University of Duhok Final Exams – 1st Attempt

College of Engineering Course Name: Highway Engineering

Civil Engineering Department Course Code: EC3104
3rd year Date: 4 / 2 / 2018
1st Semester Time allowed: 3 Hours

Answers
Q1/ A sag vertical curve is to be placed through a drainage pit on a highway. This curve is placed
between two tangents having a falling grade of -4% and rising grade of +5%. Elevation of a point on
the tangent at station 3000m is 200m on the -4% side. The side entry pit is to be located at station
3419 metres, which is the lowest point. The curve length is 200m. Using offset method; calculate the
elevations along the curve at 30 metre stations, and the elevation at the side entry pit.
(20 marks)
L= 200m
Solution:

P
Elev=200m
St =3000m Y
St,lp =3419m
BVC
200m EVC
200m
g1=-4% 200m
g2=5%
200m
200m
A
PVI
200
A= g2- g1 = 0.05 – (-0.04) =0.09 200m
At low point: XLP = -g1L/A = -(-0.04)*200/0.09 = 89m
St. BVC = 3419 – 89 = 3330 m
Elev. on tangent = Elev. BVC + g1 X
Elev BVC = Elev P – Y = 200 – (0.04*330) = 186.8 m
Elev. Lp on tangent = Elev. BVC + g1 Xlp = 186.8 + (-0.04*89) = 183.24m
Elev. lp on curve = Elevation on tangent + Offset (h) = 183.24 + (0.000225* 892 ) = 185.02 m
LA 200 * 0.09
e  Mid Ordinate    2.25m
8 8
4 e x 2 4 * (2.25) x 2
h  Offset  2  2
 0.000225 x 2
L (200)
Station X X2 h g1.X Elev. on Elev. on Diff.1 Diff.2
(m) tangent (m) curve (m)
3330 BVC 0 0 0 0 186.8 186.8 0.9975 0.405
3360 30 900 0.2025 -1.2 185.8 186 0.5925 0.405
3390 60 3600 0.81 -2.4 184.4 185.21 0.1875 0.405
3420 90 8100 1.8225 -3.6 183.2 185.023 -0.2175 0.405
3450 120 14400 3.24 -4.8 182 185.24 -0.6225 0.405
3480 150 22500 5.0625 -6 180.8 185.86 -1.0275 -0.1175
3510 180 32400 7.29 -7.2 179.6 186.89 -0.91
3530 EVC 200 40000 9 -8 178.8 187.8

1
Q2/

A circular horizontal curve was designed with 70 km/hr designed speed, 6% superelevation, 8m
pavement width, 2% normal cross-fall, and 0.25 side friction. During construction it was found
that it is necessary to reduce the curve radius by 22% of its designed value. For this new curve
radius, find the following:

1) The maximum speed on the new curve?

2) The curve length when the length of tangent is 53m?
3) The necessary widening when considering wheel base= 6.1m.

Solution: R  V2 (70) 2
R  124.5m
127 (e  f ) 127 (0.06  0.25)

Rnew = R- (0.22 *R) = 124.5 – (0.22* 124.5) = 97m

V2
1) 97  V= 62 km/hr
127 (0.06  0.25)

2) T = R tan (∆/2) 53= 97 * tan (∆/2) ∆= 570

 L 57 L
 
360 2R 360 2 * 3.14 * 97.11 L = 96.5m

3) W= Wm + Wps
n l2 V 2 (6.1) 2 62
W     0.384  0.74  1.046m
2 R 9.5 R 2 * 97 9.5 97
(15 marks)

Q3/ A circular curve of 300m radius deflects through an angle (∆) of 67.4o and touches a tangent line at
station 8576.60 m (PC). The curve is to be shifted as shown in figure below, maintaining the same radius,
to admit a transition curve 60 m along at each end with operating speed = 80 km/hr

PC PT
a) Calculate the station of the new points (TS, SC, CS and ST)
Ls 60
Central angle of the spiral in radian=    0.1 rad  5.73
2 R 2 * 300
Central angle of the circular curve= 67.4o - 2 α = 67.4-2* 5.73 = 55° 56´ 24”
 L

Length of the circular curve : 360 2R
L = 55° 56´ 24”* 300 * π*2 / 360 = 292.75m
Shift, S = Lsp2/24R = 602/24*300 = 0.5m
Composite curve T1 =Lsp/2+ [(R+S) tan ∆/2]=(60/2)+[(300+0.5)*(tan 67.4/2)] = 230.4m
Circular curve T2 = R tan ∆/2 = 300 tan (67.4/2) = 200.1m
St.TS = St. IP – T(composite)
St. IP = St. PC + (T circular curve) = 8576.6+200.1= 8776.7m
St. TS = St. IP - (T composite curve) = 8776.7-230.4 = 8546.3m
St. SC= station TS + Lsp = 8546.3+60 = 8606.3m
St. CS= station SC+ L circ = 8606.3+ 292.75 = 8899.05m
St. ST = station CS+ Lsp = 8899.05+60 = 8959.05m

