AASHTOGeometric Design of Highways and Streets

152
The e and f distributions for method 5 may be derived using the basic curve formula,
neglecting the (1 - 0.01ef) term, using the following sequence of equations:
Metric US Customary
R
V
f e
2
0079 . 0
01 . 0 = +
R
V
f e
2
067 . 0
01 . 0 = +
( 3-11 )
where:
V
D
= V = design speed, km/h;
e
max
= e = maximum
superelevation, percent;
f
max
= f = maximum allowable
side friction factor;
R
min
= R = minimum radius,
meters;
R
Pl
= R = radius at the point of
intersection, Pl, of legs (1)
and (2) of the f distribution
parabolic curve (= R at the
point of intersection of
0.01e
max
and (0.01e + f)
R
);
V
R
= running speed, km/h
where:
V
D
= V = design speed, mph;
e
max
= e = maximum
superelevation, percent;
f
max
= f = maximum allowable side
friction factor;
R
min
= R = minimum radius, feet;
R
Pl
= R = radius at the point of
intersection, Pl, of legs (1)
and (2) of the f distribution
parabolic curve (= R at the
point of intersection of
0.01e
max
and (0.01e + f)
R
);
V
R
= running speed, mph
then:
max max
2
D
min
f e
V
R
+
=
01 . 0
0079 . 0
then:
max max
2
D
min
f e
V
R
+
=
01 . 0
067 . 0
( 3-12 )
and
max
2
R
PI
e
V
R
01 . 0
0079 . 0
=
and
max
2
R
PI
e
V
R
01 . 0
067 . 0
=
( 3-13 )
Because (0.01e + f)
D
- (0.01e + f)
R
= h, at
point R
Pl
the equations reduce to the
following:
( )
max
2
R
2
D max
PI
e
V
V e
h 01 . 0
01 . 0

,
_

=
Because (0.01e + f)
D
- (0.01e + f)
R
= h, at
point R
Pl
the equations reduce to the
following:
( )
max
2
R
2
D max
PI
e
V
V e
h 01 . 0
01 . 0

,
_

=
( 3-14 )
where h
Pl
= Pl offset from the 1/R axis. where h
Pl
= Pl offset from the 1/R axis.
Also,
( )
PI PI
R h S =
1
Also,
( )
58 . 5729
1
PI PI
R h
S =
( 3-15 )
Copyright 2001 AASHTO. All rights reserved.
Duplication is a violation of applicable law.
Elements of Design
153
Metric US Customary
where S
1
= slope of leg 1 and where S
1
= slope of leg 1 and
PI min
PI max
R R
h f
S
1 1
2

,
_

=
PI min
PI max
R R
h f
S
1 1
58 . 5729
2
( 3-16 )
where S
2
= slope of leg 2. where S
2
= slope of leg 2.
The equation for the middle ordinate
(MO) of an unsymmetrical vertical curve
is the following:
( )
( )
2 1
1 2 2 1
2 L L
S S L L
MO
+

=
The equation for the middle ordinate (MO)
of an unsymmetrical vertical curve is the
following:
( )
( )
2 1
1 2 2 1
2 L L
S S L L
MO
+

=
( 3-17 )
where: L
1
= 1/R
Pl
and L
2
= 1/R
min
1/R
Pl
.
It follows that:
where: L
1
= 5729.58/R
Pl
and L
2
=
5729.58(1/R
min
1/R
Pl
). It follows that:
min
1 2
min
2
1 1 1
R
S S
R R R
MO
PI PI

,
_

,
_

= ( )
min
1 2
min
2
1 1 58 5729
R
S S
R R R
.
MO
PI PI

,
_

,
_

=
( 3-18 )
where MO = middle ordinate of the f
distribution curve, and
where MO = middle ordinate of the f
distribution curve, and
( )
( )
R
R f e .
f e .
D
min max max
01 0
01 0
+
= + ( )
( )
R
R f e .
f e .
D
min max max
01 0
01 0
+
= +
( 3-19 )
in which R = radius at any point. in which R = radius at any point.
Copyright 2001 AASHTO. All rights reserved.
Duplication is a violation of applicable law.
AASHTOGeometric Design of Highways and Streets
154
Metric US Customary
Use the general vertical curve equation:
2

,
_

=
L
x
MO
Y
Use the general vertical curve equation:
2

,
_

=
L
x
MO
Y
( 3-20 )
with 1/R measured from the vertical axis.
with 1/R = 1/R
Pl
,
with 1/R measured from the vertical axis.
with 1/R = 1/R
Pl
,
R
S
R
R
MO f
PI 1
2
1
+
,
_

