Transition Curves

T h e
U n i v e r s i t y
o f
S o u t h e r n
Q u e e n s l a n d
www.usq.edu.au
Horizontal Alignment Transition Curves
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S o u tt h e rr n S o u h e n
Q u e e n s la n d Q u e e n s a n d
Purpose of Transition Curves

Provides path for vehicle to move from straight to a circular curve Improved appearance of curve to driver Allows introduction of superelevation and pavement widening
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Characteristics of Transition Curve
Should have constant rate of change of radius of curvature Transition should be equal to zero at start of straight and equal to radius of curvature at circular curve Allows passengers to adjust to change in rate of curvature
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Types of Transition Curves

Clothoid the one that we will examine in more detail, most commonly used Lemniscate used for large deflection angles on high speed roads Cubic Parabola unsuitable for large deflection angles
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Geometry of Clothoid
K = Lp.R Lp = Length of Plan Transition R = radius of circular curve K = constant If l is the length along the transition, the coordinates at any point can be represented by x = l l5/40(RLp)2 - y = l3/6RLp l7/336(RLp)3 + x and y are measured along the tangent and at right angles from the tangent respectively.
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Geometry of Clothoid
To accommodate the transition curve the circular curve is normally shifted inwards towards the centre of the curve. The shift can be calculated by: Shift = S =Lp2/24R where Lp is the length of plan transition ie TS to SC If S <0.25m then the transition is usually ignored or not required
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Shift of Curve for Transition
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Terminology
TS Tangent to Spiral SC Spiral to Curve CS Curve to Spiral ST Spiral to Tangent
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Tangent Length
When a transition curve is used the Tangent Length becomes: Tangent Length = (R +S) tan (I/2) And The distance from the IP to the TS (start of transition) = (R +S) tan (I/2) + Lp/2 The circular arc length from SC CS is reduced by Lp . This gives: Arc = R*I - Lp
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Transition Length (Lp)

The length of plan transition (Lp) is determined by the rate of change of radial acceleration, and rate of change of rotation of pavement
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Radial Acceleration Method

Lp = V3/46.73Ra Where Lp = length of plan transition V = design speed (km/hr) R = radius of circular curve a = radial acceleration Radial acceleration will vary with design speed and design authority. Typical values for a lie between (0.6 -0.3 m/sec3) for V from 40-140km/hr respectively
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Transition Length and Superelevation Development Length

Rate of Rotation of Pavement Method However, most calculations for plan transition are done in conjunction with the superelevation development length (Le). This usually relies on design speed and rate of rotation of pavement. Lp = Le 0.4V Where Le = (e1-e2).V/0.09 for rotations of 2.5%/sec this is most common, where e1 = 0 ie level Or Le = (e1-e2).V/0.126 for rotation rates of 3.5%/sec
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Transition Length and Superelevation Development Length
Transition Length From level crossfall to full superelevation
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Tables
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Example Calculations
You have been asked to design a proposed minimum horizontal curve on a rural road which has an
intersection angle of 35o, the chainage at the IP being 2507.56. The maximum crossfall for the curve is to be
5% and design speed of 100 km/hr. Compute TS, SC, CS and ST
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Firstly Compute R
Rmin = V2/127 (emax + fmax) For desirable minimum use desirable maximum for side friction So Rmin = 1002/127 (0.05max + 0.12max) = 10000/ (127*0.17) = 463.177m Round up to 470m
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Next Compute Lp
Lp = V3/46.73Ra by radial acceleration method Lp = 1003/46.73*470*0.45 = 101.2m OR Lp = (e1-e2).V/0.09 by rate of rotation = (0.00-0.05)* 100/0.09 = 0.05 *100/0.09 = 55.5m Use second figure of 55.5m as this is the technique normally used
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Compute Shift to See if Transition Required

The shift can be calculated by: Shift = S =Lp2/24R Shift = 55.52 /24*470 S = 0.273 therefore transition required
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Activity
At what radius (R) would a transition NOT be required?
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Solution
Shift = S =Lp2/24R So R = Lp2/24S = 55.52/24*0.25 =513.38m or larger
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Compute Tangent Length

Tangent Length Then The distance from the IP to the TS (start of transition) = (R +S) tan (I/2) + Lp/2 = 148.277 +55.5/2 = 176.027m Length of circular curve = arc = R*I (in radians) - Lp = (470* 35*pi/180) 55.5 = 287.107 55.5 = 231.607m = (R +S) tan (I/2) = (470+0.273) tan (35/2) = 148.277m
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Compute Chainages
Chainage of TS = IP Chainage (IP to TS) = 2507.56 176.027 = 2331.533 = TS + Lp = 2331.533 + 55.5 = 2387.033 = SC + Arc = 2387.033 + 231.607 = 2618.64 = CS + Lp = 2618.64 + 55.5 = 2674.14
Chainage of SC
Chainage of CS
Chainage of ST

Transition Curves

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Transition Curves

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T h e

Horizontal Alignment Transition Curves

Purpose of Transition Curves

Characteristics of Transition Curve

Types of Transition Curves

Shift of Curve for Transition

TS Tangent to Spiral SC Spiral to Curve CS Curve to Spiral ST Spiral to Tangent

Transition Length (Lp)

Radial Acceleration Method

Transition Length and Superelevation Development Length

Transition Length and Superelevation Development Length

Transition Length From level crossfall to full superelevation

5% and design speed of 100 km/hr. Compute TS, SC, CS and ST

Compute Shift to See if Transition Required

Compute Tangent Length

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