Topic 4

Geometric Design for

Highways and Railways
ENGR. JUNE CARLO S. ENCABO
CE431- Principles of Transportation Engineering
Intended Learning Outcome:
• Demonstrate clear understanding of the principles and
concepts underlying the geometric design of highways and
railways, including the various elements of alignment,
cross-section, and grade.

• Analyze and evaluate different geometric designs for

highways and railways, considering factors such as traffic
volume, terrain, and environmental impact.
 Available Funds
Level of Service
Design Vehicle Cross-Section
FACTORS
influencing the geometric
Functional classification
Design Speed Design Hourly Volume/Traffic Mix
Vehicles on Steep Roads
Design of Highways & Railways Topography
Safety
Social and Environmental Factors
MORE INFO!
For Highways For Railways
 Design Hourly Volume

It refers to the number of vehicles that are expected to pass

through a specific point on the roadway during the busiest
hour of the day.
DHV vs. ADT
It is used to determine the capacity of the roadway and to
design the geometric elements such as the width of the
lanes, number of lanes, and other design features.
 Average Daily Traffic

Refers to the average number of vehicles that pass a specific

point on the roadway over a 24-hour period.
DHV vs. ADT It is used to estimate the total volume of traffic on the
roadway and to determine the roadway's design life.
 DHV = ADT / Peak Hour Factor (PHF)
Formulas
The Peak Hour Factor is a measure of the proportion of traffic
DHV & ADT volume during the busiest hour of the day.

The PHF varies depending on the location and the type of roadway.
Typically, PHF values range from 0.80 to 0.94 for urban areas, and
from 0.70 to 0.85 for rural areas.
 DHV = Maximum Hourly Volume x (1 + Design Hour Factor)
Formulas
DHV & ADT The Design Hour Factor is used to account for future growth and
changes in traffic patterns. It is typically set at 10% to 20% of the
maximum hourly volume.
 ADT = DHV x Annual Peak Hour Factor x No. of Days in Year
Formulas
DHV & ADT The Annual Peak Hour Factor is a measure of the proportion of
traffic volume during the peak month of the year.

It is typically set at 1.15 to 1.20 for urban areas, and 1.10 to 1.15 for
rural areas.
GEOMETRIC DESIGN
of Highway & Railways
Problem:

A two-lane roadway has an Average Daily Traffic

(ADT) of 10,000 vehicles. The roadway has a Peak
DHV & ADT Hour Factor (PHF) of 0.85. Calculate the Design
Hourly Volume (DHV) for the roadway, and ADT in a
year. Assume Annual Peak Hour is 1.2.
CROSS-SECTION
of a Highway
CROSS-SECTION
of a Highway
CROSS-SECTION
of a Highway
 Shoulder Width

CROSS-SECTION
Identification
Carriageway Width
CROSS-SECTION
Identification Carriageway Width
CROSS-SECTION
Identification Carriageway Width Shoulder Width
CROSS-SECTION
Identification Carriageway Width
CROSS-SECTION
of a Railway
 The alignment refers to the horizontal and vertical
positioning of the roadway or railway.

ALIGNMENTS OF Horizontal alignment includes the degree of

of Highways & Railway
curvature of the roadway or railway, while vertical
alignment refers to the grade or slope of the
roadway or railway.
ALIGNMENTS OF
of Highways & Railway
 It is the length of the roadway ahead visible to the driver. For
SIGHT DISTANCE the purpose of design and operation, it is termed Stopping Sight
of Highways & Railway
Distance and Passing Sight Distance.
 Stopping
SIGHT DISTANCE
 Stopping
SIGHT DISTANCE
 Stopping
SIGHT DISTANCE
Horizontal Road
 Stopping
SIGHT DISTANCE
Horizontal Road
 It is the shortest distance sufficient for a vehicle to
turn-out of a traffic lane, pass another vehicle and
Passing then turn back to the same lane safely and
SIGHT DISTANCE comfortably without interfering the overtaken vehicle
or an incoming vehicle traveling at the design speed
should it come into view after the passing maneuver
is started.
 Passing
SIGHT DISTANCE
 Passing
SIGHT DISTANCE
 Passing
SIGHT DISTANCE
 Passing
SIGHT DISTANCE
 Passing
SIGHT DISTANCE
 Passing
SIGHT DISTANCE
 Passing
SIGHT DISTANCE
 Passing
SIGHT DISTANCE
 From the traffic data shown, compute minimum sight
distance.
Passing •Speed of passing car -------------------- 90 kph
•Speed of overtaken car -------------------80 kph
SIGHT DISTANCE •Time of initial maneuver ------------------4 sec.
Horizontal Road •Average acceleration -------------------2.5 kph/sec
•Time passing vehicle occupies left lane --9 sec.
•Distance between the passing vehicle at the
end of maneuver and the opposing vehicle --80 m
 Compute the A passing car running at a speed of 96
Passing kph is planning to overtake a car running at speed of
SIGHT DISTANCE 88kph take the initial maneuver at 4.3 sec. If the
Horizontal Road average acceleration of the car is 2.37 kph/sec and it
occupied the left lane for almost 10.4 sec. Find the
total and minimum passing sight distance if its
distance from the opposing car is 76m.
 defined as the raising of the outer edge of the road
along a curve in order to counteract the effect of
centrifugal force acting on the vehicle’s center of
Analysis of gravity that affects the stability of the vehicle with the
tendency to overturn in the direction of the centrifugal
SUPER-ELEVATION force.

