Authors: Do Viet Hai Phan Hoang Nam

1 English for Road and Bridge Engineering

Unit 5: ROAD DESIGN
Road selection and design depend on the nature of the subgrade; the traffic and
drainage conditions; the construction time available; the supply of local and
imported materials; and the engineer equipment, personnel, and expertise available.
The completed design must then meet the requirements for the given load class and
allow safe and efficient traffic movement.
The load-carrying capacity of a road surface depends on continuous, stable support
furnished by the subgrade. Subgrade stability requires adequate drainage and proper
load distribution by the surface and base courses. Surface and base courses of
sufficient thickness and quality to spread the wheel loads over the subgrade are
necessary so that the applied stress is less than the unit load capacity of the
subgrade. In areas where seasonal freezing and thawing occur, the load-carrying
capacity of inadequately designed or improperly constructed roads can be
dramatically decreased to the extent that failure may occur.
For safe and speedy traffic movement, the geometric design requirement for given
road classes must be met. In a combat zone, military urgency dictates rough, hasty
work designed to meet pressing needs. An improved network of well-surfaced,
high-quality roads may be required in rear areas and near major airfields, ports, and
supply installations.

Figure 1 Road nomenclature

Authors: Do Viet Hai Phan Hoang Nam

2 English for Road and Bridge Engineering

Figure 2 Road cross section and nomenclature
Road design uses stage construction for the progressive improvement of the road to
meet increased traffic demands. Road design also uses many technical terms.
Figures 1 and 2, show terms used to designate road features and components.
GEOMETRIC DESIGN
The geometric design process begins with good-quality topographic surveys. In
most cases, a minimum 5-foot contour interval is required to clearly describe the
terrain. The design process can be described in the following steps:
1. Draw the proposed centerline on the topographic survey.
2. Plot the centerline on plan-and-profile paper.
3. Calculate grades, the degree of curvature of horizontal curves, and curve
lengths of vertical curves.
4. Compare the values of step 3 with the military road specifications.
5. Adjust the centerline, if possible, to reduce any calculated grades and limit
horizontal and vertical curves that exceed the specifications.
6. Plot new tangents (straight sections of road) on the plan and profile in those
locations where horizontal and vertical curves exceed the military road
specifications.
7. Design horizontal and vertical curves for all tangent intersections.
8. Plot newly designed curves on the plan and profile.

Authors: Do Viet Hai Phan Hoang Nam

3 English for Road and Bridge Engineering
9. Develop a mass diagram for the project. Balance the cuts and fills and
optimize ruling grade and earthwork volumes.
10. Design superelevations (curve banking) and widening for all horizontal
curves.
11. Draw typical cross sections.
12. Design the required drainage structures and bridges.
GRADE AND ALIGNMENT
Before building a road or an airfield, the engineer must determine the best vertical
and horizontal alignment of the facility concerned. Design both horizontal and
vertical alignment to keep sight distance restrictions to a minimum. Define the route
by a series of straight lines and curves to meet the stated mission and capacity. This
provides the shortest, most efficient route that requires the least construction effort.
Define the route vertically in a series of grades and curves that fall within
acceptable specifications and requirements. Horizontal and vertical alignment are
interrelated and must be considered concurrently. However, the principles on each
are best studied separately.

Authors: Do Viet Hai Phan Hoang Nam

4 English for Road and Bridge Engineering
Vocabulary
Word Pronounced Meaning
subgrade

traffic

drainage

expertise

surface course

base course

freezing

thawing

combat zone

through cut

side-hill cut

culvert

traveled way

road bed

road way

traffic lane

interceptor ditch

cut slope

ditch slope

fill slope

crown

topographic survey

tangent

superelevation

alignment

terrain condition

simple

reverse

compound

spiral


Authors: Do Viet Hai Phan Hoang Nam

5 English for Road and Bridge Engineering
Further reading
HORIZONTAL ALIGNMENT AND HORIZONTAL CURVES
The principles of horizontal alignment are summarized as follows:
Tangents (straight sections of road) should be as long as possible, because the
shortest distance between two points is the connecting straight line. Terrain
conditions, however, seldom permit the construction of a route between two points
in one tangent line. Therefore, the engineer should make each tangent as long as
possible, limit the number of curves, and provide long straight stretches, thereby
improving the route capacity.
Make curves as gentle as possible. Long, gentle curves increase the capacity of the
roadway by permitting higher speeds. They also provide a safer path of travel for
the vehicle. Making gentle, horizontal curves will increase the curve length, thereby
decreasing the tangent length. However, this reduction in tangent length is minor
compared to the benefits gained by reducing the total number of curves.
Tangents should intersect other roads and railroads at right angles. Military roads
normally supplement existing roadnets and have intersections at one or both ends of
the military road. Operating efficiency usually is improved when these intersections
approach right angles.
Frequently used horizontal curves are shown in Figure 3. The most common are the
simple curve, the reverse curve, the compound curve, and the spiral curve.
A simple curve uses the are of a circle to provide a smooth transition
between two tangents. This curve is used frequently in the TO because it fills
the needs of the low-speed design roads normally used and is easy to
construct. A reverse or compound curve can be designed using the same
basic equations.
A reverse curve uses two simple curves tangent to a common line at a
common point. Their centers are on opposite sides of the common line. The
radii of the curves may or may not be equal in length.

Authors: Do Viet Hai Phan Hoang Nam

6 English for Road and Bridge Engineering
A compound curve has two simple curves tangent to a common line at a
common point. The centers of these curves are on the same side of the
common line, and the curves have radii of different lengths.
A spiral curve is a simple curve in the center with parts of a spiral on each
end to smooth transition to the tangent. The spiral is used only on high-speed
roads (classes A and B). Low design speeds of class-C and -D roads do not
require spiral transition sections.

Figure 3 Types of horizontal curves