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Horizontal Alignment

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What is the horizontal alignment

It is the design of the road in the horizontal plane Consists of a series of straights (tangents), circular curves and transition curves Should provide safe travel at a uniform design speed

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Factors Affecting Alignment

Safety Grades Design speed Cost of resumption of land Construction costs

Operating speed is influenced by all other factors so it is the critical factor to consider.

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Alignment Considerations
Curvature Movement on a circular path Superevelvation Side friction Sight distance Curve geometry Curves with adverse cross-fall Short curves Small changes in alignment

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Curvature
Critical to the safety of design Safety is a function of design speed, application of superelevation and side friction Vehicle travelling around a curve will tend to be thrown outwards (centrifugal force) A force (centripetal) must be applied to resist this tendency and is a function of gravity, superelevation and side friction

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Movement on Circular Path

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Forces at Equilibrium

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Fundamental Equation for Curve Design

v2/Rg = f + e Converting v (m/s) to V (km/hr) e + f = V2/127R Accurate for small values of e and f (e up to 0.12 or 12%)

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Superelevation (e)
Superelevation is slope across pavement surface and is fully developed in the circular curve e is +ve when road slopes towards centre of curve or ve (adverse) if road slopes away from the centre of curve

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Superelevation (e)
When being applied to the road need to take into account Safety Comfort Appearance Design speed Tendency for slow vehicles to track towards centre Difference between inner and outer formation levels Stability of high laden vehicles Length of road to introduce superelevation Provision for drainage

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Superelevation (e)
Maximum Superelevation Max range from flat to mountainous of 0.06 0.12 respectively but most authorities limit to 0.10 In urban areas limit max values to 0.04-0.05 Minimum Superelevation Should be elevated to at least the cross-fall on straights ie 3% (0.03)

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Side Friction (f)

e + f = V2/127R Fundamental formula assumes constant radius of curvature which is not always the case Drivers tend to adjust their line of travel as a function of radius of curve move in for large curves and out for small curves

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Side Friction (f)

Maximum values reduced by 0.04 for unsealed pavements

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Application of Fundamental Equation

e + f = V2/127R Example: A road is to be resigned in rolling terrain. After investigating the current operating speed a design speed of 90km/hr is suggested. Determine the desirable and absolute minimum radii for the horizontal curves. The maximum super elevation is 7%.

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Example Calculate Desirable Minimum

Rmin = V2/127 (emax + fmax) For desirable minimum use desirable maximum for side friction So Rmin = 902/127 (0.07max + 0.13max) = 8100/ (127*0.20) = 318.9m Round up to 320m

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Example Calculate Absolute Minimum

Rmin = V2/127 (emax + fmax) For absolute minimum use absolute maximum for side friction So Rmin = 902/127 (0.07max + 0.20max) = 8100/ (127*0.27) = 236.2m Round up to 240m

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Using Tables to Determine Radii

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Speed, Radius and Superelevation

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Adverse Crossfall