BALATON, KATHLEEN JADE G.

CE 313: Highway and Railroad Engineering

BSCE 3A
VERTICAL CURVES
A vertical curve provides a transition between two sloped
roadways, allowing a vehicle to negotiate the elevation rate
change at a gradual rate rather than a sharp cut. The design of
the curve is dependent on the intended design speed for the
roadway, as well as other factors including drainage, slope, vertical distance = area under the grade diagram
acceptable rate of change, and friction. These curves are
parabolic and are assigned stationing based on a horizontal axis.
Key Elements: Other Formulas

• PC = point of curvature, also known

as BVC (beginning of vertical curve)
• PT = point of tangency, also known as EVC (end of Rate of Change for Summit Curve:
𝑔1 − 𝑔2
vertical curve) 𝑛=
𝑟
• PI = point of intersection of the tangents, also
called PVI (point of vertical intersection)
Rate of Change for Sag Curve:
• L = length of parabolic curve, it is the projection of the 𝑔2 − 𝑔1
𝑛=
curve onto a horizontal surface which corresponds to 𝑟
the plan distance. Problem Sets
Problem 1: A grade of -4.2% grade intersects a grade of +3.0%
• S1 = horizontal distance from PC to the highest (lowest)
at Station 11 + 488.00 of elevations 20.80 meters. These two
point of the summit (sag) curve
center grade lines are to be connected by a 260-meter vertical
• S2 = horizontal distance from PT to the highest (lowest)
parabolic curve.
point of the summit (sag) curve
1. At what station is the cross-drainage pipes be situated?
• h1 = vertical distance between PC and the highest
2. If the overall outside dimensions of the reinforced
(lowest) point of the summit (sag) curve
concrete pipe to be installed is 95 cm, and the top of the
• h2 = vertical distance between PT and the highest
culvert is 30 cm below the subgrade, what will be the
(lowest) point of the summit (sag) curve
invert elevation at the center?
• g1 = grade (in percent) of back tangent (tangent
Problem 2: A descending grade of 6% and an ascending grade
through PC)
of 2% intersect at Sta 12 + 200 km whose elevation is at 14.375
• g2 = grade (in percent) of forward tangent (tangent
m. The two grades are to be connected by a parabolic curve,
through PT)
160 m long. Find the elevation of the first quarter point on the
SYMMETRIC PARABOLIC CURVES
curve.
A symmetrical parabolic curve is a single vertical parabolic
Problem 3: A grade line AB having a slope of +5% intersect
curve used to connect two adjacent grades in a roadway.
another grade line BC having a slope of –3% at B. The
• It does not necessarily imply symmetry at the midpoint but
elevations of points A, B and C are 95 m, 100 m and 97 m
is characterized by a smooth transition due to its constant
respectively. Determine the elevation of the summit of the 100
second derivative.
m parabolic vertical curve to connect the grade lines.
• This type of curve is essential for providing gradual
Problem 4: A highway engineer must stake a symmetrical
changes in elevation, enhancing safety and comfort for
vertical curve where an entering grade of +0.80% meets an
vehicles.
existing grade of -0.40% at station 10 + 100 which has an
Formulas:
elevation of 140.36 m. If the maximum allowable change in
The figure shown above illustrates the following geometric
grade per 20 m station is -0.20%, what is the length of the
properties of parabolic curve. Note that the principles and
vertical curve?
formulas can be applied to both summit and sag curves.
rise = run × slope
Problem 5: A symmetrical vertical summit curve has tangents Problem Sets
1. An unsymmetrical parabolic curve has a forward tangent
of +4% and -2%. The allowable rate of change of grade is 0.3%
of -8% and a back tangent of+6%. The length of curve on
per meter station. Stationing and elevation of P.T. is at 10+020
the left side of the curve is 40m long while that of the right
and 142.63m respectively. Compute the length of curve.
side is 60mlong. The PC is at station 6+780 and has an
elevation of 110m. An outcrop is found at station 6+800
UNSYMMETRIC PARABOLIC CURVES
An unsymmetrical parabolic curve is designed to accommodate has an elevation of 108.40m.
specific elevation requirements at a certain station, where the a) Compute the elevation of curve at station 6+820
grades of the forward and backward tangents are already b) Compute the height of fill needed to cover the out crops
established. c) Compute the elevation of the highest point of the curve
• It consists of two adjacent parabolic curves with unequal 2. A forward tangent having a slope of -4% intersects the
tangents, creating a compound curve. back tangent having a slope +7% at point at station 6+300
• One parabola extends from the Point of Curvature (PC) to having an elevation of 230m. It is required to connect the
a point directly below the vertex, while the second parabola two tangents with an unsymmetrical parabolic curve that
extends from this point to the Point of Intersection (PI). shall pass through point A on the curve having an elevation
of 227.57m at station 6+270. The length of curve is 60m
on the side of the back tangent.
a) Determine the length of the curve on the side of the
forwards tangent.
b) Determine the stationing of the highest point of the
curve.

• Considering triangles AVD and ABC

Solving for L1:

2𝐻𝐿 2
𝐿1 =
𝐿 2(𝑔1 − 𝑔2 ) − 2𝐻

Location of the highest or lowest point of the curve:

𝐿1 𝑔 1
(a) From the P.C when <𝐻
2
𝑔1 𝐿21
𝑆1 =
2𝐻
S1 = Location of the highest and lowest point of the curve from
the P.C. Likewise, the location of the lowest or highest point of
the curve could be computed from the P.T. of the curve, this
𝐿1 𝑔 1
holds true when is greater than H. Considering the figure
2
shown, let us assume that the highest or lowest point of the
curve is found on the right side of the parabola.
𝐿1 𝑔1
(b) From the P.T. when >𝐻
2
𝑔2 𝐿22
𝑆2 =
2𝐻