=
( )
R
S .
R
R
MO f
PI 1
2
1
58 5729
+
,
_

=
( 3-21 )
where: f
1
= f distribution at any point 1/R
= 1/R
Pl
; and
where: f
1
= f distribution at any point 1/R =
1/R
Pl
; and
( )
1 1
01 . 0 01 . 0 f f e e
D
+ = ( )
1 1
01 . 0 01 . 0 f f e e
D
+ =
( 3-22 )
where: 0.01e
1
= 0.01e distribution at any
point 1/R = 1/R
Pl
.
where: 0.01e
1
= 0.01e distribution at any
point 1/R = 1/R
Pl
.
For 1/R > 1/R
Pl
,

,
_

,
_

+ +

=
PI
R R
S
PI
h
PI
R R
R R
MO f
1 1
2
2
1
min
1
1
min
1
2
For 1/R > 1/R
Pl
,
( )

,
_

,
_

+ +

=
PI
R R
S .
PI
h
PI
R R
R R
MO f
1 1
2
58 5729
2
1
min
1
1
min
1
2
( 3-23 )
where: f
2
= f distribution at any point 1/R
> 1/R
Pl
; and
where: f
2
= f distribution at any point 1/R >
1/R
Pl
; and
( )
2 2
01 . 0 01 . 0 f f e e
D
+ = ( )
2 2
01 . 0 01 . 0 f f e e
D
+ =
( 3-24 )
where: 0.01e
2
= 0.01e distribution at any
point 1/R >1/R
Pl
.
where: 0.01e
2
= 0.01e distribution at any
point 1/R >1/R
Pl
.
Exhibit 3-15 is a typical layout illustrating the method 5 procedure for development of the
finalized e distribution. The figure depicts how the f value is determined for 1/R and then
subtracted from the value of (e/100 + f) to determine e/100.
Copyright 2001 AASHTO. All rights reserved.
Duplication is a violation of applicable law.
Elements of Design
155
An example of the procedure to calculate e for a design speed of 80 km/h [50 mph] and an
e
max
of 10 percent is shown below:
Example
Metric US Customary
Determine e given: V
D
= 80 km/h
e
max
= 10 percent
From Exhibit 3-26: V
R
= 70 km/h
From Exhibit 3-14: f = 0.14
(maximum allowable
side friction factor)
Using the appropriate equations yields:
R
min
= 210.7, R
PI
= 387.1, and h
PI
= 0.031
S
1
= 11.95 and S
2
= 50.23
Substituting, the middle ordinate becomes
0.022.
The e distribution value for any radius is
found by taking the (0.01e +f)
D
value minus
the f
1
or f
2
value (refer to Exhibit 3-15). Thus,
the e distribution value for an R = R
PI
would
be (0.01e + f)
D
= 0.0079(V
D
)
2
/R = 0.131
minus an f
1
= 0.053, which results in 0.078.
This value multiplied by 100 to convert to
percent corresponds to the e value, which
can be interpolated for R = 386 m at the
80 km/h design speed in Exhibit 3-24.
Determine e given: V
D
= 50 mph
e
max
= 10 percent
From Exhibit 3-26: V
R
= 44 mph
From Exhibit 3-14: f = 0.14
(maximum allowable
side friction factor)
Using the appropriate equations yields:
R
min
= 697.9, R
PI
= 1297.12, and h
PI
= 0.029
S
1
= 0.0066 and S
2
= 0.0293
Substituting, the middle ordinate becomes
0.0231.
The e distribution value for any radius is
found by taking the (0.01e +f)
D
value minus
the f
1
or f
2
value (refer to Exhibit 3-15). Thus,
the e distribution value for an R = R
PI
would
be (0.01e + f)
D
= 0.067(V
D
)
2
/R = 0.129
minus an f
1
= 0.052, which results in 0.077.
This value multiplied by 100 to convert to
percent corresponds to the e value, which
can be interpolated for R = 1,298 ft at the
50 mph design speed in Exhibit 3-24.
Design Superelevation Tables
Exhibits 3-21 to 3-25 show, in addition to length of runoff or transition discussed later in this
chapter, values of R and the resulting superelevation for different design speeds for each of five
values of maximum superelevation rate (i.e., for a full range of common design conditions). The
minimum radii for each of the five maximum superelevation rates were calculated from the
simplified curve formula , with the use of f values from Exhibit 3-13. Method 5 was used to
distribute e and f in calculating the appropriate superelevation rates for the remainder of the range
of curvature. Under all but extreme weather conditions , vehicles can travel safely at speeds higher
than the design speed on horizontal curves with the superelevation rates indicated in the tables.
This is due to the development of a radius/superelevation relationship that uses friction factors
that are generally considerably less than can be achieved. This is illustrated in Exhibit 3-11,
which compares the friction factors used in design of various types of highway facilities and the
maximum side friction factors available on certain wet and dry concrete pavements.
Copyright 2001 AASHTO. All rights reserved.
Duplication is a violation of applicable law.