Route Surveying – Vertical Curves and Traffic

CE 12 – HIGHER SURVEYING
VERTICAL CURVES (PARABOLIC CURVES)

 Importance
 To provide a smooth transition between two vertical
tangent roads
 Design Considerations
 Speed Limit in Highways
 Minimize cut and fill

 Not exceed max grade

 Adequate Drainage
TYPES OF VERTICAL CURVES

 Symmetrical
 Curve is symmetric at the point of intersection of
tangent lines at the curve
 Unsymmetrical
 The horizontal distance from the beginning of
curvature to the intersection of tangents is not
equal to the horizontal distance from the end of
curvature to the intersection of tangents
TYPES OF SYMMETRIC VERTICAL CURVES

 Summit (crest) curve

 Sag curve
SUMMIT CURVE
SAG CURVE
ELEMENTS OF A VERTICAL CURVE

 Back and Forward Tangent

 PC or VPC (Vertical Point of Curvature) or BVC
(Beginning of Vertical Curve)
 PI or VPI (Vertical Point of Intersection)

 PT or VPT (Vertical Point of Tangency) or EVC

(End of Vertical Curve)
 High Point/Summit (for summit curve); Low
Point (for sag curve)
ELEMENTS OF A VERTICAL CURVE

 L (length of vertical curve)

 S1 (horizontal distance from VPC to summit or
low point)
 S2 (horizontal distance from VPT to summit or
low point)
 h1 (vertical distance from VPC to summit or low
point)
ELEMENTS OF A VERTICAL CURVE

 h2 (vertical distance from VPT to summit or low

point)
 g1 (grade of the first tangent from VPC to VPI,
exprssed in percent)
 g2 (grade of the first tangent from VPT to VPI,
exprssed in percent)
 A (change in grade from VPC to VPT)
ELEMENTS OF A VERTICAL CURVE

 a (vertical distance of VPC to VPI)

 b (vertical distance of VPT to VPI)

 H (the distance of VPI to the curve)

PROPERTIES OF A VERTICAL CURVE

 Length of parabolic curve L is the horizontal

distance between VPC and VPT
 VPI is midway between VPC and VPT

 The curve lies midway between VPI and the

midpoint of the chord from VPC to VPT
 The vertical distance between any two points
on the curve is equal to area under the grade
diagram. The vertical distance c = Area.
PARABOLA

 The general equation of a parabola is given by

y  ax 2  bx  c
 Solving for the first derivative of the curve gives
y '  2ax  b
Location of high/low point
g1
S2

S1 g2

Grade diagram
PARABOLA

 The slope of tangent line at VPC is the grade of

the first tangent 𝑔1
y ' (0)  g1  b
 The slope of tangent line at VPT is the grade of
the second tangent 𝑔2
y ' ( L)  2aL  b  g 2
2aL  g1  g 2
g 2  g1
a
2L
PARABOLA

 At VPC, the height of the curve is equal to the

elevation of VPC.
y (0)  ElevVPC
 Hence, we have derive for the general equation
of a vertical curve (applies both for summit and
sag curves) + for sag curve,
rx 2 - for summit curve
ElevPT . X  ElevVPC  g1 x 
2
Where:
g 2  g1 A 𝑟 is the change in grade per station
r  𝐴 is the change in grade
L L
PARABOLA

a
FORMULAS IN VERTICAL CURVES

 Location of summit/high point or low point in a

vertical curve expressed in decimal or percent

g1 g2
S1  L S2  L
g1  g 2 g1  g 2

Location of high/low point

g1
S2

S1 g2

Grade diagram
FORMULAS IN VERTICAL CURVES

 Vertical distance from VPC(VPT) to summit(low

point)
1 1
h1  g1S1 h2  g 2 S 2
2 2

 Given the elevation of VPC or VPT, the elevation

of the summit or low point is given by
ElevHP  ElevVPC  h1 ElevLP  ElevVPT  h1
ElevHP  ElevVPT  h2 ElevLP  ElevVPT  h2
FORMULAS IN VERTICAL CURVES

 Location of VPI wrt VPC and VPT

L L
xVPI  xVPC  xVPI  xVPT 
2 2

 Vertical distance of VPC or VPT wrt to VPI

L L
a  g1 b  g2
2 2
FORMULAS IN VERTICAL CURVES

 Vertical Distance of VPI to the curve

L
H  ( g1  g 2 )
8

 Squared Property of Parabola

y H
2

x (L / 2) 2
FORMULAS IN VERTICAL CURVES

 General equation of the vertical curves

rx 2
Elevx  ElevVPC  g1 x 
2
 Rate of change of grade (expressed in % per
station)
g 2  g1
r
L
SAMPLE PROBLEM 1
 A grade of -4.2% grade intersects a grade of
+3.0% at Station 11 + 488.00 of elevations
20.80 meters. These two center grade lines are
to be connected by a 260 meter vertical
parabolic curve. Determine the stationing of
the cross-drainage pipes. If the overall outside
dimensions of the reinforced concrete pipe to
be installed is 95 cm, and the crown is 30 cm
below the subgrade, what will be the invert
elevation at the center ?
SOLUTION
VPC STA 11+488
Elev 20.80 m

