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Vertical Alignment Problems

The document discusses the design of vertical summit and valley curves for highways, detailing calculations for stopping sight distance (SSD) and overtaking sight distance (OSD) based on various gradients and design speeds. It provides solutions for multiple questions, including the required lengths of curves under specific conditions, with a maximum limit of 500 m for some cases. The final design lengths for summit and valley curves are determined to ensure safety and comfort for drivers at a speed of 80 km/h.

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17 views

Vertical Alignment Problems

The document discusses the design of vertical summit and valley curves for highways, detailing calculations for stopping sight distance (SSD) and overtaking sight distance (OSD) based on various gradients and design speeds. It provides solutions for multiple questions, including the required lengths of curves under specific conditions, with a maximum limit of 500 m for some cases. The final design lengths for summit and valley curves are determined to ensure safety and comfort for drivers at a speed of 80 km/h.

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Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Vertical Alignment

Problems
Justo Khanna Book
Question 21:
A vertical summit curve is formed at intersection of two
gradients, +3.0 and -5.0 % . Design the length of summit curve
to provide stopping sight distance for a design speed of 80 kmph.

Solution:
(i)
As there is ascending gradient on one side of summit and descending gradient
on the other side, the effect of gradients on the SSD is assumed to get
compensated and hence ignored in calculations.
Assuming t = 2.5s and f = 0.35 for V = 80 kmph
ii) Deviation angle, N= 0.03 - (- 0.05) = 0.08
Assuming L>SSD
L
Therefore length of summit curve = 298 m
This value is higher than minimum specified length of 50 m at 80 kmph speed
Question 22:
An ascending gradient if 1 in 100 meets the a descending gradient
of 1 in 120. A summit curve is to be designed for a speed of 80
kmph so as to have an overtaking sight distance of 470 m

Solution
n1 = +1/100 ; n2 = -1/120
N= n1 – n2 = 0.01833
If L > OSD
Length of summit curve,
L
As this value is less than OSD of 470 m, Assume L less than OSD.
Length of summit curve,
L
This value is less than 440 m.
Therefore length of summit curve = 417 m
Question 23:
A vertical summit curve is to be designed when two grades, +1/50
and -1/80meet on a highway. The stopping sight distance and
overtaking sight distance required are 180 and 640 m respectively.
But due to site conditions the length of vertical curve has to
restricted to a maximum value of 500 m if possible. Calculate the
length of summit curve needed to fulfil the requirements of (a)
Stopping sight distance (b) overtaking sight distance or at least
intermediate sight distance and discuss the results

Solution:
N
(a) Requirements for stopping sight distance
SSD = 180 m
L (considering L is greater than S)
As this length is greater than SSD the assumption is correct.
The length of summit curve required is 240m which is less than the maximum
prescribed limit of 500m.
(b) Requirement of overtaking sight distance
OSD = 400 m
Assume L > OSD
L=
The length of summit curve required obtained is higher than the sight distance,
length required is 1387m.
As suggested in the problem if the length of the summit curve is restricted to a
value less than 500m, it is not possible to provide OSD of 640 m.
Therefore to provide limited opportunities for overtaking, intermediate sight
distance equal to twice SSD = 180 2 = 360 m may be provided.
L > SD
L=
As this value is greater than the SD of 360 m, assumption is correct. It is
possible to provide ISD of 439 m to allow limited overtaking operations and
length of summit curve im this case is less than maximum available length of
500 m
Question 24:
A valley curve is formed by a descending grade of 1 in 25 meeting
an ascending grade of 1 in 30. Design length of valley curve to fulfil
both comfort condition and head light sight distance requirements
for design speed of 80 kmph. Assume allowable rate of centrifugal
acceleration C = 0.6 cu.m./sec

Solution:
N = (absolute value)
V = 80 kmph , v = 80/3.6 = 22.2 m/s
(i) Comfort condition
L
(ii) Headlight sight distance
Neglecting the ascending and descending gradient at the valley curve and
assuming t = 2.5 secs and f = 0.35,
SSD
If L > SSD,
L
As this value is higher than the SSD of 127.3m , the assumption is correct.
The valley curve length based on headlight sight distance being higher than
that based on comfort condition, the design length of valley curve is 199.5 or
say 200 m.

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