UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE
B.Sc. (Hons) Civil Engineering - Level III
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS AND STRUCTURES
APRIL 2010 Engin. CE 307
Answer any Four Questions Time allowed: 3 hours
Each question carries 25 marks
Start each question on a new page
This examination paper consists of 6 pages.
QUESTION 1
a) At a spot count of a highway lane, 250 vehicles were counted during a period of 15 minutes.
Out of these, 8% were trucks with adjustment factor to pcu ET = 2,0 and 6% buses with EB =
1,7. The design speed is 100km/hr. Assume a uniform flow and determine the following
traffic characteristics:
(i) The flow rate in veh/hr and in pcu/hr per lane.
(ii) The average density per lane in veh/km and pcu/km
(iii) The average time headway and space headway per lane in veh and pcu
(iv) The highest volume per lane counted in 5-minute period was 95 vehicles. Assume the
same traffic mix and calculate the 5-minute Peak Hour Factor.
(8 marks)
b) Discuss the concept of Level of Service, using Table Q1 which shows the LOS characteristics
of basic highway sections for 100km/hr design speed. Comment on the data included in the
table.
Determine the Level of Service of the specified above highway, given that the adjustment
factor for road width and lateral obstruction is fW = 0,98. The factor for heavy vehicles
depends on the traffic mix.
(10 marks)
c) How will the Level of Service change after 5 years period, if the annual growth of traffic in
vehicles is 3%, assuming that all other conditions remain the same? Comment and suggest
possible solutions, if necessary.
(7 marks)
Table Q1. Level of Service for basic highway sections for 100km/hr design speed
Density Operat. Speed v/c MSF*
LOS pcu/km/lane km/hr ratio pcu/hr/lane
A < 6- 8 - - -
B < 12 – 14 > 80 0,49 1 000
C < 18 – 20 > 75 0,69 1 400
D < 26 – 30 > 68 0,84 1 700
E < 40 – 42 > 48 1,00 2 000
F > 42 < 48 Highly Variable
MSF* is the Maximum Service Flow rate per lane under ideal conditions
Page 1 of 6
QUESTION 2
a) Explain the principle of sight triangle at a cross intersection between a major and a minor
street, which is controlled by “Stop” sign. Describe the traffic operations using a sketch.
Calculate the sight triangle at a cross intersection of a minor and major streets, which is
controlled by “Stop” sign. The minor street has in each direction one 3m wide lane. The
major street has two standard lanes in each direction. The traffic flows on both streets are of
passenger cars. The design speed is 60km/hr. The deceleration/acceleration is 3m/s2
Use the given data, make some reasonable assumptions and calculate the sight triangle.
(9 marks)
b) Explain the concept of channelisation. State the rules governing it and explain in more detail
five of these rules with relevant sketches.
(9 marks)
c) Where a “Passing Sight Distance” criterion is used, what special measures should be taken in
particular road situations? How the passing sight distance is to be determined on a level road?
Illustrate with a sketch.
(7 marks)
QUESTION 3
a) Classify intersections by their means of control. Give three examples, using sketches, with
geometric descriptions of intersecting streets/roads by layout, number of lanes per direction
and approximate figures of expected capacities (veh/hr or pcu/hr).
(8 marks)
b) State the factors which affect the capacity of intersections and give three examples to show
potential possibilities of increasing the capacity.
(10 marks)
c) At simple intersections without sign control, the drivers on minor streets usually accept gaps
of 6 seconds in the major traffic flows in order to cross the major streets.
What is the probability of gaps equal to or larger than 6 seconds in a major traffic flow of
720pcu/hr at a speed limit of 60km/hr, which would allow drivers to cross the major street?
Assume a uniform flow to determine the expected average time and space headway.
(7 marks)
QUESTION 4
a) Discuss the following issues of vertical alignment of roads:
(i) Grades according to the design speed and the terrain
(ii) Critical lengths of grades
(iii) Types of vertical curves
(iv) Length of vertical curves
(v) Safe Stopping Sight Distances and lengths of curves
(10 marks)
Page 2 of 6
b) Design a sag vertical curve of equal tangents in the following conditions:
- The grades are m = -0,91% and n = +0,72%
- The chainage at the lowest point of intersection Q is 1104m
- The reduced level at the BVC is 1202,45
- The design speed is V=100km/h
- The length of the curve should be determined according to the TRRL method where
L = (A.V2)/1300.c with a vertical acceleration c = 0,6.
Set out the reduced levels of the curve using a general chainage of 40m.
