CSE30312 Tutorial 4

Geometric Design of Highways

---- Horizontal Alignment
Guoyuan Li
guoyuan.li@connect.polyu.hk

Horizontal Alignment

Vehicle Cornering

Horizontal Curve

Stopping Sight Distance and Horizontal Curve

Design

P2

Horizontal Alignment Horizontal Curve

PC = point of curve (the beginning

point of the horizontal curve)

PI
T

E
L

PC

PT

PT = point of tangent (the ending point

of the horizontal curve)
R = radius, usually measured to the
centerline of the road, in ft
= central angle of the curve in degrees
PI = point of tangent intersection

/2

T = tangent length in ft
E = external distance in ft
M = middle ordinate in ft
L = length of curve in ft

PI=PC+T

P3

PT=PC+L

Horizontal Alignment Horizontal Curve

PI
T

E
L

PC

PT

How to calculate:

T=?
M=?
E=?
R

L=?

/2

P4

Horizontal Alignment Horizontal Curve

Degree of curve (D):

PI
T

E
L

PC

R
/2

P5

PT

Angle subtended by a 100-ft arc along the

horizontal curve.

Horizontal Alignment Horizontal Curve

PI
T
L

PC

R
/2

P6

Tangent length T in ft:

E
PT

Horizontal Alignment Horizontal Curve

PI
T
L

PC

R
/2

P7

External distance E in ft

E
PT

Horizontal Alignment Horizontal Curve

PI
T
L

PC

R
/2

P8

Middle ordinate M in ft

E
PT

Horizontal Alignment Horizontal Curve

PI
T
L

PC

R
/2

P9

Length of curve L in ft

E
PT

Horizontal Alignment Horizontal Curve

PI
T

E
L

PC

R
/2

P10

PT

Horizontal Alignment Horizontal Curve

Example 1

Problem statement: A horizontal curve is designed with a 2000-ft radius. The curve has a
tangent length of 400 ft and the PI is at station 103+00. Determine the station at PT.

PI

PC
=103+00

P11

PT ?

Horizontal Alignment

In-Class Assignment (submit at the end of class)

Problem statement: A horizontal curve on a single-lane highway has its PC at station

123+70 and its PI at station 130+90. The curve has a radius of 2040 ft. What is the
station of the PT?

P12