Fundamentals of Transportation/Horizontal Curves/Additional Problems

Additional Questions

 * 1) Name 4 types of horizontal curves.
 * 2) When are the non-simple types most used? Why are reverse curves so bad? → Special applications, including mountains, restricted right-of-way, or anywhere that a simple curve cannot be feasibly used.
 * 3) How is weather accounted for (e.g. ice) → superelevation (e)
 * 4) Explain m?  When would m and M be equal? Are the equations for “m” used in determining the placement of buildings or billboards on existing roadways?  → Used as a justification to keep stuff off the side of the road.  May be used in roadway construction to avoid unmovable objects, or when placing objects to avoid unmovable road.
 * 5) When should you design speed for curves rather than the curve for speed? → If it is new construction, design the radius to serve the desired speed.  If you are setting speed limits, set the speed based on the existing curve.
 * 6) When the angle increases, does the tangent length increase or decrease
 * 7) Write the constraints on the calculation of horizontal curves
 * 8) What are the characteristics of horizontal curves
 * 9) Draw a simple horizontal curve and its components.
 * 10) Can one add T to the PI station to get the station of the PC?  (No)
 * 11) How common is a horizontal curve on a vertical curve? → Depends on where you are, very common in mountainous areas.  Not especially uncommon.
 * 12) Are most horizontal curves designed using circles? → (In US, almost uniformly yes. It is also easier for driver, who just needs to set the steering wheel, constant readjustment is not required )
 * 13) In English Units what does station 10+25 mean? It indicates the station is 1025 feet from 0+00.
 * 14) On concrete roads there are grooves  perpendicular to the direction of traffic to increase stopping road friction.  Do these grooves (rumblestrips) reduce side friction?
 * 15) What is maximum superelevation when a road is really icy? → superelevation cannot change seasonally (it would be too expensive to jack up the road).  So Max $$e$$ is annual.
 * 16) Why are side friction factors for urban and rural roads different? What are different factors in rural vs. urban areas?
 * 17) Why is Radius of curvature important when building roads?
 * 18) What are some of the highest values of e and $$f_s$$ around the country?
 * 19) Why do the standards (maximums/minimums) for e and $$f_s$$ change with location?
 * 20) Label all of the forces acting on a vehicle traveling up a hill (and around a corner)
 * 21) What is curve resistance? What affects is? Why does it matter?
 * 22) What are the main variables used in curvature problems, superelevation?
 * 23) Why do engineers bank curves?
 * 24) What is centrifugal force?
 * 25) Why would an engineer want to increase or decrease the radius of curvature?
 * 26) What does superelevation represent
 * 27) What shapes do horizontal and vertical curves have.  Why is this helpful for the driver
 * 28) If you want to decrease $$R$$, what strategies do you have?
 * 29) Is side friction the same as static friction? What does it mean?
 * 30) When the max value of $$e$$ is given, can a smaller number be used in the final answer → yes
 * 31) What is superelevation? How is it affected by centrifugal force?
 * 32) How does $$f_s$$ affect design speeds

/Additional Problems