Geometric Design

Horizontal Alignment
Vertical Alignment

CSE29357 - Geometric Design Review - Dr. Barbara W.Y. SIU 1

Vertical Alignment

CSE29357 - Geometric Design Review - Dr. Barbara W.Y. SIU 2

 Vertical Curve
• Cut and fill
– Cut/ Excavation: removal of earth from its original resting place
– Fill/ Embankment
• Minimize the cost of earthwork
i. Excavation: removal of materials and hauling over some specified
distance
ii. Overhaul: hauling beyond the specified distance in (i)
iii. Borrow: cost of materials obtained off the job site
iv. Waste: disposal of excess cut materials

CSE29357 - Geometric Design Review - Dr. Barbara W.Y. SIU 3

 Vertical Curve
• Balance Cut and Fill

CSE29357 - Geometric Design Review - Dr. Barbara W.Y. SIU 4

 Vertical Alignment
• Vertical Curve
– Summit / Sag
– Notations
• Starting grade: p
• Ending grade: q
• Difference in gradient: G = p – q
• Sign convention: positive/ negative

CSE29357 - Geometric Design Review - Dr. Barbara W.Y. SIU 5

 Parabolic Curve
PI Slope/ grade = q
• Vertical
  Curve = Parabolic Curve PT
y
– i.e. quadratic Slope/ grade = p
– Property: uniform rate of change of
Y
slope PC x
• = constant
– Notations L

• x = distance along PC
• Y = elevation above PC (or
above sea level)
• y = offset from tangent (i.e. the
straight line of slope p
extending from PC)

CSE29357 - Geometric Design Review - Dr. Barbara W.Y. SIU 6

 Parabolic Curve
•  

• What are Y and y respectively ?

• G = p – q (in %),

• Special points
– PT: x = L, y = GL/200
– PI: x = L/2, y = GL/800 = e

CSE29357 - Geometric Design Review - Dr. Barbara W.Y. SIU 7

 Design of Summit (crest) Curve
• Provide a sight distance that can fulfill at least the
stopping, preferable overtaking sight distance
– How to compute stopping sight distance/ overtaking sight
distance?
• Sight distance that can be provided by summit curve
– Depends on geometry

CSE29357 - Geometric Design Review - Dr. Barbara W.Y. SIU 8

 Sight distance provided
Can the boy see the dog? NO!
This is the best the
boy can see

CSE29357 - Geometric Design Review - Dr. Barbara W.Y. SIU 9

 Sight distance provided
Can the boy see the dog now ? YES!

Sight distance provided , S

CSE29357 - Geometric Design Review - Dr. Barbara W.Y. SIU 10

h1 h2

Sight distance provided , S

On this curve, the driver (with height h1) can see an

h1: height of driver’s eye
h2: height of dangerous object
or another driver
object of height h2 at most S distance away (i.e.
cannot see the object if it is further than S).
We have to make sure

CSE29357 - Geometric Design Review - Dr. Barbara W.Y. SIU 11

 Two Cases
• Sight Distance shorter than length of curve
• S<L

S
h2
h1
PVC PVT

Tangent Tangent
Slope p Slope q
L

CSE29357 - Geometric Design Review - Dr. Barbara W.Y. SIU 12

 Two Cases
• Sight Distance longer than length of curve
• S>L

h1 h2
PVC PVT

Tangent Tangent
Slope p Slope q
L

CSE29357 - Geometric Design Review - Dr. Barbara W.Y. SIU 13

 Approach
• Whether the sight distance is longer / shorter than the
length of curve cannot be known in advance
• We have different formula in computing the length of
summit curve that can provide the sight distance S
• Our approach is
– Given S
– Assume S > L first
– Compute L
– Check whether the assumption of S > L is valid
– If not, repeat with S < L.
– (you can start with assuming S < L first)

CSE29357 - Geometric Design Review - Dr. Barbara W.Y. SIU 14

 Sag Curve
• Criteria
– Vehicle headlight sight distance
• Headlight illumination angle b
• Two cases (S>L and S<L)
– Motorist comfort
• Radial acceleration force
– Drainage control
– Aesthetic

CSE29357 - Geometric Design Review - Dr. Barbara W.Y. SIU 15

 TPDM
• Regardless of Summit/ Sag Curve
– L = KA
– K is a constant obtained from design tables
– A = G = change in gradient

CSE29357 - Geometric Design Review - Dr. Barbara W.Y. SIU 16

Horizontal Curve
Problems here?
Minimum Curve Radius
Sight Distance

CSE29357 - Geometric Design Review - Dr. Barbara W.Y. SIU 17

 Horizontal Curve Design
• See the danger/ obstacle
• Have enough time to stop before hitting
• Determinants:
– How far I can see?
• For overtaking or stopping?
– How much time/ distance I need to stop?
• Braking distance: level road/ with gradient
• Derive stopping distance

CSE29357 - Geometric Design Review - Dr. Barbara W.Y. SIU 18

SSD
Which is the shortest chord?

CSE29357 - Geometric Design Review - Dr. Barbara W.Y. SIU 19

 B

CSE29357 - Geometric Design Review - Dr. Barbara W.Y. SIU 20

 B

Central Angle of
curve, D

, R lar
tangent
rve cu
Cu f Cir
so
d iu
Ra

Circular
tangent

Point of
Intersection, PI

CSE29357 - Geometric Design Review - Dr. Barbara W.Y. SIU 21

 B

tangent

tangent

Circular

Superelevation
(Purpose?)

CSE29357 - Geometric Design Review - Dr. Barbara W.Y. SIU 22

 Transition Curve
• Why do we need transition curve?
• Purpose
– Steering
– Centrifugal acceleration
– Superelevation

CSE29357 - Geometric Design Review - Dr. Barbara W.Y. SIU 23

 Tangents
+ circular

CSE29357 - Geometric Design Review - Dr. Barbara W.Y. SIU 24

 Tangents
PI + circular

PT
PC

CSE29357 - Geometric Design Review - Dr. Barbara W.Y. SIU 25

 Tangents
PI + transition curve
+ circular

SC CS

ST
TS R

CSE29357 - Geometric Design Review - Dr. Barbara W.Y. SIU 26

Transition Curve

𝑟𝑙=𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡=𝑅𝐿
 Spiral Curve  

Length of Transition Curve, L

• Determined by c (what is c?)
Shift, S = distance BD
• Equation?
Setting out (derive)
• Offset from tangent,
• Deflection angle, (this equation
gives the angle in radian)

Condition which a transition is

needed?
• Hint: shift

Condition which the setting out is

reasonably accurate?
• Hint: L and R
CSE29357 - Geometric Design Review - Dr. Barbara W.Y. SIU 27
 Horizontal Alignment
• Circular curve
– Shortest Sight Distance <-> Radius
• Position of obstacle/ Clearance Ms
– Superelevation
• Centrifugal force, Minimum radius of curve
– Widening
• Steering of heavy commercial vehicles
• Transition curve
– Gradual change in
• Superelevation
• Widening
• Steering
• Superelevation transition
• Tangent runoff, superelevation runoff

CSE29357 - Geometric Design Review - Dr. Barbara W.Y. SIU 28

 Horizontal Curve Design
•  
Setting out:
• Circular curve
• Use of chord length and deflection angle
• Use of circular curve equation
– i.e. (x-a)2 + (y-b)2 = R2
– (a,b) = coordinate of center of circle
– R = radius of circular curve
• Transition curve
• Offset (y = l and x)
• Polar deflective angle (y=l, )
– Accuracy
CSE29357 - Geometric Design Review - Dr. Barbara W.Y. SIU 29