CSE29357 Highway Engineering

Revision Handout Circular Curve

Section Summary

Circular curve
Notations: 𝑅, 𝑅𝑉 , 𝑀𝑠
Equations:
𝑆 = √8𝑅𝑣 𝑀𝑠
𝜋𝑅𝑣 𝑅𝑣 − 𝑀𝑠
𝑆= cos−1( )
90 𝑅𝑣
Relationship between location of sight obstruction (measured from where?), radius of curve (𝑅 𝑜𝑟 𝑅𝑣
is used here?) and sight distance that can be provided.

Setting out of circular curve

𝑥
Deflection angle: 𝑑𝑥 = 2𝑅 (in radians)
Chord: 𝑐𝑥 = 2𝑅 sin 𝑑𝑥
See the last page of this handout on some trigonometry behind these two expressions, there’s no harm in terms
of usage even if you couldn’t digest those.

Review on superelevation
Relationship with minimum radius of curve
45% of centrifugal force can be balanced by superelevation (how about the remaining centrifugal
force?)

Horizontal curve widening

Turning geometry of large vehicles

Reading:
Mannering (2013), Section 3.4
Roess (2011), Section 3.3.3, 3.3.6

Mannering, F. L. (2013). Principles of highway engineering and traffic analysis (5th ed.. ed.). Hoboken,
NJ: Hoboken, NJ : Wiley.
Roess, R. P. (2011). Traffic engineering (4th ed.. ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Upper Saddle River,
NJ : Pearson.

CSE29357 Revision Handout – Circular Curve

In-class Worked Example

You do not learn much from reading, pay attention to the common
misconceptions and ask questions!

Question 1 – Geometry of a circular curve, setting out [Worked example in class]

Given a simple circular curve with the following properties: 𝑅 = 160 m, bearing of incoming tangent
is 𝑁89.4569𝑜 𝐸, bearing of the outgoing tangent is 𝑆60.1681𝑜 𝐸., station of PI is 22 + 69.77

Sketch:

Determine the following:

(i) Central angle, Δ = (90𝑜 − 89.4569𝑜 ) + (90𝑜 − 60.1681𝑜 ) = 30.375𝑜 = 0.5301 𝑟𝑎𝑑
Hint: it is useful to produce a sketch of the incoming and outgoing tangents

(ii) Length of horizontal curve, 𝐿. 𝐿 = 𝑅Δ = 160 × 0.5301 = 84.52𝑚

Note that Δ must be in radians

Δ
(iii) Station of PC = Station of PI – Tangent distance = (22 + 69.77) - 𝑅 tan 2 = 22 + 26.34

(iv) Station of PT = Station of PC + L = (22 + 26.34) + L = 23 + 11.16

CSE29357 Revision Handout – Circular Curve

(v) Give deflection angles and chords at 20m intervals, including full stations
𝑥
𝑑𝑥 = ; 𝑐 = 2𝑅 sin 𝑑𝑥
2𝑅 𝑥
(Check the Appendix for the geometrical explanation behind these two expressions)
deflection angle, 𝑑𝑥
Point Station x (m) radians degrees Chord, 𝑐𝑥
PC 22 + 26.34 0 0 0 0
22 + 40.00 13.66 0.0427 2.4465 13.6598
22 + 60.00 33.66 0.1052 6.0275 33.6019
22 + 80.00 53.66 0.1677 9.6085 53.4128
23 + 00.00 73.66 0.2302 13.1895 73.0151
PT 23 + 11.16 84.82 0.2651 15.1891 83.8418
(Note that we’re not doing the setting out for x = 0, 20, 40, …)

Sketch:

Question 2 – Minimum Radius of curve, Sight Obstruction

Consider the horizontal curve design for a proposed single-4 lane carriageway (i.e. 2 lanes in each
direction), with carriageway width of 13.5m, design speed of 100km/h and superelevation of 4%.

(i) Determine the minimum radius of curve, round to multiples of 50m.

