14.

PROBLEM
The Richter magnitude of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake is estimated to
have 8.3. The 1989 “World Series” earthquake in San Francisco had a magnitude
of 7.1 on the Richter scale. How much greater was the intensity of the 1906
earthquake than that of the 1989 earthquake?

Solution:
I
R = log
I0
In 1906:
I
8.3 = log
I0
8.3 I
10 =
I0
In 1989:
I
7.1 = log
I0
I
10 7.1 =
I0
10 8.3
N = 7.1 = 15.85
10
N = 16 times stronger than 1989 earthquake
15. PROBLEM
Find the maximum safe unsupported height in meters for a 20 cm heavy weight concrete
block wall if the maximum expected wind velocity is 80 kph. Weight of wall per unit of
surface 2.68 kN/m2. Wind force is 0.29 kPa?

t=0.2 m
Solution: 1m

h
Consider 1 m length of concrete wall. P W h
P = 0.29(h)(1) (due to windforce) h/2
P = 0.29h kN
A
∑MA = 0
t/2
ℎ 0.20
𝑃 ª « = 𝑊(0.10)
2
0.29ℎ(ℎ)
= 2.68(1)ℎ (0.10)
2
h = 1.85 m say 1.9 m
16. PROBLEM
Find the amplitude, period and phase shift of the graph 𝑦 = 2 𝐶𝑜𝑠 (3𝑥 − 𝜋)

Solution:
𝑦 = 2 𝐶𝑜𝑠 (3𝑥 − 𝜋)
𝐴𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑒 = 2
2𝜋
𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑜𝑑 =
𝑏
𝑦 = 2 𝐶𝑜𝑠 (𝑏 𝑥 − 𝜋)
where 𝑏 = 3
2𝜋
𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑜𝑑 =
3
Phase shift:
𝑆𝑒𝑡 (3 𝑥 − 𝜋) = 0
(3 𝑥 − 𝜋 )
𝑥 = 𝜋/3 (phase shift)
17. PROBLEM
Determine the minimum length of a crest vertical curve between a +0.5% and a
-1.0% grade for a road with 100 kph design speed. Height of driver’s eye is 1070
mm and height of object is 150 mm. The vertical curve must provide 190 m
stopping sight distance. Round up to the nearest 20 m.

Solution:
Assume S > L
S
200¯hℎ… + hℎS °
𝐿 = 2𝑆 −
𝐴
A = 0.5 – (- 1.0)
A = 1.5
S
200¯√1.07 + √0.15°
𝐿 = 2(190) −
1.5
L = 380 – 269.5
L = 110.5 m
Use 120 m
18. PROBLEM
An equal – tangent vertical crest curve has to following geometric properties
BVC sta. 110 + 00
PVI sta. 116 + 00
PVI Elev. 1262 ft.
EVC sta. 122+00
Ascending grades = +3%
Descending grade = -2%
Find the centerline roadway elevation of sta. 110+50.

Solution:
L = (122 + 00) – (110 + 00) = 1200 ft.
Elev. BVC = 1262 – 0.03(600)
Elev. BVC = 1244 ft.
x = (110 +50) – (110+00) = 50 ft. = 0.5 station
𝑔S − 𝑔… Elev. 1262 ft.
𝑅= PVI
𝐿 116+00
where L = 1200 ft. 3%
g1=+ A
g2=-2%
L = 12 sta.
−2 − (3)
𝑅=
12 BVC EVC
5 110+00 (122+00)
𝑅=− = −0.417%/𝑠𝑡𝑎. x
12 110+50
L= 120 ft.
𝑅𝑥S
𝐸𝑙𝑒𝑣. 𝐴 = + 𝑔… 𝑥 + 𝐸𝑙𝑒𝑣. 𝐵𝑉𝐶.
2
−0.417 (0.5)S
𝐸𝑙𝑒𝑣. 𝐴 = + 3(0.5) + 1244
2
Elev. A = 1245.45 ft.
19. PROBLEM
What is the minimum radius of curvature allowable for a roadway with 100 kph
design speed, assuming that the maximum allowable super elevation rate is 0.12
and a coefficient of friction between the tires and pavement is 0.12 which is the
maximum allowable by AASHTO for this speed?

Solution:
V2
R=
127(e + f)
100 2
R=
127(0.12 + 0.12)
R = 328 m
20. PROBLEM
The table shown contains year by year cost indices. A job was bid in 1998. it was
built over a period of 3 years, 2007, 2008 and 2009. What is the average
escalation factor?

Year Cost Index

1997 1539
1998 1601
1999 1665
2000 1731
2001 1800
2002 1873
2003 1948
2004 2026
2005 2107
2006 2191
2007 2279
2008 2370
2009 2465

Solution:
Average cost index over the construction period in 2007, 2008, 2009
2279 + 2370 + 2465
𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑡 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑥 = = 2371.3
3
Cost index when the job was bid in 1998 = 1601
2371.3
𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑒𝑠𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 = = 1.48 𝑠𝑎𝑦 1.5
1601
21. PROBLEM
Calculate the safe load capacity of a bulb pile based on the following driving data:
Hammer weight = 3 tons
Height of drop = 20 ft.
Volume in last batch driven = 5 cu.ft.
Number of blows to drive last batch = 40
Volume of base and plug = 25 cu.ft.
K = 25
W H B V 2/3
Hint: L = K
where:
L = safe load capacity (tons)
W = weight of hammer (tons)
H = height of drop (ft.)
B = no. of blows per cu.ft. of concrete used in driving final batch into base
V = uncompacted volume of concrete in base and plug (cu.ft.)