Low Point

g1 = -4.2% VPT
pipe
g2 = +3.0%
VPI

S1 d

130 m 130 m

*Stationing of drainage pipes are located at the lowest point of a sag curve
SOLUTION

 Locate the lowest point of the curve

g1
S1  L
g1  g 2
4.2
S1  (260)  151.67m
4.2  3.0
 Determine the distance d from the lowest point
of the curve to PVI
L
d  S1  Since S1>L/2
2
d  151.67  130  21.67 m
SOLUTION

 Calculate the stationing of the drainage pipes

STApipe  STAVPI  d
STApipe  11488  21.67

STApipe  11 509.67

Low Point

SOLUTION Invert
Crown
VPC pipe

Low Point
𝑔1 𝐿
a= VPT
2 g1 = -4.2%
pipe
g2 = +3.0%
VPI

d
151.67 m

130 m 130 m

151.67 m 0.03
0.042 A1

Area under the grade diagram is the vertical distance between two points.
SOLUTION

 Solve for the elevation of the lowest point.

Elevlow  ElevVPI  a  A1
 Solve for a
a  g1
L  260 
a  0.043   5.59m
2  2 
 Solve for 𝐴1
S1  151.67 
A1  g1 A1  0.043   3.261m
2  2 
SOLUTION

 Solve for the elevation of the lowest point.

Elevlow  ElevVPI  a  A1
Elevlow  20.80  5.59  3.261

Elevlow  23.129m
SOLUTION

 Solve for the elevation of the pipe invert

Elevinvert  Elevlow  d crown   pipe
Elevinvert  21.879  0.3  0.95

Elevinvert  21.879m
SAMPLE PROBLEM 2

 A descending grade of 6% and an ascending

grade of 2% intersect at Sta 12 + 200 km
whose elevation is at 14.375 m. The two
grades are to be connected by a parabolic
curve, 160 m long. Find the elevation of the
first quarter point on the curve.
SOLUTION
VPC STA 12+200
Elev 14.375 m

Low Point
Q
𝑔1 𝐿
a= VPT
2 g1 = -6%
g2 = +2%
VPI

40 m

80 m 80 m

120 m
80 m 0.02
0.06 A1 g
Q
SOLUTION

 Solve for the location of the lowest point

g1 6
S1  L S1  (160)  120m
g1  g 2 62

 Solve for the horizontal distance between the

lowest point and the quarter point
d  120  40  80m
SOLUTION

 Solve for the grade at point Q

gQ 0.06 g Q  0.04

80 120
 Find the elevation of VPC
ElevVPC  ElevVPI  a
1
ElevVPC  14.375  (0.06)(160)
2
ElevVPC  19.175m
SOLUTION

 Solve for the vertical distance between VPC to

the first quarter point.
DEVPC Q 
L/4
g1  g 2  A1 
40
0.06  0.04
2 2
DEVPC Q  2m

 Solve for the elevation of Point Q

ElevQ  ElevVPC  DEVPC Q
ElevQ  19.175  2
ElevQ  17.175m
SAMPLE PROBLEM 3

 The rate of change of the grade of a parabolic

summit curve is 0.5% per station. Determine
the length of curve, elevation of the summit,
the location of the summit and the vertical
distance from VPI to the curve if the grade of
ascending and descending tangents are 5%
and -2.5% respectively. The elevation of PVT is
20 m.
SOLUTION
VPI
Location of high point
g2 = -2.5%
g1 = 5%
h2
VPT
VPC Elev = 20 m

0.05
S2

h2
S1 0.025

L
SOLUTION

 Solve for the length of curve

g 2  g1 A
r 
L L

0.5%  2.5  5

station L

L  15stations

L  300m
SOLUTION

 Solve for the location of the summit (from the

grade diagram)
g1 g2

L  S2 S2
5 2.5

300  S 2 S 2

S 2  100m
S1  300  100  200m
SOLUTION

 Solve for the elevation of the summit.

Elevsummit  ElevVPT  h2

1
Elevsummit  20  (0.025)(100)
2

Elevsummit  21.25m
SOLUTION (ALTERNATIVE)

 Using the general equation of parabola,

rx 2
Elev x  ElevVPC  g1 x 
2
2
rL
ElevVPT  ElevVPC  g1 ( L) 
2
0.005(300) 2
20  ElevVPC  0.05(300) 
2(20)

ElevVPC  16.25m
SOLUTION (ALTERNATIVE)

 Find the elevation of the summit point (x = S1 =

200 m)
2
rS1
Elevsummit  ElevVPC  g1S1 
2
2
0.005(200)
Elevsummit  16.25  0.05(200) 
2(20)

