TUTORIAL – SHEET – 2
Topics Covered: Basics of Highway and Geometric Design
Q1 An alert driver (with a reaction time of 0.5 s) is driving downhill on a 4% grade at
a speed of 15.65 m/s on dry pavement, when suddenly a person steps from behind
a parked car in the path of the driver, at a distance of 38.1 m ahead.
a) Can the driver stop in time with emergency braking assuming a deceleration
rate of 4.51 m/s²?
b) Can the driver stop in time on a rainy day with comfortable braking
assuming a deceleration rate of 3.41 m/s²?
Q2 The speeds of overtaking and overtaken vehicles are 80 km/h and 50 km/h,
respectively, on a two-way traffic road. The average acceleration during overtaking
may be assumed as 1.20 m/s².
(a) Calculate the safe overtaking sight distance.
(b) What is the minimum length of overtaking zone?
(c) Draw a neat sketch of the overtaking zone and show the positions of the sign
posts.
Q3 A descending gradient of 1 in 48 meets another descending gradient of 1 in 18 on a
two-lane SH to be designed for a speed of 65kmph. Considering the average P-R
time of drivers as 2.5 sec, effective skid resistance of the pavement = 0.35 and safe
overtaking sight distance of 340m, design the length of vertical curve if the
maximum possible length of the curve is 350 m. Draw a neat sketch of the curve.
Q4 A two-lane rural highway passing through a rolling terrain has a horizontal curve of
radius equal to ruling minimum radium. Design all geometric features, considering
design speed of 50 mile/hr. Assume that the pavement is rotated about the centre
line at a rate of 1 in 150. Specify the minimum set back distance from the centre
line of the highway on the inner side of the curve up to which the obstruction should
not be constructed so that the intermediate sight distance is available throughout the
circular curve. Assume the length of the curve greater than the sight distance. Draw
neat sketch also showing all geometric features.
Q5 During fixing alignment of a highway passing through a habitateted area in plain
terrain, the maximum radius of horizontal curve can be 325m. The design speed of
the highway which is 2 lane dual carriageway is 80 kmph. From the traffic survey,
it is found that the average length of the wheel base is 7.5m.
Design (i) super elevation (ii) extra widening (iii) length of transition curve.
Consider recommendations of IRC while designing the curve geometrics. Draw the
neat sketch of the curve including transition curve. Also show the cross sections at
the beginning and end of transition curve showing introduction of super elevation.
Q6 Calculate the values of ruling minimum radius and absolute minimum radius of a
horizontal curve on a National Highway in plain terrain.
Assume:
• Ruling design speed =120 km/h
• Minimum design speed Vmin=100 km/h
• Maximum superelevation e=0.07
• Coefficient of lateral friction f=0.15
Q7 A hill road is to be aligned on a ruling up-gradient of 6.0%. At one location a
horizontal circular curve of radius R=60 m is required.
Determine:
1. the grade compensation to be provided at the curve, and
2. the compensated gradient to be adopted on the curve, as per IRC
recommendations.
Q8 Two straight highway tangents intersect at point ‘I’ with an intersection angle
Δ=54∘30′. A simple circular curve with radius R=250 m is to be provided.
Find:
1. Tangent length TTT (from PI to PC/PT)
2. Length of curve LLL (arc)
3. External distance EEE
4. Long chord LCLCLC
5. If the chainage of I (PI) is 12+345 m, find the chainages of PC and PT.
Q9 A valley curve is formed by a descending grade of 1 in 30 meeting an ascending
grade of 1 in 40. Design the length of the valley curve to fulfil both comfort
condition and headlight sight distance requirements for a design speed of 100 km/h.
Assume allowable rate of change of centrifugal acceleration C=0.7 m/sec3.
Q 10 A two-lane National Highway is to be designed for a speed of 80 km/h. The
horizontal curve provided has a radius of 300 m. Each lane has a standard width of
3.5 m. The length of the wheel base of a vehicle may be assumed as 6.5 m, and the
lateral clearance between vehicles as 0.53 m. Calculate the total widening needed
on the curve.