Tutorial-2
Geometric design of highways-1
1. A national highway passing through a flat terrain has a horizontal curve of radius
equal to be the ruling minimum radius. Calculate absolute minimum sight distance,
super elevation, extra widening and length of transition curve. Assume necessary
data recommended by IRC.
2. A very long horizontal curve on a one-directional racetrack has 1750-meter
centerline radius, two 4-meter lanes, and a 200 km/hr design speed. Determine the
closest distance from the inside edge of the track that spectators can park without
impeding the necessary sight distance of the drivers. Assume that the sight distance
is less than the length of the curve, a coefficient of friction of 0.3, and a perception-
reaction time of 2.5 seconds.
3. A motorist traveling at 100 km/h on a highway needs to take the next exit, which has
a speed limit of 50 km/h. The section of the roadway before the ramp entry has a
downgrade of 3% and coefficient of friction ( f ) is 0.35. In order to enter the ramp at
the maximum allowable speed limit, the braking distance (expressed in m) from the
exit ramp is ________.
4. A given curve was very poorly designed. The two-lane road used has a lower-than-
average coefficient of friction (0.05), no superelevation to speak of, and 4-meter
lanes. 900 kg vehicles tend to go around this curve and are stylistically top heavy.
County engineers have warned that this curve cannot be traversed as safely as other
curves in the area, but politicians want to keep the speed up to boost tourism in the
area. The curves have a radius of 500 meters and a design speed of 80 km/hr.
Because the vehicles using the curve are top heavy, they have a tendency to roll over
if too much side force is exerted on them. As an engineer, you need to prove that
this curve is infeasible before an accident occurs. How can you show this? What is
the remedial measure?