𝑉2
𝑒 = 45%
127𝑅min
𝑅min = 885.83 m, round to 900m
𝑉2
The expression 𝑒 = 45% 127𝑅 comes from the requirement that we want superelevation to take
min
care of at least 45% of centrifugal force at given V and R.
Check:
- If we use 𝑅𝑚𝑖𝑛 to 850m. The superelevation required to balance 45% of centrifugal force
𝑉2
would be 𝑒 = 45% 127(850) = 4.17% but we only have 𝑒 = 4% (or the current 𝑒 = 4% can
only balance 43.18% of centrifugal force.
- If we use 𝑅𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 900𝑚, the current 𝑒 = 4% can balance 45.72% of centrifugal force => OK!
- Recall the small discussion note in lecture slides on why we do not plan to use
superelevation to balance all (100%) of centrifugal force.

CSE29357 Revision Handout – Circular Curve

(ii) There are existing trees along both sides of this proposed roadway. Based on the minimum
curve radius in (i), determine how much trees have to be removed (measured from the
edge of the carriageway) so as to provide sufficient stopping sight distance?

For design speed = 100km/h, SSD to be provided = 215m.

Radius of curve, 𝑅 = 900𝑚 (from (i))

Carriageway width = 13.5m, i.e. width of 1 lane = 13.5/4 = 3.375m
𝑅𝑣 = 𝑅 − 1.5 × 3.375 = 894.9375𝑚
What’s the difference between 𝑅 and 𝑅𝑣 ? When to use 𝑅 or 𝑅𝑣 respectively?
𝑆 = √8𝑅𝑣 𝑀𝑠 𝜋𝑅𝑣 𝑅𝑣 − 𝑀𝑠
𝑆= cos−1 ( )
215 = √8 × 894.9375 × 𝑀𝑠 90 𝑅𝑣
𝑀𝑆 = 6.46𝑚 𝜋 × 894.9375 894.9375 − 𝑀𝑠
215 = cos −1 ( )
90 894.9375
𝑀𝑆 = 6.45𝑚
Either approach is fine, and the answers are very similar indeed.]

Note that 𝑀𝑆 is measured from the centerline of the innermost lane, thus the clearance from the edge
of the carriageway would be (𝑀𝑠 − 3.375/2) = 4.7625m

Revision Exercises

Please attempt these yourself before checking the answers.

Question 3
A large advertisement board is situated next to the footpath of a horizontal curve. The radius of
curve is 125m. It is a two-lane single carriageway, each lane is 4.0m wide, there are footpaths of 1.8m
wide on both sides of the carriageway, and the advertisement board is right next to the footpath.
Determine the maximum allowable speed (rounded to multiples of 10 km/h) on this section of
carriageway according to design equations.

Given: Assume this is a level road, and coefficient of friction = 0.45.

Question 4 [Difficult]

A horizontal curve on a single 4-lane carriageway (two lanes in each direction with no median) has
a superelevation of 6% and a central angle of 40 degrees. The PT of the curve is at station 9 + 830 and
the PI is at 9 + 756. The road has 3.1m lanes and 2.8m shoulders on both sides with high retaining
walls going up immediately next to the shoulders. What is the highest safe design speed of this
curve (to multiples of 10 km/h), and what is the station of the PC? Your design should follow
TPDM.

CSE29357 Revision Handout – Circular Curve

Appendix - Geometry of a Circular Curve

In fact, the following relationship between angles and chords holds for all circles. This property is
going to be useful in setting out a circular curve.
Angle a between the tangent and chord AB Reason:
Implies AOB = 2a
Tangent at point A Tangent at point A
B B

a a
A A
C 90o-a C

2a a

O O

Knowing length AO = R (radius of circular curve),

Length of chord AB = 𝟐 × 𝑹 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒂

CSE29357 Revision Handout – Circular Curve

 Do NOT read the solution without trying to work on it yourself!
Please consult Dr Siu if you have questions after going through the solution.

Question 3
A large advertisement board is situated next to the footpath of a horizontal curve. The radius of
curve is 125m. It is a two-lane single carriageway, each lane is 4.0m wide, there are footpaths of 1.8m
wide on both sides of the carriageway, and the advertisement board is right next to the footpath.
Determine the maximum allowable speed (rounded to multiples of 10 km/h) on this section of
carriageway according to design equations.

