Lecture 4 Transportation System and Design 2023-2024

LECTURE 4

TRAFFIC FUNDAMENTALS

Traffic Engineering:

Traffic Engineering is a branch of transportation engineering that deals with planning, geometric design,
and traffic operation of roads, streets, and highways, their networks, terminals, and relationships with
other modes of transportation.

Traffic Stream Components and their characteristic are based on Roadway network (Grid or ring) and
roadways (highways and street).

Baghdad grid-network map Erbil Ring-network map

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Lecture 4 Transportation System and Design 2023-2024

Functional Classification of Highways

1- Principle Arterial

• Free way, express way, other

• High design speed >120 km/hr

• Long distance

• Full control of access

• Design level of service B

2- Minor Arterial

• Moderate design speed ~ 100 km/hr

• Design level of service = B-C

3- Collector

• Design speed ~ 80km/hr

• Level of service C –D

4- Local

• Design speed ~ 20-40 km/hr

• Local street – urban area (area with population) > 5000 capita

• Local road - rural area (area with population) < 5000 capita

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Lecture 4 Transportation System and Design 2023-2024

Road User Characteristics

The four main components of highway mode of transportation are the driver, the pedestrian, the vehicle,
and the road. The bicycle is also becoming an important component in the design of urban highways and
street. To provide efficient and safe highway transportation, a knowledge of the characteristic and
limitation of each of these components is essential.

1) Driver Perception – reaction time:

Divided into four stages.

1- perception: drivers see a control device, warning signs or object in the road.

2- Identification: identifying the object or control device and thus understand the

stimulus.

3- Emotion: the driver decides what action to take in response to the stimuli, for

example break, swerve, and pass or changing lane.

4- Reaction or volition: the driver actually executes the action decided.

The time that elapse from the start of perception to the end of reaction is the total time

required for perception, identification, emotion, and volition referred to as (PIER) as perception – reaction
time.

PIER) Perception Reaction Time is an important factor in the determination of braking distances and the
length of the yellow phase at signalized intersections, the perception reaction time varied from 1 26 to
over 3 seconds, Recommendations made by the American Association of State Highway and
Transportation Officials (that 2 5 seconds for stopping sight distances).

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Lecture 4 Transportation System and Design 2023-2024

Example

A driver with perception/reaction time of 2 5 seconds is driving at 50 km/h when he observes an accident
has blocked the road How far would the vehicle travel, in meter, before being able to apply the brakes?

Pedestrian Characteristic:

Same Characteristics of driver, with addition of others which influence the

design and location of pedestrian control devices, such as

• Special pedestrian signals

• Safety zones and islands at intersections

• Elevated walkways

• Crosswalks

Significant differences have also been observed between male and female walking speeds.

Vehicle Characteristic:

Criteria for the geometric design of highways are partly based on the

1 Static characteristic include.

• weight and size of the vehicle

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Lecture 4 Transportation System and Design 2023-2024

• design standards for physical components of the road These include

• lane width,

• shoulder width,

• length and width of parking bays,

• and lengths of vertical curves

2 Kinematic characteristics involve the motion of the vehicle without considering the

forces that cause the motion

3 Dynamic characteristics involve the forces that cause the motion of the vehicle.

• Air resistance

• Grade resistance

• Rolling resistance

• Friction resistance

• Curve resistance*

Figure 3 Forces Acting on a Moving Vehicle

Dynamic Characteristics of the Vehicle

Inertia resistance (Fi): the force required by a vehicle to overcome the tendency to remain at rest or
remain in motion in straight line with a constant speed

Fi = m × a , where: m : vehicles mass (Kg) , a = vehicles acceleration (m/sec2)

* (Fi) be (+) positive where there is acceleration (+a)

*(Fi) be (-) negative where there is deceleration (-a)

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Lecture 4 Transportation System and Design 2023-2024

Air resistance (Fa): the force required by a vehicle to move air from a vehicles pathway as well as to
overcome the frictional effects of air with vehicle side top and under.

𝐹𝑎=0.5∗𝐶𝑑∗𝜌∗𝐴∗𝑉2

Where Cd is aerodynamic drag resistance, Cd = P.C typical value = 4

ρ = air density (kg/m3) = 0.0382 kg/m3, A = Frontal cross section area (m2)

Cd = 0.363 (P.C with closed windows)

Cd = 0.381 (P.C with open windows)

Cd = 0.5 0.8 (truck)

Grade resistance (Fg): the force required by a vehicle to overcome the component of gravitational force
acting on frictionless inclined surface (Wsinθ)

W= m.g

𝑭𝒈 = 𝑾𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽 = 𝒎.𝒈 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝜽

For most highway applications θ is small, so

sin Ɵ = tan Ɵ = G

∴𝑭𝒈=𝒎.𝒈∗𝑮𝟏𝟎𝟎

where g = 9.81 m/sec2, G = grade (slope) in percent

Rolling resistance (Fr): the force required by a vehicle to overcome the friction effects of moving parts
of vehicles as well as the friction between tire and pavement surface .

𝑴.𝒈 𝑽
𝐹𝑟 = 𝑚𝟏𝟎𝟎 ∗ (𝟏 + 𝟒𝟒.𝟕𝟑)

Where V = vehicles speed m/sec = V km/ hr × 0.278

Turning Radius (R): When a vehicle is moving around a circular curve, there is outward radial force
acting on the vehicle, usually referred to as the centrifugal force. Which may cause the vehicle to slide
outward or overturning.

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Lecture 4 Transportation System and Design 2023-2024

𝑾. 𝒂 𝑾 𝑽𝟐
𝑪𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒖𝒈𝒂𝒍 𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆 (𝑭𝒄) = 𝒎 ∗ 𝒂 = = ∗
𝒈 𝟗. 𝟖𝟏 𝑹

Where a = acceleration for curve motion

In order to balance the effect of the centripetal acceleration, the road is inclined toward the center of the
curve. The inclination of the roadway toward the center of the curve is known as SUPERELEVATION.

The minimum radius of a circular curve R for a vehicle traveling at V k/h can be determined by using with
respect to overturning force and stabilizing force in curve , using the following equation:

𝑽𝟐
𝑹𝒄 =
𝟏𝟐𝟕(𝒆 + 𝒇)

Where, V=vehicle speed (km/hr), Rc = radius of curve (m), f = coefficient of sliding frication (0.11- 0.17),
e = Superelevation rate (the inclination of the roadway toward the center of the curve (0.04 – 0.12).

Power Requirement: The engine generated power requirement to overcome the

opposing resistances.

𝑃= ∑ 𝐹∗𝑉

𝑅=∑ 𝐹=𝐹𝑖+𝐹𝑎+𝐹𝑔+𝐹𝑟+𝐹𝑐∗

Where R in (watts) power or (hp) horsepower

hp = 750 watts = 0.75 Kilo watts