HIGHWAY GEOMETRIC
DESIGN
Dr. L Durga Prashanth
RV College of Engineering Department of Civil
Bengaluru-560059 Engineering
Roads Design
• Geometric Design
• Pavement Design
• Materials Mix Design
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Geometric Design
• Dimensions and Layout of Visible Features.
• Optimum efficiency in traffic operations.
• Maximum safety
• Reasonable Cost
Considering Existing and anticipated traffic
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GEOMETRIC DESIGN DEALS
WITH….
• Cross sectional elements
• Sight distance considerations.
• Horizontal alignment.
• Vertical alignment.
• Intersection elements.
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DESIGN FACTORS
• Design speed
• Topography
• Traffic Factors
• Environmental Factors.
• Economical factors.
• Vehicle characteristics
• Human Characteristics.
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Design Speed
• Most Important factor controlling design elements.
• Factors considered
– Importance of road
– Terrain or Topography
• Rural Highways
– Ruling Design speed
– Minimum Design speed
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Design Speed in KMPH for Various Terrains
Plain Rolling Mountain Steep
Road
Classifi
cation 0 to 10% 10 – 25% 25-60% > 60%
Ruling Min Ruling Min Ruling Min Ruling Min
NH 100 80 80 65 50 40 40 30
&SH
MDR 80 65 65 50 40 30 30 20
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Terrain
Plain Rolling Mountain Steep
0 to 10% 10 – 25% 25-60% > 60%
Source: IRC 73:1980
Terrain Cross Slope
Plain 0 to 10% > 1 in 10
Rolling 10 – 25% 1 in 10 to 1 in 4
Mountainous 25-60% 1 in 4 to 1 in 1.67
Steep > 60% < 1 in 1.67
10/9/2020 Highway Geometric Design Source: IRC SP 20:20028
TYPICAL C/S OF ROAD
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Highway C/S Elements
• Pavement Surface Characteristics.
• Camber / Cross slope.
• Carriageway.
• Medians.
• Kerbs.
• Road Margins
• Roadway
• Right of Way
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Surface Characteristics
Friction/Skid resistance
• Determines operating speed
• Distance requirements in stopping & accelerating.
• SSD- 0.35 - 0.40
• Curve design – 0.15
• Friction surface is smooth and wet.
• with increase in temperature ,tyre pressure & load.
• New tyres more dependable (offer high friction values)
• Brake efficiency.
• Skid and Slip
Speed, Kmph 20-30 40 50 60 65 80 100
f 0.4 0.38 0.37 0.36 0.36 0.35 0.35
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HYDRO/AQUA PLANING
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Surface Characteristics
Pavement Unevenness
• Measured by unevenness index.
• Cumulative vertical undulations per unit length.
• For good pavement = 150cm/km
• Satisfactory for design speed of 100kmph= 250cm/km
• >320cm/km uncomfortable at speed of 50kmph.
• Bump Integrator, Rougho meter.
• Improper Compaction, unscientific construction practices,
inferior materials usage, improper construction machinery, poor
maintenance & localized failures.
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BUMP INTEGRATOR
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CROSS SLOPE/CAMBER
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CAMBER
• Cross slope in transverse direction.
• Prevent entry of water.
• Bituminous layer.
• Sub grade soil.
• Removal of rain water from surface.
• Depends on Type of surface and amount of rainfall.
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IMPROPER DESIGN OF
CAMBER
• Transverse tilt of vehicle.
• Discomfort - Overtaking
• Toppling.
• Formation of cross ruts.
• Tendency to travel along centre line.
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SHAPES
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RECOMMENDED VALUES
• Camber is Measured in 1 in n or n%.
Sl. Road Surface Heavy Rain Light Rain
No
1 Concrete/Thick Bituminous 2 % (1 in 50) 1.7% (1 in 60)
2 Thin Bituminous surface 2.5 % 2%
3 WBM and Gravel 3% 2.5 %
4 Earth 4% 3%
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CARRIAGEWAY
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• Portion for movement of vehicles.
• Number of lane.
• Width of lane.
• Min. lane width – 3.75m for single lane
road.
• 3.5m per lane for two lane road.
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WIDTH OF CARRIAGEWAY
Sl Class of Road Width of
No carriageway, m
1 Single Lane 3.75
2 Two lane without raised kerbs 7.0
3 Two lanes with raised kerbs 7.5
4 Intermediate carriageway 5.5
5 Multi lane pavements 3.5 per lane
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MEDIANS/ TRAFFIC
SEPARATORS
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MEDIANS/ TRAFFIC SEPARATORS
• Separation – physical, marking or area separator.
• Channelize traffic.
• Segregate slow traffic and protect pedestrians.
• Rural Highways – 5.0m to 3.0m
• Long Bridges – 1.2 to 1.5 m.
• Urban area – 1.2m - Pedestrian refuge
• Vehicles making right turn 4.0 to 7.5 m
• 9 to 12m - Protection of vehicles crossing at grade.
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KERBS
• Division between carriageway and footpath.
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TYPES
• Low or mountable -10 cm
• Semi barrier -15cm
• Barrier -20 cm
• Submerged – lateral stability.
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FUNCTIONS
• Road edge delineation.
• Drainage control.
• Right of way reduction.
• Delineation of pedestrian walkways.
• Reduction in maintenance operation.
• Assistance in road side development.
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ROAD MARGINS
• Shoulder.
• Driveway.
• Cycle track.
• Parking lane.
• Bus Bay.
• Lay bye.
• Frontage road.
Embankment Slope.
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SHOULDERS
• Undivided Carriageway – Both Sides.
• Divided Carriageway – Outer edge.
• Earthen Shoulders - sufficient stability.
• Paved Shoulders – High Traffic Flow.
• Rougher than c/w.
• Different color.
Minimum width Highway
•10/9/2020 (IRC) – 2.5 m
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FUNCTIONS
• Structural Stability.
• Increases capacity and operating speed.
• Serve as emergency lanes.
• Service lanes.
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FOOTPATHS
• Movement for Pedestrians.
• Reduced accidents.
• Increases operating speed of Vehicles.
• Absolute minimum width – 1.5m
• Desirable width – 2.0 m
• Smooth as c/w or smoother.
• Cross slope of 2.5 to 3.0%
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RIGHT OF WAY
S- Shoulder
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