Highway Eng.

Highway Horizontal Alignment

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Highway Horizontal Alignment

In this lecture;
--------------------Highway Horizontal Alignment.
A- Tangents.
B- Circular curves (Simple,
Compound, Broken-back and
Reversed).
C- Transition spirals.
The information listed in this lecture is mainly taken from the Policy on Geometric Design of
Highways and Streets (AASHTO, 2011), Iraqi Highway Design Manual (SORB, 2005) and
Traffic and Highway Engineering (Garber and Hoel, 2009).

Highway Horizontal Alignment.

Geometric design of a highway includes three major components; horizontal
alignment, vertical alignment as well as the cross-sectional elements. The design of
the alignment depends primarily on the design speed selected for the highway.
Firstly, horizontal alignment of a highway defines its location and orientation in plan
view. Secondly, vertical alignment of a highway deals with its shape in profile. The
third component is the cross-section of the highway which includes elements such
as the travelled lanes, shoulders, curbs, medians, and others.
This lecture discusses Horizontal Alignment of highways only. Vertical alignment and
cross- section elements will be discussed in the next lectures.
Horizontal alignment of roads usually comprises of tangent distances, that are
connected by very gradual circular curves, that may be complemented by
transitional spiral curves, to accommodate a given design speed with comfort and
safety.
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Dr. Firas Asad

Highway Eng.

Highway Horizontal Alignment

14 15

A- Tangents.
Tangents are the straight segments of
horizontal roads that can be defined in terms
of their directions and lengths.
Distance along a horizontal alignment is
measured in terms of stations. A full station
is defined as 100m or 1000m.
If 1 Sta. = 100m ---> Sta 03+50.1 = 350.1 m
If 1 Sta. = 1000m ---> Sta 07+050 =7050 m

B- Circular curves.
There are four common types of horizontal circular curves; simple, compound,
broken-back, and reversed.
According to both AASHTO and Iraqi
Highway Design Manuals, the following
are the general design controls for
horizontal alignment:
1- Alignment is as smooth as possible;
2- When using compound curve R2 must
not be more than 1.5R1;
3- Avoid using broken-back curves;
4- Avoid using reverse curves;
5- Curves should be 150 m long for = 5
deg. and increased 30 m for each one
degree decrease in .
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Dr. Firas Asad

Highway Eng.

Highway Horizontal Alignment

14 15

1- Simple Circular Curve

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Dr. Firas Asad

Highway Eng.

Highway Horizontal Alignment

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Example: Calculate the station of PI and PC, R, Lc, M and E for horizontal curve
with D=1.35 , =21 45, sta., PT=100+93?

Sta PI = Sta PC + T

Sol.:

R=

5729.58
D

T = R tan

5729.58
= 4244m ,
1.35

Sta PT = Sta PC + L

21.75
= 4244 tan
= 815m
2
2

L = R = 4244 * 21.75 (3.14/180) = 1610m

Sta PC = Sta PT L = 100+93 16+10 = 84+83
Sta PI = Sta PC + T = 84+83 + 8+15 = 92+98
LC = 2 R sin

Lecture 03

= 1601.4m ,
2

M = R (1 cos

= 76.22m E = R (sec 1) = 77.61m

2
2

35

Dr. Firas Asad

Highway Eng.

Highway Horizontal Alignment

14 15

2- Compound Curve
Compound curves are a series of two or more simple circular curves with deflections
in the same direction immediately adjacent to each other. Compound curves are
used to transition into and from a simple curve and to avoid some control or
obstacle which cannot be relocated.

3- Reversed Curve
Reverse curves usually consist of two
simple curves with equal radii turning in
opposite directions with a common
tangent. They are generally used to
change the alignment of a highway.

For safety reasons, the use of this curve should be avoided when possible. As with
broken back curves, drivers do not expect to encounter this arrangement on typical
highway geometry.

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Dr. Firas Asad

Highway Eng.

Lecture 03

Highway Horizontal Alignment

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14 15

Dr. Firas Asad

Highway Eng.

Highway Horizontal Alignment

14 15

Example: Two parallel tangents of two roads 36m apart are connected by a
reverse circular curve, R2=860m and the chord from PC to PT is 320m. Find the
central angle and R1?
Sol.:

36
= sin 1
= 6.459
2
320
= 2 6.459 = 12.9 = 12555' '
LC 2 = 2 R sin

= 193.5
2

320m
36
R1

LC1=320-193.5=126.5

LC1 = 2 R sin
2
126.5 = 2 R sin 6.459
R1 = 562.2m

R2=860m
/2

================================

4- Broken-back Curve
Broken back curve occurs when a short
tangent exists between two curves in
same direction. As in the reversed curve,
this curve should be avoided because
drivers do not expect to encounter this
arrangement

on

typical

highway

geometry.

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Dr. Firas Asad

Highway Eng.

Highway Horizontal Alignment

14 15

C- Transition spirals.
Transition curves are placed between
tangents

(straight

segments)

and

circular curves especially when speeds

are high and curvature is sharp. Also
they are placed between two adjacent
circular curves having substantially
different radii.
The main advantages of transition curves are:
1- Providing gradual increases or decreases the radial force.
2- Providing a suitable location for the superelevation runoff.
3- Facilitating the transition in width when widening is needed.
4- Enhancing the appearance of the highway.

Length of Spiral Curves. If the transition curve is a spiral, the degree of curvature
between the tangent and the circular curve varies from 0 at the tangent end
(radius = at tangent) to the degree of the circular curve D at the spiral curve end
(radius = Rc).

The factor C is an empirical value

representing the comfort and safety
levels provided by the spiral curve,
(0.3 to 0.9 m/s3.

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Dr. Firas Asad