SVC323 Module 02a Geometric Design

SVC 323 – Transportation Engineering University of Pretoria - Department of Civil
Engineering
SVC 323
Transportation Engineering
Module 02
Geometric Design
Prof. PJ (Hannes) Gräbe
Chair in Railway Engineering
Department of Civil Engineering
Overview
• Design Philosophy
• Design Elements
– Cross-section
– Alignments (Vertical and Horizontal)
– Superelevation
• Route determination
* For Roads: Use SANRAL Geometric Design Guidelines throughout as
reference
www.nra.co.za
Copyright reserved 1
Engineering
Geometric Design: Philosophy

• Operational Effectiveness
• Safety: Safety should be the prime
consideration!
Unacceptable to sacrifice safety for efficiency or
economy
• Reduce probability and consequences of
failure
• Maximize comfort
• Minimizing environmental impact
• Economic considerations
Design domain concept
Source: SANRAL
4
Engineering
Geometric Planning
• The principal factors influencing design

standards:
– Financial level
– Terrain
– Traffic volume
– Traffic composition
– Safety
– Functional class
– Environment
– Energy
– Stage construction*
Illustration: Geometric Design
Engineering
Principles of Alignment Design
Principles of Alignment Design

Plan view – horizontal alignment Which type of curve
should we use?
Circular curve
x
Profile view – vertical alignment
Parabolic curve 8
Engineering
Geometric Design
Geometric Design
Computerized geometric design using Shuttle Radar Topography

Mission Data (Heyns 2010)
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Engineering
Horizontal
Alignment
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Engineering
Horizontal Alignment
• Design Aspects
– Circular curves
– Superelevation/Cant
– Transition curves
– Widening of track
– Track and Platform clearances
• Basic Elements
– Tangents (bearing – direction/heading, length)
– Circular curves (radius or degree, deflection angle)
– Transitions (shape, length)
13
Design Aims
• As directional as possible, consistent with the
topography
• Avoid winding alignment: short curves and
tangents
• Seek highest possible value of design speed
• Curves should be sufficiently long to avoid
the appearance of a kink
• Avoid broken-back curves
• Reverse curves
• Compound curves
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Engineering
Circular Curve
 PI
T  R tan
2
 1 
E  R  1
 cos  / 2   PC PT
 
M  R1  cos 
 2

L R
180
5490
D
R
15
Rail terminology
• BTC = beginning of transition curve
• BCC = beginning of circular curve
• ECC = end of circular curve
• ETC = end of transition curve
For R<= 300 m, L = 60 m

For R> 300 m, L = 80m
BTC BCC
ECC
PC ETC
PT
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Engineering
Superelevation or Cant
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Example 1a
• A horizontal curve is designed with a
800 m radius. The curve has a tangent
length of 200 m and the PC is at
kilometre distance 24.300. Determine
the kilometre distance of the PT.
18
Engineering
Example 1b
• A horizontal curve is designed with a
650 m radius. The curve has a tangent
length of 180 m and the PI is at
kilometre distance 15.300. Determine
the kilometre distance of the PT.
19
Example 2
• What superelevation would be required
for the curve in Example 1a (Radius =
800m)? Use a design speed of 80 km/h
and allow for cant deficiency of 30%.
What is the TFR guideline? (Annexure 9,
Sheet 4)
21
Engineering
Example 3
• Use a maximum design cant of 100 mm
and determine the highest possible
design speed for a curve with a radius
of 500 m. Allow for 30% cant deficiency.
22
Example 4
• Design a horizontal curve if the degree of the
curve is 2.913 and the PC is at km 33.000. The
curve should be 500 m long. The maximum
cant is 80 mm and the highest possible
design speed should be calculated. Allow for
30% cant deficiency.
23
Engineering
Transition Curves
• Connects tangent
to circular curve
• Radius change
from infinite to
specific value along
the length
24
Example 5
• A horizontal curve on a track section with a
maximum speed of 60 km/h, has a radius of
400 m and a length of 200 m. Draw the
superelevation development diagram for the
curve using the shortest possible transition
curves to develop the cant. Cant deficiency =
30%. Rate of superelevation development
should be 1:500.
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Engineering
Vertical
Alignment
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Determining factors
• Safety
• Train handling
• Proper drainage
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Engineering
Recommended grades
Maximum grades:
Based on the operating characteristics of the design
vehicle on the railway/highway. Use maximum grades
sparingly.
Minimum grades:
Based on the drainage conditions of the
railway/highway. Zero-percent grades may be used
on pavement structures with adequate cross slopes
to laterally drain the surface water. The longitudinal
flow of surface water should always be facilitated.
28
Vertical curves types
A  G1  G2
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Engineering
Vertical Alignment
• Vertical curves
– Symmetric parabolic curves
• Rate of change of grade stays constant with
distance
– Minimum length of curve
• Small changes in grade: only for appearance
• Rapid change in grade causes discomfort to
driver
• Length of vertical curve for sight distance
requirements
30
Vertical geometry: Minimum length
31
Engineering
Principles of Vertical Curvature
• Parabolic curve: ‫ ݕ‬ൌ ܽ‫ ݔ‬ଶ ൅ ܾ‫ ݔ‬൅ ܿ

