TPG3700 - Major Test 1 - 05/07/2024

UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS/MAJOR TEST

TPG3700

Transportation Engineering, Pavement and Geometric Design

Welcome to the TPG3700 major test 01.

Date: 05/07/2024
Time: 8:00 to 10:00
Hours: 2

Examiner name: Dr Walied A. Elsaigh

Internal moderator name: Mr B Verhoek
External moderator name: Dr Morakane Khahledi

This paper consists of 6 pages, including two cover pages and Formulae Sheet.

Total marks: 100

Instructions:

• This is a closed book Examination.

• See the additional information sheets at the end of the questions.
• Please tick the Honor Pledge and answer ALL Three (3) questions.
• Please note this is an IRIS invigilated exam. Your microphone and camera should be on for
the duration of the exam.
• Your script must be saved with file named as student no_subject code (For Example:
32111987_TPG3700) and uploaded on MyExams: https://cset.myexams.unisa.ac.za/,
under assessment #3.
• If the information given is not complete, please assume, specify the required value, and
continue with the exam paper. Give answers to three decimal places.

Additional student instructions

1. Students must upload their answer scripts in a single PDF file (answer scripts must not be
password protected or uploaded as “read only” files)
2. Incorrect file format and uncollated answer scripts will not be considered.
3. NO emailed scripts will be accepted.
4. Students are advised to preview submissions (answer scripts) to ensure legibility and that
the correct answer script file has been uploaded.
5. Incorrect answer scripts and/or submissions made on unofficial examinations platforms
(including the invigilator cell phone application) will not be marked and no opportunity will
be granted for resubmission. Only the last answer file uploaded within the stipulated
submission duration period will be marked.
6. Mark awarded for incomplete submission will be the student’s final mark. No opportunity for
resubmission will be granted.
7. Mark awarded for illegible scanned submission will be the student’s final mark. No
opportunity for resubmission will be granted.
8. Submissions will only be accepted from registered student accounts.
9. Students who have not utilised the proctoring tool will be deemed to have transgressed
Unisa’s examination rules and will have their marks withheld. If a student is found to have
been outside the proctoring tool for a total of 10 minutes during their examination session,
they will be considered to have violated Unisa’s examination rules and their marks will be
withheld. For examinations which use the IRIS invigilator system, IRIS must be recording
throughout the duration of the examination until the submission of the examinations scripts.

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10. Students have 48 hours from the date of their examination to upload their invigilator results
from IRIS. Failure to do so will result in students deemed not to have utilized the proctoring
tools.
11. Students suspected of dishonest conduct during the examinations will be subjected to
disciplinary processes. Students may not communicate with any other person or request
assistance from any other person during their examinations. Plagiarism is a violation of
academic integrity and students who plagiarise, copy from published work or Artificial
Intelligence Software (eg ChatGPT) or online sources (eg course material), will be in
violation of the Policy on Academic Integrity and the Student Disciplinary Code and may be
referred to a disciplinary hearing. Unisa has a zero tolerance for plagiarism and/or any
other forms of academic dishonesty.
12. Listening to audio (music) and making use of audio-to-text software is strictly prohibited
during your examination session unless such usage of the software is related to a student’s
assistive device which has been so declared. Failure to do so will be a transgression of
Unisa’s examination rules and the student's marks will be withheld.
13. Students are provided 30 minutes to submit their answer scripts after the official
examination time. Students who experience technical challenges should report the
challenges to the SCSC on 080 000 1870 or their College exam support centres (refer to
the Get help during the examinations by contacting the Student Communication Service
Centre [unisa.ac.za]) within 30 minutes. Queries received after 30 minutes of the official
assessment duration time will not be responded to. Submissions made after the official
assessment time will be rejected according to the examination regulations and will not be
marked. Only communication received from your myLife account will be considered.
14. Non-adherence to the processes for uploading assessment responses will not qualify the
student for any special concessions or future assessments.
15. Queries that are beyond Unisa’s control include the following: a. Personal network or
service provider issues
b. Load shedding/limited space on personal computer
c. Crashed computer
d. Non-functioning cameras or web cameras
e. Using work computers that block access to the myExams site (employer firewall
challenges)
f. Unlicensed software (eg license expires during exams)

Postgraduate students experiencing the above challenges are advised to apply for an
aegrotat and submit supporting evidence within ten days of the examination session.
Students will not be able to apply for an aegrotat for a third examination opportunity.
Postgraduate/undergraduate students experiencing the above challenges in their second
examination opportunity will have to reregister for the affected module.
16. Students suspected of dishonest conduct during the examinations will be subjected to
disciplinary processes. UNISA has a zero tolerance for plagiarism and/or any other forms
of academic dishonesty.
17. Students experiencing network or load shedding challenges are advised to apply together
with supporting evidence for an Aegrotat within 3 days of the examination session.

