VERTICAL CURVES

MD MUNIR HAYET KHAN

VERTICAL ALIGNMENT
The vertical alignment of a transportation facility
consists of tangent grades (straight line in the
vertical plane) , vertical curves. Vertical
alignment is documented by the profile.
The profile is a graph that has elevation as its
vertical axis and distance, measured in stations
along the centerline or other horizontal reference
line of the facility, as its horizontal axis.

TANGENT GRADES
Tangent grades are designated according to their
slopes or grades.

The effect of a steep grade is to slow down the

heavier vehicles and increase operating costs.

VERTICAL CURVES
Vertical tangents with different grades are
joined by vertical curves.
PC
PT

Symmetrical Vertical Curve

VERTICAL CURVES CONT

Vertical curves are normally parabolas centered about the
point of intersection (P.I.) of the vertical tangents they join.
Vertical curves are thus of the form

y = c + bx + ax2
2
where

y = elevation of a point on the curve

yo = elevation of the beginning of the vertical curve (PC)
g1 = grade just prior to the curve
x = horizontal distance from the PC to the point on the curve
r = rate of change of grade

VERTICAL CURVES CONT

The rate of change of grade, in turn, is given by

where g2 is the grade just beyond the end of the vertical

curve (PT) and L is the length of the curve.
Vertical curves are classified as sags where g2 > g1 and
crests otherwise. Note that r (and hence the term rx2 /2)
will be positive for sags and negative for crests.
If grades are in percent, horizontal distance must be in
stations
If grades are dimensionless ratios, horizontal distances
must be in meters.

VERTICAL CURVES CONT

The grade of any point in the vertical curve is a linear
function of the distance from the PC to the point. That is,

or

g = b + ax

Properties of Vertical Curves

G1

BVC

EVC

G2

PI

Example:
G1 = -1%
G2 = +2%
Elevation of PI = 125.00 m
Station of EVC = 25+00
Station of PI = 24+00

Length of curve?
L/2 = 2500 m - 2400 m = 100 m
Sta. BVC = Sta. PI - L/2
Sta. BVC = [24+00] - 100 m
Sta. BVC = 23+00
L = 200 m

Properties of Vertical Curves

G1

BVC

EVC
PI

Example:
G1 = -1%
G2 = +2%
Elevation of PI = 125.00 m
Station of EVC = 25+00
Station of PI = 24+00

r - value?
r = (g2 - g1)/L
r = (0.02 - [-0.01])/200 m
r = 0.00015 / meter

G2

Properties of Vertical Curves

G1

BVC

EVC
PI

Example:
G1 = -1%
G2 = +2%
Elevation of PI = 125.00 m
Station of EVC = 25+00
Station of PI = 24+00

Station of low point?

x = -(g1/r)
x = -([-0.01] / [0.00015/m])
x = 66.67 m
Station = [23+00] + 67.67 m
Station 23+67

G2

Properties of Vertical Curves

G1

BVC

EVC

G2

PI

Example:
G1 = -1%
G2 = +2%
Elevation of PI = 125.00 m
Station of EVC = 25+00
Station of PI = 24+00

Elevation at low point?

y = y0 + g1x + 1/2 rx2
y0 = Elev. BVC
Elev. BVC = Elev. PI - g1L/2
Elev. BVC = 125 m - [-0.01][100 m]
Elev. BVC = 126 m

Properties of Vertical Curves

G1

BVC

EVC

G2

PI

Example:
G1 = -1%
G2 = +2%
Elevation of PI = 125.00 m
Station of EVC = 25+00
Station of PI = 24+00

Elevation at low point?

y = y0 + g1x + 1/2 rx2
y = 126 m + [-0.01][66.67 m] +
1/2 [0.00015/m][66.67 m]2
y = 125.67 m

Properties of Vertical Curves

G1

BVC

EVC

G2

PI

Example:
G1 = -1%
G2 = +2%
Elevation of PI = 125.00 m
Station of EVC = 25+00
Station of PI = 24+00

Elevation at station 23+50?

y = 126 m + [-0.01][50 m] +
1/2 [0.00015/m][50 m]2
y = 125.69 m
Elevation at station 24+50?
y = 126 m + [-0.01][150 m] +
1/2 [0.00015/m][150 m]2
y = 126.19 m

STOPPING SIGHT DISTANCE DIAGRAM FOR CREST VERTICAL

CURVE.