(15 marks)
QUESTION 5
a) Discuss the following issues of horizontal alignment of roads:
(i) General principles of horizontal alignment
(ii) The basic types of horizontal curves and their use in road design
(iii) The relationship between minimum radii, design speeds and types of curves
(iv) Phasing of vertical and horizontal alignment
(10 marks)
b) Design a horizontal curve in the following conditions:
(i) Design speed 80km/h
(ii) Radius of the circular curve 300m (No need of transition)
(iii) The deflection angle is ∆ = 210
(iv) Chainage at IP is 400m
Set out the data for the curve using the method of deflection angles and a general chord length of
40m.
(15 marks)
QUESTION 6
A new highway will be built and an axle load survey was carried out on a similar road. The obtained
results are given in Table 1-Q6. In the area suitable materials for road construction are available, as
given in Table 2-Q6. The CBR of the subgrade is 5%.
Table 1-Q6. Load survey
Axle load No of passes/day
(kg) (each direction)
5 440 30
6 350 50
7 260 50
8 160 40
9 070 30
9 980 20
10 890 20
Table 2-Q6. Available materials
Material CBR Texas Triaxial Class
Gravel material 20 3,6
Moderately hard rock 80 2,6
Hard crush rock 100 2,4
Page 3 of 6
a) Calculate the design load of the new highway in equivalent standard axles, using the load in
Table 1-Q6. The design life is 10 years and the annual traffic growth rate is 5%. Determine
the type of pavement using the attached Table 3 – Q6 Pavement Design Charts.
(6 marks)
b) Design the pavement of the new highway according to the Zimbabwe method using the
Pavement Design Charts. Suggest a use of local materials as given in Table 2-Q6 and
relevant treatments in construction.
(8 marks)
c) Propose a suitable road surfacing considering the load and state its advantages.
(3 marks)
d) Assume that the subgrade of the future highway is of expansive soils. Design the pavement for
these conditions. Suggest a use of local materials from Table 2-Q6 and suitable treatments in
construction.
(8 marks)
Page 4 of 6
Table 3 -Q6. PAVEMENT DESIGN CHARTS
(A) Design Chart 0.1M (for traffic not exceeding 0.1 million E80 axles)
Soil Type Base 1 Base 2 Selected subgrade Roadbed and
(class 3.0) (class 3.6) (SG5) subgrade preparation
SG15 150 0 0 T5
SG9
SG5 120 120 0 T5
120 120 150 T3
SG3 150 150 0 T3
120 120 150 T1
SG1 150 150 0 T1
120 120 150 TE or TE(S)
SGE 150 150 0 TE or TE(S)
Class 3.6S may be used as base 2 where base 1 is 150mm thick.
(B) Design Chart 0.3M (for traffic not exceeding 0.3 million E80 axles)
Soil Type Base 1 Base 2 Selected subgrade Roadbed and
(class 2.8) (class 3.3) (SG9) subgrade preparation
SG15 150 0 0 T15
SG9 120 120 0 T5
SG5 150 150 0 T5
120 120 150 T3
SG3 120 120 150 T1
SG1 120 120 150 T1
SGE 120 120 150 TE
Class 3.6S material may be used as base 2 where base 1 is 150mm thick.
(C) Design chart 1M (for traffic not exceeding 1.0 million E80 axles)
Soil Type Base 1 Base 2 Base 3 Selected subgrade Roadbed and
(class2.6) (class 3.3) (class 3.6) (SG9) subgrade
preparation
SG15 150 120 0 0 T5
SG9 150 150 0 0 T3
SG5 150 150 150 0 T3
SG3 150 120 120 150 T3
SG1 150 150 120 150 T1
SGE 150 120 120 150 TE
Class SG9 may be used as base 3, buy must be treated at TD compaction.
Page 5 of 6
(D) Design chart 3M (for traffic not exceeding 3.0 million E80 axles)*
Soil Type Base 1 Base 2 Base 3 Selected subgrade Roadbed and
(class 2.4) (class 2.6) (class3.6) (SG5) Subgrade
Preparation
SG15 150 150 0 0 T15
SG9 150 150 150 0 T5
SG5 150 150 150 150 T5
SG3 150 150 150 150 T3
SG1 150 150 150 150 T1
SGE 150 150 150 150 TE
* The design may be strengthened with premix for Higher Traffic Counts.
+SG9 may be used as base 3, but must be so treated at TE compaction.
END OF THIS EXAMINATION
Page 6 of 6
