Tutorial 4
VERTICAL CURVE DESIGN EXERCISES
WANG Wenxuan
wenxuan-cee.wang@connect.polyu.hk
Outline
Example of Design of Parabolic Curve
Example of Determine the minimum length of the vertical
curve
Exercise
Example 1
Compute curve elevations and offsets from tangents for a 350m
vertical curve joining a +2.70% grade with a -1.50% grade. Assume
the PVI is at station 1+500 and elevation 25.00m. Results should be
in tabular form, with columns for stations, tangent elevations,
offsets, and curve elevations starting at the PVC and ending at the
PVT of the curve.
Plot the curve on a graph paper.
Solution
P=2.7%, q=-1.5%
G=p-q=2.7-(-1.5)=4.2%
Station of PVC/PC 𝐿 350
= 1 + 500 − = 1 + 500 −
2 2
= 1 + 325
𝑝𝐿 350
Elevation of PVC/PC = 25.00 − = 25.00 − 0.027 × = 20.275 𝑚
2 2
Elevation of tangent = 20.275 + 𝑝𝑥 = 20.275 + 0.027𝑥
𝑝−𝑞 2 0.027+0.015 2 3
Offset from tangent 𝑦= 𝑥 = 𝑥 = 50000 𝑥 2
2𝐿 2×350
3
Elevation of Curve 𝑌 = 20.275 + 𝑝𝑥 − 𝑦 = 20.275 + 0.0027𝑥 − 50000 𝑥 2
Solution
Solution
Summary of Design of Parabolic Curve
Procedure:
1) Find the station and elevation of PVC/PC;
𝑝−𝑞 2
2) Calculate the offset from tangent; 𝑦=
2𝐿
𝑥
3) Calculate the elevation of curve; 𝑌 = 𝐸𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑃𝑉𝐶 + 𝑝𝑥 − 𝑦
4) Draw the elevation curve.
Example 2
A +3.9% grade intersects a +1.1% grade
at a station 2+050.00 and elevation
304.55m. Design speed V = 70km/h
◦ Determine the minimum length of the vertical
curve for a design speed of 70km/h.
◦ Calculate the location of PVC and the elevation
of the middle point of the curve.
Assumption: height of driver's eye =
1.05m, height of object = 0.26m
◦ Most common assumption on height of
driver’s eye and object.
Solution
P=3.9%, q=1.1%
G=p-q=3.9-1.1=2.8%
Thus, this is a crest curve
Sight distance to be provided at V=70km/h
◦ Stopping sight distance , 𝑆 = 120𝑚
◦ Overtaking sight distance, 𝑆𝑝 = 410𝑚
Solution
First design for stopping (Stopping sight distance , 𝑆 = 120𝑚)
Assume S < L
𝐺𝑆 2 2.8× 120 2
𝐿= 2 = 2 = 85.61𝑚 < 120𝑚
200 ℎ1 + ℎ2 200× 1.05+ 0.26
◦ The assumption S < L is invalid
Assume S > L
2 2
2 ℎ1 + ℎ2 2× 1.05+ 0.26
𝐿 = 2𝑆 − 𝐺 = 2 × 120 − 2.8 = 71.79𝑚 < 120𝑚
100 100
◦ The assumption S > L is valid
To provide for a stopping sight distance of 120 m, length of vertical curve required is 71.79 m.
Solution
Then design for overtaking (Overtaking sight distance, 𝑆𝑝 = 410𝑚)
Assume S < L
𝐺𝑆 2 2.8× 410 2
𝐿= 2 = 2 = 560.33𝑚 > 410𝑚
200 ℎ1 + ℎ2 200× 1.05+ 1.05
◦ The assumption S < L is valid
Thus, to provide for a stopping sight distance of 120m, length of vertical curve required is 561m.
Select L = 561 m as the design value such that the sight distance provided S = 410 m is adequate
for both stopping and overtaking
Solution
𝐿
PVI is at 𝑥 = = 280.5𝑚
2
Station of PVC = 2 + 050 − 280.5 = 1 + 769.50
At 𝑥 = 𝐿/2
Vertical offset from tangent,
𝑝−𝑞 2 𝐺 𝐺𝐿 2.8×561
𝑦= 𝑥 = 𝑥2 = = = 1.96𝑚
2𝐿 200𝐿 800 800
Elevation at the mid-point of curve = 304.55 − 1.96 = 302.56𝑚
Summary of Design of length of the vertical curve
Procedure:
1) Find stopping sight distance (S) and overtaking sight distance (Sp ) at the design speed from Table;
2) Design for stopping
𝐺𝑆 2
Assume S < L, 𝐿 = 2
200 ℎ1 + ℎ2
2
2 ℎ1 + ℎ2
If not (S>L), 𝐿 = 2𝑆 − 𝐺 ;
100
3) Design for overtaking
𝐺𝑆 2
Assume Sp < L, 𝐿 = 2
200 ℎ1 + ℎ2
2
2 ℎ1 + ℎ2
If not (Sp>L), 𝐿 = 2𝑆 − 𝐺 ;
100
4) determine the L value
Exercise
A +3.0% grade intersects a -1.5% grade at a station 3+750.00 and elevation 275.55m.
◦Determine the minimum length of the vertical curve for a design speed of 70km/h.
◦Calculate the location of PVC and the elevation of the middle point and 3+500.00 point of the
curve.
Assumption: height of driver's eye = 1.05m, height of object = 0.82m
