Transportation Engineering

Geometric design of highway

Static Characteristics

Size:

Design of lane widths, parking bays, etc Vertical clearance

Weight:

Pavement design, bridge design, axle loads Maximum grade

Radius of Curvature:

Intersection design Interchange ramps

2

Kinematic (Dynamic) Characteristics

Acceleration (Constant or variable):

Passing maneuvers Gap acceptance Dimensions of freeway ramps and passing lanes Motion elements (Distance and Velocity)

Sight distance
Distance a driver can see ahead at any specific time Must allow sufficient distance for a driver to perceive/react and stop, swerve etc when necessary

Stopping Sight Distance

Distance to stop vehicle, includes P/R and braking distance S = 1.47ut + _____u2_____ 30({a/g} G) where: Db = braking distance u = initial velocity when brakes are applied f = coefficient of friction G = grade (decimal) t = time to perceive/react a = vehicle acceleration g = acceleration due to gravity (32.2 ft/sec2)
5

Stopping Sight Distance

With assumed acceleration, using friction S = 1.47ut + _____u2_____ 30(f G) where: Db = braking distance u = initial velocity when brakes are applied f = coefficient of friction G = grade (decimal) t = time to perceive/react
6

SSD Example
SSD = 1.47ut + _____u2_____ 30({a/g} G)
Stopping distance = 405 feet 405 feet = 1.47u(0.8 sec) + ________u2________ 30({11.2/32.2} + 0.01) 405 feet = 1.17u + ________u2________ 30(0.358) 405 feet = 1.17u + ________u2________ 10.73 Solving for u, u = 59.9 mph

Decision Sight Distance

When situation is unexpected or driver makes unusual maneuvers or under difficult to perceive situations Requires higher PIEV time Depends on type of maneuver made and roadway setting (urban vs. rural)

Passing Sight Distance

Passing Sight Distance

Dpassing = d1 + d2 + d3 + d4 d1 = distance traveled during P/R time to point where vehicle just enters the left lane d1 = 1.47t1(u m + at1) 2 where t1 = time for initial maneuver (sec) u = average speed of passing vehicle (mph) a = acceleration (mph/s) m = difference between speeds of passing and passed vehicle
10

Passing Sight Distance

Dpassing = d1 + d2 + d3 + d4

d2 = distance traveled by vehicle while in left lane

d2 = 1.47ut2 where: u = speed of passing vehicle (mph) t2 = time spent passing in left lane (sec)

11

Passing Sight Distance

Dpassing = d1 + d2 + d3 + d4 d3 = clearance distance varies from 110 to 300 feet d4 = distance traveled by opposing vehicle during passing maneuver

d4 usually taken as 2/3 d2

12

Lateral displacement

a l

13

Lateral displacement

Experiments showed that the narrower the pavement and the closer the object to the pavement edge, the greater the magnitude of lateral displacement. The relationship between the longitudinal distance l, the lateral placement of a given object a, and the visual angle is l= a cot By differentiating both side of equation with respect to time and

dl d 2 a csc dt dt dl / dt v and csc 2 (a 2 l 2 ) / a 2 d va 2 2 dt a l

V= vehicles speed d/dt= rate of change of the visual angle

14

Functional classification of highways

Highways are classified either by

Two concepts are used when classifying highway by their function

The function they serve (functional classification) The entity responsible for their construction and maintenance (jurisdictional classification)

Some roads serve one of these two function while few can satisfy both
15

Mobility: continuous travel Accessibility: direct access to abutting (next to or adjacent) property

Function classification

Mobility

Accessibility
16

Mobility versus accessibility

17

Three Major Roadway Classes and their functions:

Arterial (high mobility, low access, long trips, fast speeds) Collector (moderate, moderate, moderate, moderate) Local (low, high, short, slow)

18

Roadway Functional Classes

Determined by characteristics:
Function access density traffic demands trip length expected speed

19

20

Freeway versus expressway

The distinction between freeways and expressway is based on the accessibility control

Freeways have a full control of access [access or exit are permitted only at controlled locations (exit ramp)] Expressways have a partial access control. (access or exit are maybe permitted directly from or adjacent land or via a limited number of at grade intersections)
21

Rural road classification

Principal Arterials

Function: Long disance Travel and Connect urbanized areas Characteristics: Long trips, no stubs, high speed, widely spaced, full/partial access control Subclasses: Freeways, Other nonFreeways with access control
22

Minor Arterials

Function: connect small urban areas with major trip generators Characteristics: Moderate everything (routes, speed, spacing, mostly mobility)

23

Rural Collectors

Major Collectors: Connect small twon to large towns not served by arterials, link entities with nearby arterials, urban areas Minor Collectors: Serve remaining small towns, link local traffic generators with rural areas Characteristics: Shorter, Moderate Speeds (in rural areas), Intermediate spacing

24

Rural Local Roads

Function: Provide access to land on collector network, serve short distance travel Characteristics: Short routes that terminate at higher classes, relatively low speeds, intermediate spacing

25

26

Urban Functional System Principal Arterials

Functions: carry most trips entering/leaving urban area, serve intra-urban trips, carry intra-urban and intercity bus routes, provide continuity to rural arterials Characteristics: longest distance routes and highest volume, high speed, spacing is less than 1 km in CBD and greater than 8 km in urban fringe, full/partial access control Subclasses: interstates, other freeways and expressways, other principal arterials with partial access control

27

28

Urban Minor Arterials

Functions: interconnect with and augment principle arterials, accommodate moderate length trips, distribute traffic, carry local buses, provide intra-community continuity, connect to urban collectors Characteristics: moderate trip length high volumes, moderate speeds, spacing 0.2 to1.0 km in CBD and 3 to 5 km in suburbs
29

Urban Collectors

Functions: Provide traffic circulation within residential neighborhoods and industrial/commercial areas, Collect traffic from locals and channel to arterials, Carry local buses, Provide some direct land access Characteristics: Shorter than minor arterials, Moderate speeds, Spacing intermediate to arterials, Penetrates residential neighborhoods Subclasses: major and minor

30

Urban Locals

Functions: Provide direct access to land, Connect properties to higher class streets (i.e., collectors) Characteristics: Short in length, Dead end terminate at collections, Low speeds, No bus routes

31

32

33

Highway Component s
Cross-section

34

Cross section components

Highways are categorized into Divided highways Undivided highways The distinction is based on the viability of median (Divided highways). The components of divided highways within the right of way are Carriageway or travelling lanes Median Shoulder Ditches Side-slopes Barrier Marking Cross section slope
35