where
x = distance from the beginning of the
vertical curve (PVC)
y = road/railway elevation at distance x
a,b = coefficients of the parabolic curve
c = elevation of the PVC (where x = 0)
32
Principles of Vertical Curvature
• Parabolic curve: ‫ ݕ‬ൌ ܽ‫ ݔ‬ଶ ൅ ܾ‫ ݔ‬൅ ܿ

dy
– Slope:  2ax  b
dx
dy
– At the PVC, x = 0: b  g1
dx
d2y
– Rate of change of slope:  2a
dx2
d 2 y g 2  g1 g 2  g1
 a
dx 2 L 2L 33
Engineering
Offsets for equal-tangent vertical

curves
A 2
Y x Yf  ?
200 L
Ym  ?
A  G1  G2
K = Horizontal distance required to effect a 1% change
in the slope of the vertical curve
xhl = Distance from the PVC to the high/low point
34
Offsets for equal-tangent vertical

curves
x2 Y
A 2
Yf 
AL
Y x
200
200K 200 L
AL
Ym 
800
L
A  G1  G2 K xhl  K  G1
A
K = Horizontal distance required to effect a 1% change
in the slope of the vertical curve
xhl = Distance from the PVC to the high/low point
35
Engineering
Example 1
• A vertical curve has initial and final

grades of +3% and -4%, respectively,
and is 210m long. The PVC is at
elevation 100m and track distance 5km.
Calculate the track distance and
elevation of
a) the PVI and PVT and
b) the highest point on the curve.
36
Railway requirements
• In railway engineering, the magnitude of the slope is

expressed as a relationship, namely 1:n
• To obtain the slope, the following expression is used:
100
G
n
• The parameter K is used in road design, whereas r is
used in railways. The unit of r is m/20m/20m
4
K
r
37
Engineering
Example 2
• Two straight sections of track with slopes of
1:100 (downhill) and 1:60.2 (uphill) intersect
at a kilometre distance of 100.020 km and an
elevation of 30.500 m. The rate of change of
the slope should not exceed
0.04m/20m/20m. Calculate the elevation at
km 100.040 using the offset method
38
Example 3
• A vertical curve crosses a 1m diameter pipe at

right angles. The pipe is located at station 3 420m
and its centreline is at elevation 333m. The PVI of
the vertical curve is at station 3 400m and
elevation 335m. The vertical curve is equal
tangent, 180m long, and connects an initial grade
of 1.2% and a final grade of -1.08%.
1. Determine the position of the PVC

2. Using offsets, determine the depth, below the surface of the
curve, of the top of the pipe
3. Determine the station of the highest point on the curve.
40
Engineering
Example 3 - Answers
• A vertical curve crosses a 1m diameter pipe at

right angles. The pipe is located at station 3 420m
and its centreline is at elevation 333m. The PVI of
the vertical curve is at station 3 400m and
elevation 335m. The vertical curve is equal
tangent, 180m long, and connects an initial grade
of 1.2% and a final grade of -1.08%.
1. PVC = (3 310, 333.92) m

2. 0.97 m
3. Highest point = 3 404.73 km
41
Combined vertical curves

• Solving by using offsets – mostly
• Two possible design philosophies
– Two vertical curves are connected at a single point
– Two vertical curves separated by a constant grade
section
• Examples:
43
Engineering
Combined vertical curves