Solution:
W H B V 2/3
L=
K
40
B= = 8 blows/ft 3
5
3(20)(8)(25)2/3
L= = 164 tons
25
22. PROBLEM
A ramp meter operates during the morning peak period. Ramp meter cycles vary with time
as shown in the table below. The metering scheme allows one vehicle per cycle to pass the
signal. The table below gives the number of vehicles demanding service on the ramp during
particular time intervals, the cumulative demand for the ramp for the morning peak and the
ramp meter cycle for each interval. Using a queuing diagram, determine the maximum
queue and the total delay.

Time period 15 min. volume Cumulative Volume Meter Cycle (sec)

6:30 – 6:45 75 75 6
6:45 – 7:00 100 175 10
7:00 – 7:15 125 300 12
7:15 – 7:30 110 410 12
7:30 – 7:45 80 490 10
7:45 – 8:00 65 555 6

Solution:
Service rates in veh/15 min.
For a meter cycle of 6 sec.
60
𝑆𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑖𝑐𝑒 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 = (15) = 150 𝑣𝑒ℎ/15 𝑚𝑖𝑛.
6
For a meter cycle of 10 sec.
60
𝑆𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑖𝑐𝑒 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 = (15) = 90 𝑣𝑒ℎ/15 𝑚𝑖𝑛.
10
For a meter cycle of 12 sec.
60
𝑆𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑖𝑐𝑒 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 = (15) = 75 𝑣𝑒ℎ/15 𝑚𝑖𝑛.
12
Prob. 22- cont.

600
575
555
550
525 n
500
490
150
475
450
85
425
410
400 405
375
Max. queue 95 95 90
350
325
300 300 315
75
275 60
250
240
225
75
200
175
175 10
165
150
125
90
100
75
75
50
25

6:30 6:45 7:00 7:15 7:30 7:45 8:00

15 15 15 15 15 15
Prob. 22- cont.

Max. queue occurs at 7:30 and the max. queue = 95 vehicles

Total delay = area of the shaded portion
10(15)
𝐴… = = 75
2
(10 + 60)
𝐴S = (15) = 525
2
(60 + 95)
𝐴v = (15) = 1162.5
2
(95 + 85)
𝐴ˆ = (15) = 1350
2
85(15)
𝐴› = = 637.5
2

A = A1 + A2 + A3 + A4 + A5
A = 75 + 525 + 1162.5 + 1350 + 637.5
A = 3750 veh-min.
3750
𝐴= = 62.5 𝑣𝑒ℎ − ℎ𝑟.
60
23. PROBLEM
A curve having a radius of 10 m. is to be constructed from the corners of a square
lot having sides equal to 10 m. Compute the area between the square and the
areas bounded by the curve.

Solution:
Area between square and areas bounded by the curve:

B 5 E 5 C

5
F

5 y=8.66
Sin q = 100 10
θ

q = 30˚
A D
y2 = (10)2 - (5)2
y = 8.66

8.66(5) π(10)2 (30˚)

Area EFC =5(10)- 2 - 360˚

Area EFC = 2.17 m2

Area between square and areas bounded by the curve = 8(2.17) = 17.36 m2
24. PROBLEM
Commuter trains travel between stations 1 mile apart. A train arrives every 5 min.
and the train can attain a maximum speed of 80 mph. Only one train is permitted
between stations at a time. Each train has 5 cars with a maximum capacity of 220
people per car. When the train stops, it stays in the station for as long as required
to maintain the schedule. The acceleration of the train is 5.5 ft/sec2. Deceleration
is 4.4 fps2. What is the max. capacity of the line in people per hour?

Solution:

Max. capacity of the line in people per hour

𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑠 𝑝𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑚𝑖𝑛

• •
𝑀𝑎𝑥. 𝑐𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 = 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝑐𝑎𝑟 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟 = 𝑝𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑟
𝑚𝑖𝑛. ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟
𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛

5(220)(60)
𝑀𝑎𝑥. 𝑐𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 = = 13200 𝑝𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑟𝑠/ℎ𝑟.
5
25. PROBLEM
One lane of a two-lane highway was observed for an hour during the day. The
following data were gathered.
Average distance between front bumpers of successive cars = 80 ft.
Spot mean speed = 30 mph
Space mean speed = 29 mph

a) What is the average headway?

b) What is the traffic volume in vehicles per hour?

Solution:
80
a) Average headway
𝑠𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑓 𝑣𝑒ℎ𝑖𝑐𝑙𝑒𝑠
𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑤𝑎𝑦 =
𝑠𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑒 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑
29(5280)
𝑆𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑒 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑 = = 42.53 𝑓𝑡/𝑠𝑒𝑐.
3600
80
𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑤𝑎𝑦 = = 1.88 𝑠𝑒𝑐/𝑣𝑒ℎ 𝑠𝑎𝑦 1.9 𝑠𝑒𝑐/𝑣𝑒ℎ
42.53

b) Traffic volume (vehicles/hour)

𝑠𝑒𝑐/ℎ𝑟
𝑇𝑟𝑎𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 = = 𝑣𝑒ℎ/ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟
𝑠𝑒𝑐/𝑣𝑒ℎ
3600
𝑇𝑟𝑎𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 = = 1914 𝑣𝑒ℎ/ℎ𝑟 𝑠𝑎𝑦 1900
1.88