HORIZONTAL CURVE EXAMPLE PROBLEM 2

Given:
Alignment: An exit ramp

Curve 1 (to the right):

Vdes = 50 mph
emax = 10%
Radius = 1,790 ft
Single 16 ft wide lane

Curve 2 (to the left):

Vdes = 35 mph
emax = 10%
Radius = 440 ft
Two 14 ft wide lanes

Problems:
1. What is the required superelevation for Curve 1?
2. What is the required superelevation for Curve 2?
3. What is the minimum length of tangent needed between the two curves that minimize vehicle’s
lateral motion at the end of the tangents?

Solutions:
1. What is the required superelevation for Curve 1?

From Table 3-11b: superelevation is 6.0% (or 0.060) for 50 mph, radius = 1,790 ft

2. What is the required superelevation for Curve 2?

From Table 3-11b: superelevation is 9.0% (or 0.090) for 35 mph, radius = 440 ft

3. What is the minimum length of tangent needed between the two curves that minimize vehicle’s
lateral motion at the end of the tangents?

Calculate the length of tangent needed for runoff necessary for Curve 1:
 
Equation 3-23: L =   ; w = 16 ft, n1 = 1, ed = 6.0, Δ = 0.50 (from Table 3-15 for
∆
50 mph design speed), bw = 1.00 (from Table 3-16)
  .
Solve for L: L = 1 = 192.0 ft
.

How much runoff is on the tangent: 192.0 x 70% (from Table 3-18 for 50 mph) = 134.4 ft
on tangent for Curve 1

1
 HORIZONTAL CURVE EXAMPLE PROBLEM 2

Calculate the length of tangent needed for runoff necessary for Curve 2:
 
Equation 3-23: =   ; w = 14 ft, n1 = 2, ed = 9.0, Δ = 0.62 (from Table 3-15 for
∆
35 mph design speed), bw = 0.75 (from Table 3-16)
.
Solve for L: L = . 
0.75 = 304.8 ft

How much runoff is on the tangent: 304.8 x 90% (from Table 3-18 for 35 mph, 2 lanes
rotated) = 274.4 ft on tangent for Curve 2

Calculate the minimum tangent length between curves:

134.4 ft + 274.4 ft = 408.8 feet of minimum tangent needed between reverse curves