Evaluation of 3d Coordination to Maximize Available Stopping Sight Distance in Two-Lane Rural Highways

Authors

  • Ana Tsui Moreno Highway Engineering Research Group, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera, s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain
  • Vicente Ferrer Highway Engineering Research Group, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera, s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain
  • Alfredo Garcia Highway Engineering Research Group, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera, s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3846/bjrbe.2014.12

Keywords:

alignment, alignment coordination, 3D sight distance, stopping sight distance, available stopping sight distance, cross section design

Abstract

Sight distance is one of the most important factors of road safety since it allows the driver perceiving, at real time, road characteristics and its surroundings. A misperception of this crucial information could induce a decision to drive with a manoeuvre with less margin of safety. A finite element based software application was developed in Matlab to calculate the sight distance profile at vertical crest curves overlapped with horizontal curves. It was observed that the layout visibility gets principally lost where the superelevation changes its sign; thus, the vertical curve midpoint does not present the highest available sight distance, contrary to the bidimensional analysis. Later, available stopping sight distance was maximized considering different geometric parameters combinations. Stopping sight distance depended mainly on the ratio between the vertical crest curve parameter and horizontal radius, rather than the vertical crest curve parameter. Moreover, values of vertical crest curve parameter lower than the minimal values established in the Spanish design guidelines satisfied the required stopping distance. The offset between horizontal and vertical vertices slightly affects the results; however, the effect of the approach grade is important even if algebraic difference of vertical grades is kept fixed.

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Published

27.06.2014

How to Cite

Moreno, A. T., Ferrer, V., & Garcia, A. (2014). Evaluation of 3d Coordination to Maximize Available Stopping Sight Distance in Two-Lane Rural Highways. The Baltic Journal of Road and Bridge Engineering, 9(2), 94-100. https://doi.org/10.3846/bjrbe.2014.12