Elevsummit  21.25m
SOLUTION

 Solve for the vertical distance from the curve to

PVI
L
H  ( g1  g 2 )
8
300
H (0.05  0.025)
8

H  2.813m
SAMPLE PROBLEM 4

 A grade line AB having a slope of +5% intersect

another grade line BC having a slope of –3% at
B. The elevations of points A, B and C are 95 m,
100 m and 97 m respectively. Determine the
elevation of the summit of the 100 m parabolic
vertical curve to connect the grade lines.
Assume the curve is located at the middle of
terrain AC.
SOLUTION
B Elev 100 m
Location of high point
g2 = -3%
g1 = 5%
h2
VPT
VPC C
Elev 97 m
A
Elev 95 m
0.05 h1 S2

S1 0.03

50 m 100 m 50 m
SOLUTION

 Get the horizontal distance from A to B and

from B to C
100  95 100  97
H AB   100m H BC   100m
0.05 0.03

 Locate the position of the summit

g1 5
S1  L S1  (100)
g1  g 2 53

S1  62.5m
SOLUTION

 Find the elevation of VPC

ElevVPC  Elev A  g1d AVPC
ElevVPC  95  0.05(50)
ElevVPC  97.5m
 Find the elevation of the summit
Elevsummit  ElevVPC  h1
1
Elevsummit  97.5  (0.05)(62.5)
2
Elevsummit  99.063m
CURVES AND TRAFFIC

 Stopping Sight Distance (SSD or S)

 It is the required distance for one vehicle traveling
at a given design speed to see an obstacle so that
he can stop in time.
 It affects the design of horizontal and vertical
curves.
CURVES AND TRAFFIC

 Sight Distances on a horizontal curve

Path of vehicle
L (theoretical S)

Line of sight M
obstruction

vehicle

R R

I
CURVES AND TRAFFIC

 M (the distance of the obstructing object to the

path of the vehicle or centerline of the inside
lane of the road)
 Not the middle ordinate of the curve
 R is the radius of the curve
 L is the length of the curve

 I is the central angle of the curve

CURVES AND TRAFFIC

 Formulas for horizontal curves:

 Case 1: L ≥ S
S2
M
8R
 Case 2: L < S
L(2 S  L)
M
8R
CURVES AND TRAFFIC

 Sight Distances on a vertical summit curve

Line of sight

h1
g2
g1 S

S is the sight distance

h1 is the height of the line of sight of the driver wrt
the ground
h2 is the height of the obstruction wrt the ground
CURVES AND TRAFFIC

 Formulas for summit curve A is the difference in grade

 Case 1: L>S expressed in decimal

AS 2
L

2 h1  h2 2

 Case 2: L<S
L  2S 

2 h1  h2 
2

If h1 and h2 are not given, set h1 = 1.14 m and h2 = 0.15 m

CURVES AND TRAFFIC

 Sight Distances on a vertical sag curve

Line of sight

h1
g2
g1 S

S is the sight distance

h1 is the height of the line of sight of the driver wrt
the ground
h2 is the height of the obstruction wrt the ground
CURVES AND TRAFFIC

 Formulas for sag curve A is the difference in grade

 Case 1: L>S expressed in decimal

AS 2
L
122  3.5S

 Case 2: L<S
122  3.5S
L  2S 
A
SAMPLE PROBLEM 5

 A proposed highway will traverse a rolling

terrain with a design speed of 80 kph. In one
section, an uphill tangent with a grade of 2%
meets a downhill tangent with the same grade.
Compute the length of the summit curve that
you have to design if a stopping sight distance
of 110 m is required to meet safety standards.
Use default values of h1 and h2.
SOLUTION

 From the problem, it can be said that the curve

is a summit curve.
 Assume L<S:
L  2S 

2 h1  h2 2

L  2(110) 

2 1.14  0.15 
2

(0.02  0.02)
L  114.31m  S  110m

∴ Assumption is incorrect!
SOLUTION

 From the problem, it can be said that the curve

is a summit curve.
 Assume L>S:
AS 2
L

2 h1  h2 2

(0.02  0.02)(110) 2
L

2 1.14  0.15 
2

L  114.15m  S  110m

∴ Assumption is correct!
SAMPLE PROBLEM 6
 A very long horizontal curve on a one-
directional racetrack has 1750-meter
centerline radius, two four-meter lanes, and a
200 km/hr design speed. Determine the
closest distance from the inside edge of the
track that bleachers can be placed without
impeding the necessary sight distance of the
drivers. At this speed, the safe stopping
distance must not be less than 664 m. The
length of the curve is 1000 m.
SOLUTION

 Bleachers are placed outside the road.

4m
M 4m

R = 1750 – 4/2 = 1748 m

1750 m
SOLUTION

 Use formula of Case 1 where L>S

2
S
M
8R
2
664
M
8(1748)

M  31.53m
SOLUTION

 Distance must be specified relative to the lanes

of the road

x  M  2  29.53m

∴ Place bleachers 29.53 m from the road’s inner edge.