INFLUENCE OF VEHICLE PARAMETERS ON HORIZONTAL CURVE DESIGN OF RURAL HIGHWAYS

The influence of several vehicle parameters (i.e., vehicle weight, position of gravity center and type of wheel drive) was investigated for their impact on the curve design of rural highways; their impact has appeared to be significant for some combinations of horizontal curve radius, grade and speed when the vehicle motion in the driving mode has been examined. The investigation was based on a total of 52 different passenger car models; 3 representative two-axle truck models; and one tractor semi-trailer. The results, compared with the corresponding values for curve design accepted by the AASHTO-90 Design Policy (USA) and the RAS-L-95 guidelines (Germany) revealed that practically in most cases a cornering complying to the comfort or safety levels accepted by them is warranted, when the operating speed (85th percentile speed) coincides with the design speed and the positive grade is low. However, in other cases, considerable deficiencies were discovered especially in high design speed levels and/or high positive grades.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/circulars/ec003/toc.pdf
• 
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00978515
• Supplemental Notes:
  • The proceedings have been edited by the Texas Transportation Institute, Texas A&M University System, College Station, Texas. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Psarianos, B
  • Kontaratos, M
  • Katsios, D
• Conference:
  • International Symposium on Highway Geometric Design Practices
  • Location: Boston, Massachusetts
  • Date: 1995-8-30 to 1995-9-1
• Publication Date: 1998-1

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 22:1-10
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Circular
  • Issue Number: E-C003
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0097-8515

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: 85th percentile speed; Automobiles; Center of gravity; Curvature; Design speed; Highway curves; Highway design; Highway grades; Operating speed; Rural highways; Tractor trailer combinations; Trucks; Vehicle drive systems; Vehicle weight
• Uncontrolled Terms: Horizontal curvature
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Motor Carriers; Planning and Forecasting; I21: Planning of Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00794679
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: E-C003
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Jun 12 2000 12:00AM