Given: Assume this is a level road, and coefficient of friction = 0.45.

Solution

Radius of circular curve, 𝑅 = 125𝑚

Radius of innermost lane, 𝑅𝑣 = 𝑅 − 4.0/2 = 123 m
𝑀𝑆 = 1.8 + 4.0/2 = 3.8 m
Determine sight distance that can be provided:

𝑆 = √8𝑅𝑣 𝑀𝑠 = √8 × 123 × 3.8 = 61.15 m

OR
𝜋𝑅𝑣 𝑅𝑣 − 𝑀𝑠 𝜋 × 123 123 − 3.8
𝑆= cos −1 ( )= cos −1 ( ) = 61.31 m
90 𝑅𝑣 90 123
(Again, either one can be taken as the answer)

𝑣2
𝑆 = 𝑣𝑡𝑟 +
2𝑓𝑔
𝑣2
61.15 = 𝑣 × 2.5 +
2 × 0.45 × 9.81
𝑣 = 14.6871 𝑚/𝑠 or 52.87 km/h

Thus, the maximum allowable speed should be 50km/h (Note the direction of rounding)

CSE29357 Revision Handout – Circular Curve

Question 4

A horizontal curve on a single 4-lane carriageway (two lanes in each direction with no median) has
a superelevation of 6% and a central angle of 40 degrees. The PT of the curve is at station 9 + 830 and
the PI is at 9 + 756. The road has 3.1m lanes and 2.8m shoulders on both sides with high retaining
walls going up immediately next to the shoulders. What is the highest safe design speed of this
curve (to multiples of 10 km/h), and what is the station of the PC? Your design should follow
TPDM.

Solution

Δ = 40𝑜 = 0.6981 radians

𝐿 = 𝑅Δ = 0.6981𝑅
Station of PC = Station of PT – L = (9 + 830) – 0.6981𝑅
Tangent distance, 𝑇 = station of PI – Station of PC = (9 + 756) – (9 + 830) + 0.6981𝑅 = 0.6981𝑅 − 74
Δ
𝑇 = 𝑅 tan
2
0.6981𝑅 − 74 = 0.3640𝑅
𝑅 = 221.45𝑚
Sub, 𝐿 = 𝑅Δ = 154.60𝑚
Thus, Station of PC = (9 + 830) – 154.60 = 9 + 675.39

2 design criteria : sight distance (related to 𝑀𝑠 ) and superelevation (related to minimum radius)

𝑀𝑠 = 3.1/2 + 2.8 = 4.35𝑚 (𝑀𝑠 is measured from the innermost lane)

𝑅𝑣 = 𝑅 − 3.1 − 3.1/2 = 221.45 = 216.8𝑚 ( 𝑅 is measured to the centerline of the roadway, 𝑅𝑣 is
measured to the centerline of the innermost lane)

Available sight distance

𝜋𝑅𝑣 𝑅𝑣 − 𝑀𝑠
𝑆 = √8𝑅𝑣 𝑀𝑠 = 88.86𝑚 𝑜𝑟 𝑆= cos −1 ( ) = 87.00𝑚
90 𝑅𝑣
Use either expression is fine, as the final answer for speed is practically the same.
According to TPDM Vol 2, Table 3.3.5.1,
- for design speed = 50km/h, the min desirable SSD is 70m,
- for design speed to 70km/h, the min desirable SSD is 90m.
Since this horizontal curve can only provide a SSD of 88.86m, the highest safe design speed for this
curve is 50km/h.

For superelevation e= 6%, the minimum curve radius is defined as

𝑉2
𝑒 = 45%
127𝑅𝑚𝑖𝑛
0.45𝑉 2
0.06 =
127(221.45)
𝑉 = 61.23 𝑘𝑚/ℎ, 𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝟔𝟎 𝒌𝒎/𝒉
TPDM Table 3.3.3.1 does not have 6% superelevation, thus we have to use the expression instead.

Comparing the max speed according to the two criteria above, the highest safe speed for this curve
should be 50 km/h.
The lowest values among 50 km/h and 60 km/h

CSE29357 Revision Handout – Circular Curve