Horizontal Curves

David Levinson
 Types of Horizontal
Curves
There are four types of horizontal curves: simple, compound,
reverse, and spiral. We will only consider simple curves in this
course.

Compound Curves consist of 2 or more curves in succession turning

in the same direction with a common tangent point

Reverse Curves consist of two simple curves with equal radii

turning opposite directions with a common tangent

Transition or Spiral curves are placed between tangents and circular

curves or between two adjacent circular curves with substantially
different radii.
 Horizontal Alignment
Recall that the radius of a
curve (R) is given by:
The horizontal alignment
comprises the road on the
plane of the earth, 1000
2

including straight sections v ( v ) 2

3600
and curves. R= =
g ( e + fs ) 127 ( e + fs )
The curves are based on
circles.
where

An object located on the e = superelevation,

fs = the coefficient of side friction,
inside of a curve may
g =acceleration due to gravity (=9.81 m/s2) and
obstruct sight distance. v = the vehicle speed.
 Illustration
L - Length of Curve

m
eye object
Obstruction

m = distance form centerline to sight obstruction

L = Length of Curve
R = Radius of Centerline
S = Sight Distance
 Equations
When S L

28.65S
m = R 1 cos
R

When S> L

28.65L S L 28.65L
m = R 1 cos + sin
R 2 R
Example: Location of an
object near a horizontal
Curve
A horizontal curve with a radius of 200 m forms
part of a 2 lane highway with a posted speed of
50 km/hr.

If the highway is flat, determine the distance a

house can be placed from the centerline of the
inside of the curve without reduced the required
Stopping Sight Distance.

Assume a perception reaction time of 2.5 seconds

 Solution
Determine the required
stopping sight distance (S)
v2
S = ds = 0.278t r v +
254 ( f G )
50 2
S = ds = 0.278 * 2.5 * 50 + = 74.12m
254 ( 0.25 )

Determine the Minimum m

28.65S 28.65 * 74.12

m = R 1 cos = 200 1 cos = 3.424m
R 200
 Layout of Simple
Horizontal Curve
PI
M = Middle Ordinate
T E T T = Tangent Length
R= Radius of Centerline
PC M = Deflection Angle
/2 PT PC = Point of Curvature
R PI = Point of Intersection
PT = Point of Tangency
E = External Distance

Note M m
 Formulae for Simple
Curves

T = R tan
2
Tangent Length (T)
C = 2Rsin
2
Length of Chord (C)

(Long Chord from PC to PT) 1
E = R 1
External Distance (E) cos
2
Middle Ordinate (M)
M = R 1 cos
Length of Curve (L) 2
R
L=
180
Horizontal Alignment Stationing
Highways are measured along the centerline,
rather than Cartesian coordinates.

Stations are measured in km (there are also

Imperial units for stationing) along a
horizontal plane

So 2+302.250 should be read as

2 kilometers and 302.250 meters from the

point of origin on the roadway, which is at
0+000.000

Vertical Alignment
Elevations are measured from the horizontal
plane.
Example: Stationing of
Point of Tangency (PT)

A horizontal curve is designed with a 600 m

radius.

The curve has a tangent of 125 m and the PI is

at metric station 10+000 (10 kilometers and 0
meters).

Determine the stationing of the PT

 Solution
First Determine the Central $ Then determine the length
Angle

R 600 * 23.53 * 3.14

L= = = 246m
T = R tan 180 180
2
$ Given that the tangent is 125 m

125 = 600 tan Stationing PC=10+000 - 125 = 9+875
2
$ Since horizontal curve stationing is
= 23.53 measured along the alignment of the road
Stationing PT = Stationing PC + L
$ $ $ $ $ =9+875+ 246 = 10+121
 Problem

A horizontal curve is designed with a 450 m

radius. The curve has a tangent of 175 m and
the PI is at metric station 9+550. Determine
the stationing of the PT
 Solution

T = R tan
2

175 = 450 tan
2
First Determine the Central
Angle
= 42.5
R 450 * 42.5 * 3.14
Then determine the length L= = = 333.79m
180 180

Given that the tangent is 175 m

Stationing PC=9+550 - 175 = 9+375

Stationing of PT = 9+375 + 333.79m = 9+708

 Problem

A flat horizontal curve on a 2-lane highway is designed with a 120

m radius, 3.6 m lanes, 25 central angle, and a 50 km/h design
speed. The stopping friction coefficient is 0.30. Assume driver
perception/reaction time is 2.5 seconds.

a. Determine the distance that must be cleared from the centerline

to provide sufficient Stopping Sight Distance.

b. What radius is required to obtain a 100 km/h design speed (All

others variables the same as in part (a) above)? What will be the
new curve length?

Draw a diagram with the values of your solution.

 Solution (Part 1)
Givens:R =120 l=3.6 =25 v=50 f=0.30 t=2.5
g=9.81

v2 50 2
S = 0.278vt + = 0.278 * 50 * 2.5 + = 67.558m
254 f 254 * 0.30

L= R = 120 * 25 = 52.36m
180 180
Rv = R 0.5L = 120 0.5 * 3.6 = 118.2m
L S L L
Since m = Rv 1 cos 28.65 + sin
Rv 2
28.65
Rv

S>L m = 4.557
 Solution (Part 2)

v= 100 km/hr, Calculate S

v2 100 2
S = 0.278vt + = 0.278 *100 * 2.5 + = 200.73m
254 f 254 * 0.30

Assume S<L and that the clearance is going to

remain the same, find Rv
S
m = Rv 1 cos 28.65 = 4.557
Rv Use Rv in equation for m
gives
Rv = 1104.58,
R = Rv + 0.5L = 1106.384
Solve for R
 Solution (Part 3)

Compare to minimum R, assume e same as part

a if needed or another reasonable value
2 2
1000 1000
v 100
3600 3600
Rnew = = = 479.6m
g ( e + fs ) 9.81( 0.164 )
SSD Controls

Lnew = R = 482.75 > L
180
Correct equation from Tables at 100 km/hr
fs =0.128, min radius = 450 m
 Questions

Questions?
 Abbreviations

PC = Point of Curvature

PT = Point of Tangency

PI = Point of Intersection
 Key Terms

Simple curve

Spiral curve

Compound Curve

Reverse Curve
 Variables
tr= perception/reaction time (seconds)
f = AASHTO stopping friction
coefficient (dimensionless)
G = roadway grade (dimensionless)
e = superelevation, T = Tangent Length
fs = the coefficient of side friction, C= Length of Chord (Long Chord
g = the acceleration due to gravity from PC to PT)
(=9.81 m/s2) and E= External Distance
v = the vehicle speed. M = Middle Ordinate
m = distance from centerline to sight Delta = Deflection Angle
obstruction
L = length of curve
S = sight distance (ds)
R = Radius of centerline
Rv =Radius to drivers eye (middle of
lane)