It is also known as cant or banking. It is expressed as

the ratio of the height of the outer edge with respect to
the transverse horizontal width.
 Analysis of
SUPER-ELEVATION
 Analysis of
SUPER-ELEVATION
Weight
Weight
CF

CF
 Analysis of
SUPER-ELEVATION
Weight
Weight
CF

CF
 A car runs on a 15 degree banked track on a curve
Analysis of having a radius of 120m. The coefficient of friction
between the first and the track is 0.3. Determine the
SUPER-ELEVATION maximum speed at which the car can run without
skidding.
 If the friction is great enough to prevent skidding, a
Analysis of vehicle would impend to overturn at a speed of V in
kph on a highway with a radius of the curve 0f 150m.
SUPER-ELEVATION The vehicles center of gravity is 0.68, above the road
and its tread is 1.5m. Determine the value of V if the
superelevation is 10 degrees.
 SYMMETRICAL CURVES
Analysis of
VERTICAL PARABOLIC UNSYMMETRICAL CURVES
Curves
SPIRAL CURVES
 g1

P.I.

X2 X3
Properties of X1 Y2
H
Y3
g2

SYMMETRICAL PARABOLIC Y1
Curves Pt.1
Pt.2 Pt.3

P.C.
L/2 L/2 P.T.

Backward Tangent Forward Tangent

The vertical offset from the tangent to the curve are proportional to the squares of the distances from the
point of curvature/tangency.
 D
g1

P.I.
B
X2 X3
Properties of X1 Y2
H
Y3
g2

SYMMETRICAL PARABOLIC Y1
E
Curves A Pt.1
Pt.2 Pt.3
C
P.C.
F
L/2 L/2 P.T.

Backward Tangent Forward Tangent

The curve bisects the distance between the vertex and the midpoint of the long chord.
 D
g1

P.I.
B
X2 X3
Properties of X1 Y2
H
Y3
g2

SYMMETRICAL PARABOLIC Y1
E
Curves A Pt.1
Pt.2 Pt.3
C
P.C.
F
L/2 L/2 P.T.

Backward Tangent Forward Tangent

If the algebraic difference in the rate of grade of the two slopes is positive, that is (g1-g2), we have a
summit curve. But if negative, we have a sag curve.
 D
g1

P.I.
B
X2 X3
Properties of X1 Y2
H
Y3
g2

SYMMETRICAL PARABOLIC Y1
E
Curves A Pt.1
Pt.2 Pt.3
C
P.C.
F
L/2 L/2 P.T.

Backward Tangent Forward Tangent

The length of curve of a parabolic vertical curve refer to the horizontal distance from P.C. to P.T.
 D
g1

P.I.
B
X2 X3
Properties of X1 Y2
H
Y3
g2

SYMMETRICAL PARABOLIC Y1
E
Curves A Pt.1
Pt.2 Pt.3
C
P.C.
F
L/2 L/2 P.T.

Backward Tangent Forward Tangent

The stationing of a vertical parabolic curves is measured not along the curve but along the horizontal
line.
 D
g1

P.I.
B
X2 X3
Properties of X1 Y2
H
Y3
g2

SYMMETRICAL PARABOLIC Y1
E
Curves A Pt.1
Pt.2 Pt.3
C
P.C.
F
L/2 L/2 P.T.