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Question 1

1.1 The present average daily traffic on a 4-lane, divided urban road is recorded at
9900 vehicles per day. Assume the direction distribution factor is 50%, k = 0.15, and
the average annual traffic growth rate is 5.5%. Estimate the design hourly traffic
volume per direction after 15 years. (6)

1.2 Describe the purpose of demand-actuated signals. (3)

1.3 Briefly describe the purpose of red clearance time allocated for each phase. (3)

1.4 Estimate the optimal cycle length and green intervals for the pre-timed intersection
shown in the sketch below. Assume lost time of 3 sec per phase, yellow time = 3 sec
and clearance time = 1 sec in each direction. Ignore pedestrians. (18)

[30 marks]

Question 2

2.1 Describe on your own words why road geometric design is important to the
community at large. (3)

2.2 Briefly discuss the importance of superelevation provision on horizontal curves. (3)

2.3 Compute the required radius for free-steering condition on a circular curve
designed for 100 km/h speed and maximum superelevation of 8%. (3)

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2.4 The sketch below shows a lefthand circular curve of the horizontal alignment of an
existing 2-lane, two-way, rural road. The following curve details were given:

• The minimum required stopping sight distance (SSD) on the road section is
115 m.
• The straight sections at the approach and leave sections are crowned to 2%
• The applied superelevation = 5%, the lane width = 3.6 m, shoulder width = 1.0
m, crown run-off length = 26 m, and superelevation run-off length = 65 m.
• The wheelbase of the design vehicle is 12.8 m.

2.4.1 Compute the curve length. (2)

2.4.2 Determine the changes of BC and EC. (5)

2.4.3 Calculate the transition points into the curve and draw the superelevation
diagram. Assume, one third of the transition occurs in the curve. (12)

2.4.4 Calculate the curve widening width. (3)

2.4.5 Determine if building a structure 7 meters away from the centreline of the road
is deemed safe. (4)

[35 marks]

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Question 3

3.1 Provide a brief description of climbing lanes function and the factors considered
when determining the need on an uphill section of a 2-lane, two-way rural road. (3)

3.2 Determine the minimum distance required to stop a car, travelling at 70 km/h, on
a 3.2% downhill rural road. Assume perception-reaction time = 2.5 sec and brake force
coefficient = 0.31. (4)

3.3 The crest curve details are shown in the sketch for the vertical alignment of a newly
planned 2-lane, two-way rural road. You have been given the following information:

The minimum required stopping sight distance (SSD) 120 m

The minimum required passing sight distance (PSD) 560 m
Driver’s eye height 1.05 m
Dangerous object height 0.50 m

3.3.1 Calculate the chainages and elevations of the beginning (BVC) and point of
intersection (PVI) of the curve. (8)

3.3.2 Calculate the chainage and elevation of the highest point on the curve. (5)

3.3.3 Verify if the curve length is safe for the given minimum SSD. (5)

3.3.4 Verify if the curve length is safe for overtaking. Hint: h1 = h2 = 1.05 m. (5)

3.3.5 The elevation of an existing overhead cable is 724.035 meters. The cable passes
over a road section at chainage 800m. Perform the required computations to confirm
the presence of a 5.5 m minimum vertical clearance. (5)

[35 marks]

TOTAL MARKS [100]

©
UNISA 2024

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Formula sheet
(0.632 ∗ 𝑉𝑉)2 2𝜋𝜋 ∗ 𝑅𝑅 ∗ ∆
𝑒𝑒𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = 𝐿𝐿 =
𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔 360
∆
𝑤𝑤 = 𝑅𝑅 − �𝑅𝑅 2 − 𝐼𝐼2 𝑇𝑇 = 𝑅𝑅 ∗ tan � �
2
2
S
S≤L: M= BC ch = PI ch – T
8 Ric
Lic (2S - Lic )
S>L: M = EC ch = BC ch + L
8 Ric

PVI elev = EVC elev ± (G2/100)*(L/2) BVC ch = EVC ch – L

BVC elev = PVI elev ± G1/100)*(L/2) PVI ch = BVC ch + (L/2)

𝑣𝑣 2
𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆 = 𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣 +
xh/L = I G1L/A I 2𝑔𝑔(𝑓𝑓 ± 𝐺𝐺)

G1 (G2 - G1) 2
High/low point elev = BVC Elev ± x± x V
100 2L fs = 0.19 -
1600
2
AS
S<L: L = 2 v2
100 ∗ ��2h1 + �2h2 � e= − fs
gR
2
100 ∗ ��2h1 + �2h2 � W. e. S. I
S>L: L = 2S - LSR =
A 100
2
AS
S<L: L = v3
200*[0.6 + S(tan1°)] Ls =
CR
200 ∗ [0.6+S(tan1°)]
S>L: L = 2S - DDHV = ADT x k x D
A
2
AS
S<L: L = gx = (1+0.01i)x
h + h2
8 �CL − � 1 ��
2
1.5𝐿𝐿 + 5
h + h2 𝐶𝐶0 =
8 �CL - � 1 �� 1 − ∑ 𝑌𝑌𝑖𝑖
2
S>L: L = 2S - 𝑞𝑞𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖
A 𝑌𝑌𝑖𝑖 =
𝑆𝑆𝑗𝑗

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