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Highways Design: Horizontal curve

The presence of horizontal curve imparts centrifugal force which is reactive force acting outward on a vehicle negotiating it.

Horizontal curve

 

The presence of horizontal curve imparts centrifugal force which is reactive force acting outward on a vehicle negotiating it. Centrifugal force depends on speed and radius of the horizontal curve and is counteracted to a certain extent by transverse friction between the tyre and pavement surface. On a curved road, this force tends to cause the vehicle to overrun or to slide outward from the centre of road curvature. For proper design of the curve, an understanding of the forces acting on a vehicle taking a horizontal curve is necessary. Various forces acting on the vehicle are illustrated in the figure.

 

They are the centrifugal force (P) acting outward, weight of the vehicle (W) acting downward, and the reaction of the ground on the wheels (RA and RB ). The centrifugal force and the weight is assumed to be from the centre of gravity which is at h units above the ground. Let the wheel base be

assumed as b units. The centrifugal force P in kg=m2 is given by


where W is the weight of the vehicle in kg, v is the speed of the vehicle in m=sec, g is the acceleration due to gravity in m=sec2 and R is the radius of the curve in m.

 

The centrifugal force has two effects: A tendency to overturn the vehicle about the outer wheels and a tendency for transverse skidding. Taking moments of the forces with respect to the outer wheel

 

when the vehicle is just

 

The second tendency of the vehicle is for transverse skidding. i.e. When the centrifugal force P is greater than the maximum possible transverse skid resistance due to friction between the pavement surface and tyre. The transverse skid resistance (F) is given by:

 

where FA and FB is the fractional force at tyre A and B, RA and RB is the reaction at tyre A and B, f is the lateral coefficient of friction and W is the weight of the vehicle. This is counteracted by the centrifugal force (P), and equating:

 

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