g2)
y = ((0.02-(-0.01))/(2*200))*(150)2- 0.01*150+126
= -0.01*200/(-0.01-0.02)
y = 126.19 m
= 66.67 m
Station = [23+00] + 66.67 m
Station 23+67
Selection of Curve Length
• Factors affecting the minimum length include:
– Sufficient sight distance
– Driver comfort
– Appearance
Design of Vertical Curves
Crest Vertical Curve
If sight distance requirements are satisfied then safety, comfort, and
appearance requirements are also satisfied.
h1 = height of driver’s eyes, in m h2 = height of object, in m
Crest Curves
Stopping sight distance criteria
• K values are
calculated by
the equation.
• K values can also
be used when S >
L because there is
no significant error
between S > L and
S < L.
20
Example
An engineer is assigned to design a vertical curve for a highway with a
design speed of 110 km/h. Knowing that the gradients are 3% uphill
and -2% downhill. What is the minimum design length of the vertical
curve?
Solution:
• Find the value of K from the table. For 110 km/h K = 74
• Find the value of algebraic difference in grade
A= G1 - G2
A= 3 - (-2)
A= 5
• Find minimum length of the vertical curve by using equation L= K*A
L = 74 * 5 = 370 m
21
Crest Curves– Passing Sight Distance Criteria
S
• K values are
calculated by
the equation.
• K values can also
be used when S >
L because there is
no significant error
between S > L and
S < L.
23
Sag Vertical Curve
Stopping sight distance not an issue for sag vertical curves
Instead the design controls are one of the following
– Headlight sight distance
– Rider comfort
– Drainage
– Appearance
Sag Curves Headlight sight distance
Design Controls for Sag Vertical Curves
26
Rider comfort
r 2a
2a
2a r
For
Forra
Example
