Geometric Design of Roads

Prerequisite Knowledge

Basic knowledge of Geometry

Course Units

#	Title	Description	Hours
1	Introduction	Concept of horizontal, vertical and cross-sectional design, road functional classification.	1x4=4
2	Vehicle dynamics aspects, friction mechanisms, speed values	Forces applied on the vehicle (aerodynamic, tire - road contacting force, vehicle weight), tractive - braking forces, critical speed values, longitudinal and lateral friction.	1x4=4
3	Vehicle simulation in road design	Existing vehicle dynamics approach during the determination of control road geometric parameters, assumptions, determination of minimum horizontal radius - speed for skidding and roll-over, climbing lanes.	1x4=4
4	Horizontal design	Road horizontal design elements, tangent, transition curve – types, circular arc, control values, safety criteria (qualitative road assessment based on design consistency).	2x4=8
5	Vertical design	Road vertical design elements, longitudinal grades, crest – sag vertical curves, control values, road longitudinal profile.	1x4=4
6	Cross – sectional design	Crown-sloped and single-sloped pavements, pavement rotation, pavement edge-line grades, cross – sectional and pavement edge-line diagrams.	1x4=4
7	Horizontal – vertical clearance, cross sections	Dimensional definition of cross sections (horizontal – vertical clearance), road users, typical cross sections, cross sections elements, lateral configurations –road side equipment (in general), pavement widening - enlargements, road drainage issues - necessity to modify vertical profile, cross - sectional diagrams.	2x4=8
8	Visibility	Geometric sight distance (stopping, passing, decision, intersection), psychological sight distance (depth of the driving space, of which the driver supposes to have it completely registered), visibility diagrams.	1x4=4
9	Modern trends in road design	Road design in 3D, current concepts in road design (speed, cross - sections).	1x4=4
10	Road design stages	Feasibility study, preliminary design, pre-final design, detailed design, backgrounds - precisions.	1x4=4
11	Introduction to safety aspects during road design	Introduction to safety aspects during road design, project delivery.	1x4=4

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of the course, the students will be able to:

1. Perceive the design process and the degree of detail per stage of a road design project
2. Understand the limitations and commitments underlying the control values of critical geometric parameters
3. Apply basic principles and methods related to safe and operational road design
4. Assess combinations of critical design parameters regarding the quality of the design
5. Tackle common problems during road geometric design process

Teaching Methods

Teaching methods	Lectures in class. Resolving of simple examples and problems in class.
Teaching media	Notes, blackboard sketches, power point presentations.
Computer and software use	Students solve simple exercises utilizing mainly EXCEL and CAD software.
Problems - Applications	By subject (individual).
Assignments (projects, reports)	Series of independent exercises in the main subject areas of the theory, the synthesis of which is the design of a road section at pre-final stage.
Other	The course’s notes, the project, the exercises, the slides from the theory presentations, as well as related examples are uploaded on the mycourses.ntua.gr online platform.

Student Assessment

• Final written exam: 70%
• Assignments (projects, reports): 10%
• Problems - Applications: 10%
• Oral exam: 10%

Textbooks - Bibliography

1. American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets, Fifth Edition. Washington, DC., USA 2011
2. Ed.German Road and Transportation Research Association, Committee, Geometric Design Standards. Guidelines for the Design of Roads, (RAΑ), Germany 2008.
3. Ed.German Road and Transportation Research Association, Committee, Geometric Design Standards. Guidelines for the Design of Rural Roads, (RAL), Germany 2012.
4. Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, General Secretariat of Public works. Department of Road Design Guidelines for the Design of Road Projects, Part 1, Road Network Functional Classification (OMOE-X), Greece 2001.
5. Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, General Secretariat of Public works. Department of Road Design Guidelines for the Design of Road Projects, Part 2, Cross Sections (OMOE-X), Greece 2001.
6. Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, General Secretariat of Public works. Department of Road Design Guidelines for the Design of Road Projects, Part 3, Alignment (OMOE-X), Greece 2001.
7. Henning Natzchka, “Road Design and Construction”, 3rd Edition. Klidarithmos Publications, Athens 2014.
8. Hassan, Y., Easa, S. M. and Abd El Halim, A.O. Analytical Model for Sight Distance Analysis on Three-Dimensional Highway Alignments, Transportation Research Record, Vol. 1523, 1996.
9. Zimmermann, M. Increased Safety Resulting from Quantitative Evaluation of Sight Distances and Visibility Conditions of Two-Lane Rural Roads. Proceedings of the 3rd International Symposium on Highway Geometric Design, TRB, Chicago, USA 2005.
10. Dixon J.C., "Tires, Suspension and Handling". Second Edition. Society of Autimotive Engineers, Inc Warrendale, Pa., United Kingdom 1996.
11. Gillespie T.D. “Fundamentals of Vehicle Dynamics”. Society of Mining Metallurgy and Exploration Inc.1992.
12. Heisler H. "Advanced Vehicle Technology". Edward Arnold. A Division of Hobber & Stoughton, Germany 1993.
13. Jazar R.“Vehicle Dynamics, Theory and Application”. Third Edition. Springer International Publishing AG, 2017, Switzerland2017.

Lecture Time - Place:

• Friday, 09:45 – 13:30,
  Rooms:
  • Αμφ. 1/2