STOPPING SIGHT DISTANCE DIAGRAM FOR SAG VERTICAL CURVE.

Profiles:
Curve a: Crest Vertical Curve

(concave downward)

Curve b: Sag Vertical Curve

(concave upward)

Tangents: Constant Grade (Slope)

Equal-Tangent Vertical Parabolic

Curve:

Terms:
BVC: Beginning of Vertical Curve

aka PVC

V: Vertex

aka PVI

EVC: End of Vertical Curve

aka PVT

g1: percent grade of back tangent

g2: percent grade of forward tangent
L: curve length (horizontal distance) in feet or stations
x: horizontal distance from any point on the curve to the BVC
r: rate of change of grade

Equations:
r = (g2 g1)/L
where:

g2 & g1 - in percent (%)

L in stations
and
Y = YBVC + g1x + (r/2)x2
where:
YBVC elevation of the BVC in feet

Example: Equal-Tangent Vertical

Curve
Given the information shown below, compute and tabulate
the curve for stakeout at full 100 stations.

Solution:
L = STAEVC STABVC
L = 4970 4370 = 600

or 6 full stations

r = (g2 g1) / L
r = (-2.4 3) / 6
r = -0.90
r/2 = -0.45 % per station
STABVC = STAVertex L / 2 = 4670 600/2 = STABVC= STA 43 + 70
STAEVC = STAVertex + L / 2 = 4670 + 600/2 = STAEVC= STA 49 + 70

ElevBVC = Elevvertex g1 (L/2) = 853.48 3.00 (3) = 844.48

ElevEVC = Elevvertex g2 (L/2) = 853.48 2.40 (3) = 846.28

Solution:
(continued)
r/2 = -0.45 % per station

Elevx = ElevBVC + g1x + (r/2)x2

Elev 44 + 00 = 844.48 + 3.00(0.30) 0.45(0.30)2 = 845.34
Elev 45 + 00 = 844.48 + 3.00(1.30) 0.45(1.30)2 = 847.62
Elev 46 + 00 = 844.48 + 3.00(2.30) 0.45(2.30)2 = 849.00
etc.
Elev 49 + 00 = 844.48 + 3.00(5.30) 0.45(5.30)2 = 847.74
Elev 49 + 70 = 844.48 + 3.00(6.00) 0.45(6.00)2 = 846.28 (CHECKS)

Solution:
(continued)

Station
43 + 70 BVC
44 + 00
45 + 00
46 + 00
47 + 00
48 + 00
49 + 00
49 + 70 EVC

x
Curve
(stations) g1x r/2 x2 Elevation
0.0 0.00 0.00
844.48
0.3
.90 -0.04
845.34
1.3 3.90 -0.76
847.62
2.3 6.90 -2.38
849.00
3.3 9.90 -4.90
849.48
4.3 12.90 -8.32
849.06
5.3 15.90 -2.64
847.74
6.0 18.00 -6.20
846.28

High and Low Points on Vertical

Curves
Sag Curves:
Low Point defines location of catch basin for drainage.

Crest Curves:
High Point defines limits of drainage area for roadways.

Also used to determine or set elevations based on minimum clearance

requirements.

Equation for High or Low Point on a

Vertical Curve:
y = yBVC + g1x + (r/2)x2
Set dy/dx = 0 and solve for x to locate turning point
0 = 0 + g1 + r x

Substitute (g2 g1) / L for r

-g1 = x (g2 g1) / L

-g1 L = x (g2 g1)

x = (-g1 L) / (g2 g1)
or
x = (g1 L) / (g1 g2) = g1/r

x distance from BVC to HP or LP

Example: High Point on a Crest Vertical

Curve
From previous example:
g1 = + 3 %, g2 = - 2.4%, L = 600 = 6 full stations, r/2 = - 0.45,
ElevBVC = 844.48

x = (g1 L) / (g1 g2)

x = (3)(6) / (3 + 2.4) = 3.3333 stations or 333.33

HP STA = BVC STA + x

HP STA = 4370 + 333.33 = HP STA 47 + 03.33
ELEVHP = 844.48 + 3.00(3.3333) 0.45(3.3333)2 = 849.48
Check table to see if the computed elevation is reasonable!