• Example
10m
1000m
44
Example 4
The new monorail planned for UP has to cross
Jan Shoba and clear a vertical height of 4m with
a sag and crest curve only on both sides of a
constant grade section above the road. The
available distance is 500 m for the two vertical
curves and rs = 0.04m/20m/20m.
Design the two curves and determine the

connecting gradient.
45
Engineering
Example 5
The new monorail planned for UP has to cross
Jan Shoba and clear a vertical height of 4m with
a sag and crest curve on both sides of a
constant grade section above the road with the
lowest possible connecting grade. The available
distance is 500 m for the vertical geometry and
rs = 0.04m/20m/20m and rc = 0.025m/20m/20m
Design the two curves and determine the

connecting gradient.
47
Earthworks
(Introduction to Transportation Engineering, Banks – Chapter 5)
51
Engineering
Typical cross section
52
Typical cross section

• Existing ground above the constructed section:
– Cut / Excavation
• Existing ground below the constructed section:
– Fill / Embankment
• Points at which cut or fill slopes intersect natural
ground:
– Catch points
• Points at which cut or fill
slopes intersect the
horizontal road surface:
– Hinge points
53
Engineering
Cross-sectional area calculation: 2D
54
Cross-sectional area calculation: 2D
*Area calculation using trapeziums (trapezoids) and
triangles
55
Engineering
Cross-sectional area calculation
- -




*Area calculation using trapeziums (trapezoids) and
triangles
56
Earthworks volumes: 3D
Calculating VOLUME from one area to another:
A2
A1 A1=0
A2
57
Engineering
Earthworks volumes
Calculating VOLUME from one area to another:
• Average end area method: A2

A1  A2
V  L A1
2
• Pyramid function:
AL
V 
3
58
Earthworks calculation: transition
59
Engineering
60
61
Engineering
62
63
Engineering
64
65
Engineering
66
67
Engineering
Mass haul diagram properties
CUT
FILL
Haul = Volume of material x average distance
68
Common pay items
• Excavation (excavate, haul, place)

• Free haul
• Borrow (import and place) – external source
• Overhaul (extra haul)
• Waste/Spoil (disposal of excess material)
• NB: Free haul distance
69
Engineering
Graphical calculation of overhaul
70
Most economical balance line: double loop
71
Engineering
Most economical balance line: triple loop
72
Limit of economic haul (LEH)
Free haul
Free haul
The distance for which the cost of hauling a unit

volume of material is equal to the cost of
borrowing it
73
Engineering
Example LEH Balance lines

or
Free Haul Balance lines
Spoil
74
Example
75
Engineering
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Engineering
THE END
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SVC323 Module 02a Geometric Design

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SVC 323 – Transportation Engineering University of Pretoria - Department of Civil

Geometric Design: Philosophy

Design domain concept

• The principal factors influencing design

Illustration: Geometric Design

Principles of Alignment Design

Principles of Alignment Design

Computerized geometric design using Shuttle Radar Topography

– Circular curves (radius or degree, deflection angle)

– Transitions (shape, length)

For R<= 300 m, L = 60 m

Vertical curves types

Vertical geometry: Minimum length

Principles of Vertical Curvature

• Parabolic curve: ‫ ݕ‬ൌ ܽ‫ ݔ‬ଶ ൅ ܾ‫ ݔ‬൅ ܿ

Principles of Vertical Curvature

• Parabolic curve: ‫ ݕ‬ൌ ܽ‫ ݔ‬ଶ ൅ ܾ‫ ݔ‬൅ ܿ

Offsets for equal-tangent vertical

Offsets for equal-tangent vertical

• A vertical curve has initial and final

• In railway engineering, the magnitude of the slope is

• A vertical curve crosses a 1m diameter pipe at

1. Determine the position of the PVC

• A vertical curve crosses a 1m diameter pipe at

1. PVC = (3 310, 333.92) m

Combined vertical curves

Combined vertical curves

Design the two curves and determine the

Design the two curves and determine the

Typical cross section

Typical cross section

Cross-sectional area calculation: 2D

Cross-sectional area calculation: 2D

Cross-sectional area calculation

• Average end area method: A2

Earthworks calculation: transition

Earthworks calculation: transition

Earthworks calculation: transition

Earthworks calculation: transition

Earthworks calculation: transition

Earthworks calculation: transition

Earthworks calculation: transition

Earthworks calculation: transition

Earthworks calculation: transition

Mass haul diagram properties

Common pay items

• Excavation (excavate, haul, place)

• NB: Free haul distance

Graphical calculation of overhaul

Most economical balance line: double loop

Most economical balance line: triple loop

Limit of economic haul (LEH)

The distance for which the cost of hauling a unit

Example LEH Balance lines

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