CE 303 Transportation Engineering

Highway Engineering
Lecture 15 - Vertical Curves
15.1

Vertical alignment

Where two road gradients meet it is necessary to smooth out the change of gradient. A simple parabola is
generally used to connect two gradients because of its simplicity and constant change of gradient. Since
late the cubic parabola is also in use which has the advantage of a uniform rate of increase of centrifugal
force and low filling required.
The properties required of the curves are:
a) Good riding qualities
i.e. Constant change of gradient and a uniform rate of increase of centrifugal force.
b) Adequate sighting (Safe Sighting Distance)
Note: Gradients are normally expressed as 1 in x.
i.e. 1 vertical to x horizontal, but they may also be given as percentages.
1
100%
x
1
1 in 5 = 100% 20%
5

e.g. 1 in x =

Sign Convention,
Gradients rising Left to Right are +ve. Gradients falling Left to Right are -ve.
15.2 Summit and valley curves
There are two general forms of vertical curves:
i.
Convex (or Summit) curves.
ii.
Concave (sag or valley) curves.

Summit Curves ( p>q )

Valley Curves ( p<q )
Fig. 15.1 Sagging and summit vertical curves
Fig. 15.1 shows how summit and valley curves are identified.
1

15.3

Properties of simple parabola

y ax 2 bx c

dy
2ax b
dx

At the maximum or minimum

2ax + b = 0

x -

b
(for max or min)
2a

d2y
2a This shows a constant rate of change of
dx 2
gradient.
Also note:
a) For a valley curve a is +ve
b) For a summit curve a is -ve
The difference in elevation between a vertical curve
and a tangent to it is equal to half the rate of change
of the gradient times the square of the horizontal
distance from the point of tangency. i.e. ax2

Fig. 15.2

dy
dy
2ax b (grade of the tangent) when x 0 ,
b and
dx
dx

Then QR = bx

y a. 0 b . 0 c 0

and RS = c

y ax 2 bx c = PQ + QR + RS

PQ = ax2

The horizontal lengths of any two tangents from

a point to a vertical curve are equal.
PB = ax12 = ax22 = AA1 = CC1 = PP
x1 = x2
Note:
(i) AC is a chord, A1PC1 is tangent parallel
to AC. ACC1A1 is a parallelogram
(ii) In vertical curves only horizontal lengths
and vertical heights are used.

Fig. 15.3
15.4

Properties of the Vertical Curves

y ax 2 bx C

dy
2ax b Where
dx

x=0,y=C
C=c

dy p

dx 100
q-p
Also note a
2L

Fig. 15.4

will be shown later.

Fig. 15.5
y ax 2 bx c (Equation of simple parabola)

dy
2ax b
dx

d2y
2a
dx 2

From Geometry
y ' y dy
2ax b
x dx
y ax 2 bx c

dy
p
dx
0 0 0 c , and c 0

When x 0 , y 0 ,
and 2a x 0 b p

When x L ,

y' ax 2 (

b p

dy
q
dx

Sign convention
yis +ve curve above tangent
-ve curve below tangent

2a L p q

qp 2
)x
2L

qp
2L

c=0

if T1 is origin

Substituting for a,
y(

q-p 2
)x px
2L

15.4.1 Maximum or Minimum height on the curve

dy
2ax b
dx

At max or min point

2ax b 0

and

d2y
2a
dx 2

b
2a

i.e. at max. or min.

p
pL
pL

qp
(p q)
(q p)
2(
)
2L
x max or min

pL
pL

(p q)
(q p)

Example 1: An existing road of rising gradient 1 in 40 meets a falling gradient of 1 in 50, at a chainage
364.370 m and level 50.360 m above MSL. The gradients are to be connected by a simple parabolic curve
length 100 m. Calculate
(a) The rate of change of gradient
(b) The chainage and levels of the tangent points
(c) The chainage and level of maximum height on the curve
3

(d)

Fig. 15.6
1
0.025
40
1
0.020
(b) q
50

(a) p

d2y
2a
dx 2

(or +2.5%)
(or +2.0%)
and

a (

Rate of change of gradient

q-p
)
2L
d 2 y 2 - 0.020 - 0.025

2 100
dx 2

d2y
4.5 10 4
dx 2

-ve indicates the gradient is decreasing.

(c) Assumption, T1T2
Chainage of T1

= length of curve is 100m

= horizontal projection of curve.
= Chainage I

L
2

= 364.370-50.000
= 314.370 m
Chainage of T2

= Chainage I +

L
2

= 364.370+50.000
= 414.370 m
Level of T1

= Level of I p

L
2

= 50.360-(0.025 x 100/2)
= 49.110 m
Level of T2

= Level of I q

L
2

= 50.360-(0.020 x 100/2)
= 49.360 m
(d) Chainage of maximum height
pL

= Chainage of T1 + p q
4

= 314.370 +

0.025 100
0.025 - - 0.020

= 369.926 m
At P (point of maximum elevation), x = 369.926-314.370 = 55.556 m
Level of

= Level of T1 + ax 2 bx
q-p
) 55.556 2 p 55.556
2L
- 0.045
) 55.556 2 0.025 55.556
= 49.110 + (
2 100

= 49.110 + (

= 49.805 m

Example 2: A -2% grade is being joined to a -4% grade by means of a parabolic curve of length 1000m.
Calculate the vertical offset at the point of intersection of the tangents.

Fig. 15.7
The vertical offset y at any point x along the curve is given by
q-p 2
)x
2L
L
q p L2 q p
e

L
When x
, y' e
2
2L
4
8
(q p)L
0.04 (0.02) 1000
e

8
8
e 2.5 m
y' (

Example 3: Calculate the setting out data by 25 m intervals of a 300 m summit curve when two gradients
+2% and -1.6% meet. The reduced level of the beginning of the curve is 27.94 m and the chainage of the
intersection of gradients is 326.730 m.

Fig. 15.8