b) Set out the circular curve after shifting at every 30m points, using deflection angle (δ) from the
tangent and chord length method.
station Arc length, Central angle Central Tangential angle Chord
m angle/2 length, m
8606 SC
8630 24 4° 35´ 10” 2° 17´ 35” 2° 17´ 35” 24
8660 30 5° 43´ 57” 2° 51´ 58.5” 5° 09´ 33.5” 30
8690 30 5° 43´ 57” 2° 51´ 58.5” 8° 01´ 32.3” 30
8720 30 5° 43´ 57” 2° 51´ 58.5” 10° 53´ 30.8” 30
8750 30 5° 43´ 57” 2° 51´ 58.5” 13° 45´ 29.3” 30
8780 30 5° 43´ 57” 2° 51´ 58.5” 16° 37´ 27.8” 30
8810 30 5° 43´ 57” 2° 51´ 58.5” 19° 29´ 26.3” 30
8840 30 5° 43´ 57” 2° 51´ 58.5” 22° 21´ 24.8” 30
8870 30 5° 43´ 57” 2° 51´ 58.5” 25° 13´ 23.3” 30
8899 29 5° 32´ 29” 2° 46´ 14.5” 27° 59´ 37.8” 29
293 55° 59´ 15” 27° 59´ 37.5”
 L
 Lc = 2R Sin (D/2)
360 2R
c) State the advantages of using this transition curve at each end of the circular curve
Advantages for providing spiral curves:
1) For the gradual introduction centrifugal force.
2) To introduce superelevation gradually.
3) To introduce extra widening gradually.
4) To provide comfort for the driver that is to enable smooth vehicle operation on road.
5) To enhanced the appearance of the highway.

(25 marks)
Q4/

A 400m long equal tangent crest vertical curve connects tangents that intersect at station
340+00 and elevation 360m. The initial grade is +4% and the final grade is -2.5%. Determine
the safe speed to be adopted on this curve when f= 0.45 and t= 2.5sec. Then by using the rate
of grade change method, find the station and elevation of the high point, BVC, and EVC.
Solution St=340+00
Elev=360m PVI
A
A = - 2.5 - 4 = - 6.5% g2 = -2.5%
A.S 2
Assume L>S, then L  g1= 4%
404
L = 400m
400= (6.5*S2)/ 404
S= 157.68 < L=400m OK, i.e. match assumption
V*t V 2
,
SSD  
3.6 254 (f  g)
157.68 = [(2.5*V)/3.6]+[V2/254*(0.45+0.04)]
V = 103.4 km/hr
Elev. BVC = Elev. PVI - g1*X
Elev. BVC = 360 - 0.04*200 =352 m
r =A/L = (-0.025 – 0.04) / 400 = - 0.065/ 400 = -0.0001625
Elev.p = Elev. BVC + g1.x + (r/2) X2
Elev. EVC = 352 + 0.04*400 + (-0.0001625/2)* 4002= 355m
Distance of highest point (Xhp) from BVC: X (hp)   g1   g1 L   g1L
r A g2 - g1
Xhp = -0.04/ (-0.0001625) = 246.15 m
Elev.hp = Elev. BVC + g1. Xhp + r/2 Xhp 2
= 352 + 0.04* 246.15 + (((-0.0001625)/ 2)* 246.15 2 = 356.92 m
Station of BVC = 34000 – 200 = 338+00
Station of EVC = 34000 + 200 = 342+00
Station of highest point = 33800 + 246 = 340+46

(15 marks)

Q5/

a) Define the following terms: Interchange, Mass-haul diagram, Catch drain

Interchange: is a road section that typically uses grade separation, and one or more ramps, to
permit traffic on at least one highway to pass through the section without directly crossing any
other traffic stream. The rates of accidents are reduced because conflicts between intersecting
streams are eliminated.
 Mass-haul diagram: is a continuous curve from the beginning to the end of construction
distance showing the relation between accumulated corrected volumes of earthwork and
distance in order to optimize the cost of grading and earthwork.

Catch drain (Ditch): is a small to moderate depression created to channel water. A ditch can be
used for drainage, to drain water from low-lying areas, alongside roadways or fields, or to
channel water from a more distant source for plant irrigation.

b) State the reasons for using the following in highway geometric design:
1) Parabolic curve in designing highway vertical curve.
Because it has a constant rate of change of slope = constant vertical acceleration, i.e. it
enables a comfortable transition from one grade to another.

2) Channelization in road intersection.

Because it is use as the separation of conflicting traffic movements into definite paths of
travel by using island or pavement marking

3) Spiral as the ideal transition horizontal curve.

 It satisfies that rate of change of centrifugal acceleration is constant. (Provides a
natural path for vehicles moving).
 The calculation and field implementation of spiral curve are simple and easy.
 It enhances aesthetics also.

c) Draw the profile and cross sections of superelevation development when the pavement is
rotated with respect to the outer edge.
Profile

(25 marks)