Backward Tangent Forward Tangent

For symmetrical parabolic curve, the number of stations to the left must be equal to the number of
stations to the right.
 D
g1

P.I.
B
X2 X3
Properties of X1 Y2
H
Y3
g2

SYMMETRICAL PARABOLIC Y1
E
Curves A Pt.1
Pt.2 Pt.3
C
P.C.
F
L/2 L/2 P.T.

Backward Tangent Forward Tangent

The slope of the parabola varies uniformly along the curve.

 D
g1

g1(L/2)
P.I.

(g1-g2)(L/2)
B
X2 X3
Properties of X1 Y2
H g2

-g2(L/2)
Y3
SYMMETRICAL PARABOLIC Y1
E
Curves A Pt.1
Pt.2 Pt.3
C
P.C.
F
L/2 L/2 P.T.

Backward Tangent Forward Tangent

The maximum offset H=1/8 the product of the algebraic distance between the two rates of grade and
length of the curve.
 S1
L-S1
P.I.

Locating g1 H -g2

Highest/Lowest Point of
Symmetrical Curves H

P.C.
From P.C. L/2 L/2 P.T.
Highest Pt. of the Curve

Backward Tangent Forward Tangent

𝑔1𝐿
𝑆1 =
𝑔1 − 𝑔2
 L-S2
S2
P.I.

Locating g1 H -g2

Highest/Lowest Point of
Symmetrical Curves H

P.C.
From P.T. L/2 L/2 P.T.
Highest Pt. of the Curve

Backward Tangent Forward Tangent

𝑔2𝐿
𝑆2 =
𝑔2 − 𝑔1
 B

g1(L/2)
P.I.

(g1-g2)(L/2)
UNSYMMETRICAL PARABOLIC V
Curves h1 -g2
g1 H h2

-g2(L/2)
H
2𝐻𝐿2 A C
𝐿1 = L1/2 L1/2 D L2/2 L2/2
𝐿2 𝑔1 − 𝑔2 − 2𝐻 P.C.
L1 L2 P.T.

L = L1 + L2

Backward Tangent Forward Tangent

Highway curve is at times designed to include a particular elevation wherein backward tangent has
already been established.
 B

Locating S1

g1(L/2)
Highest/Lowest Point of P.I.
Unsymmetrical Curves

(g1-g2)(L/2)
V
h1 -g2
g1 H h2

-g2(L/2)
From P.C. H
A C
L1/2 L1/2 D L2/2 L2/2
(L1g1)/2 < H P.C.
L1 L2 P.T.

L = L1 + L2

𝑔1𝐿12 Backward Tangent Forward Tangent

𝑆1 =
2𝐻
 B

Locating S1

g1(L/2)
Highest/Lowest Point of P.I.
Unsymmetrical Curves

(g1-g2)(L/2)
V
h1 -g2
g1 H h2

-g2(L/2)
From P.T. H
A C
L1/2 L1/2 D L2/2 L2/2
(L1g1)/2 > H P.C.
L1 L2 P.T.

L = L1 + L2

𝑔2𝐿22 Backward Tangent Forward Tangent

𝑆2 =
2𝐻
Example on
SYMMETRICAL CURVES

A -3% grade meets a 5% grade at vertex (El. 146.24) directly

under an overpass bridge whose underside is at elev. 152.74 and
carries another road across the grades at right angles.
a.) What is the longest parabolic curve that can be used to connect the two grades
and at the same time provide at least 5m of clearance under the bridge at its
center line.
b.) If the underside of the bridge is level and is 12m, find the actual clearance at
the left edge and right edge of the bridge.
Example on
SYMMETRICAL CURVES

A grade descending at the rate of -4% intersects another grade ascending at

the rate of +8% at station 2+000, elevation at 100m. A vertical curve is to
connect the two such that the curve will clear a boulder located at station 1 +
980, elevation 101.34m.

a.) Determine the necessary length of the curve.

b.) Determine the station of the location of a sewer to be laid out.
c.) Compute the elevation of station where the sewer is to be placed.
Example on
UNSYMMETRICAL CURVES

An unsymmetrical parabolic curve has a forward tangent of -8% and a back

tangent of +5%. The length of curve on the left side of the curve is 40m long
while the right side is 60m long. The P.C. is at station 6+780 and has an
elevation of 110m. An outcrop is found at station 6+800 has an elevation of
108.40 m.
a.) Compute the height of fill needed to cover the outcrop.
b.) Compute the elevation of curve at station 6+820.
c.) Compute the elevation of the highest point of the curve.