Geometric Design for

Highways & Railroads

Tara Ruzzlin P. Mahinay BSCE-2A
Highways
Geometric Design for Highways
Positioning of the physical elements of
the roadway according to standards
and constraints.
Deals with dimensions and layout of
visible features of a highway
primarily refers to the visible elements
of the highways
Philippine standard design for highways:

AASHTO – American Association of State

Highway and Transportation Officials
Objectives of a Highway Design
optimize efficiency and safety while
minimizing cost and environmental
damage.
Maximize the comfort, safety and
economy of facilities

Provide efficiency in traffic operation

Factors Affecting the
Geometric Design of
Highways
Design Speed
Design speed is a selected speed used to
determine the various geometric features
of the roadway
Design speed establishes the range of
design values for many of the other
geometric elements of the highway.
Requires different vehicle design speed
to satisfy all the drivers
Topography
Topography is an important factor and
influences the physical location of the
highway.

Geometric design standards are different

for different terrain conditions..
Other Factors
Other miscellaneous factors that will affect the
geometric design of highways are:

Vehicles
Traffic volume and capacity
Environment and Economy
Humans
Design Requirements
for Highways
Its dictated within economic limitations to satisfy the
requirements of traffic in designing elements such as:

Horizontal Vertical Super

alignment alignment Elevation

Inter Cross -
sections Section
Railways
Geometric Design for Railways
It is very important for tracks to have
proper geometric design in order to
ensure the safe and smooth running of
trains at maximum permissible speeds,
carrying the heaviest axle loads.
Objectives of a Railway Design

To avoid accidents and derailment due

to a defective permanent way.

To ensure that the tracks require least

maintenance
Good Aesthetic Value
Design Requirements
for Railways
Geometric design of railway track includes all
those parameters which effect the geometry of the
track . Including horizontal and
vertical curves, transition
curves, etc.

Gradient Alignment
Curves

Including grade Including straight

compensation, rising and and curved
falling gradient alignment
Horizontal
Alignment
Definition
Horizontal alignment for linear
transportation facilities such as highways
and railways consists of horizontal
tangents, circular curves, and possibly
transition curves.

Is a plan view which shows the

horizontal curves and tangents or
straights.
The horizontal alignment of a roadway should
be designed to provide motorists with a
facility for driving in a safe and comfortable
manner.

Horizontal alignment deals with the

design of the directional transition of the
highway in a horizontal plane.
Horizontal alignment should meet these general considerations:

 Alignment should be straight if possible

within physical and economic constraints

 Alignment should be consistent. Try to

avoid sharp curves at the ends of long
tangents and sudden changes from gently
to sharply curving alignment.

 Avoid the use of minimum radii whenever

possible
Horizontal alignment should meet these general considerations:

 Avoid horizontal curves on bridges

 On minor roads, curves should have a
minimum length of 150 m for a deflection
angle of 5° and that this length should be
increased by 30 m for every 1° decrease in
deflection angle.

 On major roads and freeways, the

minimum curve length in meters should
be three times the design speed in km/h.
Horizontal Tangents
Horizontal tangents are described in
terms of their lengths (as expressed in the
station- ing of the job) and their
directions.
Directions may be either expressed
as bearings or as azimuths and are
always defined in the direction of
increasing station.
Simple Curve
Has a single constant radius
Are designated either by the degree of curvature (D)
or radius of the curve (R).
Degree of curve
Arc Basis Chord basis
 EXAMPLE
A simple curve has a central angle of 36°and a degree
of 6°

1. Find the nearest distance from the midpoint of the

curve to the point of intersection of the tangents.

2. Compute the distance from the midpoint of the

curve to the long chord joining the point of curvature
and point of tangency.
Compound Curve
Consist of two or more circular curves in
succession, turning in the same direction, with
any two successive curves having a common
tangent point.
To avoid abrupt changes in the alignment, the
radii of any two consecutive simple curves
that form a compound curve should not be
widely different.

AASHTO recommends that the ratio of

the flatter radius to the sharper radius
at intersections should not be greater
than 2:1.
 EXAMPLE

A compound curve has a common tangent of

400m long. The first curve passing through the
P.C. is a 3- degree curve with a central angle of
35°Find the length of the second curve if its
central angle is 50°
Reverse Curve
Reverse curves usually consist of two
simple curves with equal radii turning in
opposite directions with a common tangent.

Should be used for low-speed roads

such as in mountainous terrain.
Reverse curves are seldom
recommended. They are absolutely
NOT recommended for high‐speed
roads.
 EXAMPLE
Given the lines and direction as follows: AB
= 57.6m due East, BC = 91.5m N 68°E. CD =
102.6m azimuth of 312°A reverse curve is to
connect these three lines thus forming the
central line of a new road. Compute the length
of the common radius of the reverse curve.