GE 104

GE 104
ENGINEERING
SURVEYS
ENGR. JIGG PELAYO, GE, EnP
CHAPTER 3
VERTICAL CURVES
LECTURE NOTES IN GE 104: ENGINEERING SURVEYS

TOPIC 3. VERTICAL CURVES
◂ Understand the definition of terms related to
Vertical Curves;
◂ Understand the basic concepts of Vertical Curves;
◂ Identify and differentiate the various kinds of
Vertical Curves;
◂ Understand the definition of terms related to Spiral
Curve and Superelevation;
◂ Identify and explain the different elements of
Vertical Curves;
◂ Perform computations and solve problems in
relation to Vertical Curves.
3
“ on’t let the fear of losing
be greater than the
”
excitement of winning
Robert Kiyosaki
TOPIC 3.1
Vertical Curve

VERTICAL CURVE
◂ In highway practice, abrupt change in the vertical direction of
moving vehicles should be avoided.
◂ In order to provide gradual change in its vertical direction, a
parabolic vertical curve is adopted on account of its slope
which varies at constant rate with respect to horizontal
distances.
◂ The rate of slope is called the gradient or simply the “grade”.
◂ Vertical Curves are the second of the two important transition
elements in geometric design for highways, the first being
Horizontal Curves.

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VERTICAL CURVE
◂ Vertical Curves is the curve in a vertical alignment which is
produced when two different gradients meet. (1st definition)
◂ Vertical Curves is a parabolic curve that is applied to make a
smooth and safe transition between two grades on a roadway
or a highway. (2nd definition)
◂ 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, acceptable rate of change, and friction.
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VERTICAL CURVE
◂ Importance of Providing Vertical Curves in Roads
◂ Vertical curves or grade changes, like horizontal curves, require
proper consideration to minimize earthwork, cost, and erosion
damage.
◂ Provide a smooth transition between two vertical tangent roads.
◂ Provide the transition between an incoming grade and an
outgoing grade. For convenience in design, a parabolic curve is
used because the grade change is proportional to the horizontal
distance.
◂ To provide a safe and comfort ride for vehicles on a roadway.

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VERTICAL CURVE
◂ Vertical curves are provided to change the slope in the road
and may or may not be symmetrical.
◂ These curves are parabolic and not circular like horizontal
curves. Also, vertical curves designate its stationing based on a
horizontal axis.
◂ Depending upon the shape of profile, a Vertical curves are
introduced at the intersection of two gradients either as
summit curves, or sag curves.

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VERTICAL CURVE
◂ Types of Vertical Curve:
◂ Valley Curve / Sag Curve
◂ Sag Curves are those which change the alignment of the road
from uphill to downhill.
◂ When two grades meet at the valley (sag) and the curve will
have convexity downwards, the curve is referred as the valley
(sag) curve.
◂ are vertical curves where the total change in gradient is
positive.

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VERTICAL CURVE
◂ Types of Vertical Curve:
◂ Summit Curve / Crest Curve
◂ Summit (crest) Curves are those which change the alignment
of the road from downhill to uphill. In designing crest vertical
curves it is important that the grades are not too high which
makes it difficult for the motorists to travel upon it.
◂ When two grades meet at the summit (crest) and the curve
will have convexity upwards, then it is a summit (crest) curve.
◂ are vertical curves where the total change in gradient is
negative.

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VERTICAL CURVE
◂ Identifying the proper grade and the safe passing sight
distance is the main design criterion of the vertical curve, hill
crest vertical curve the length should be enough to provide
safe stopping sight distance.
◂ While in sag vertical curve, the length is important as it
influences the factors such as headlight sight distance, rider
comfort and drainage requirements.

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TOPIC 3.2
Elements of Vertical
Curves

ELEMENTS OF V.C.
◂ PC - point of curvature, also known as BVC (beginning of
vertical curve)
◂ PT - point of tangency, also known as EVC (end of vertical
curve)
◂ PI - point of intersection of the tangents, also called PVI (point
of vertical intersection)
◂ L - length of parabolic curve, it is the projection of the curve
onto a horizontal surface which corresponds to the plan
distance.

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ELEMENTS OF V.C.
◂ S1 - horizontal distance from PC to the highest (lowest) point
of the summit (sag) curve
◂ S2 - horizontal distance from PT to the highest (lowest) point
of the summit (sag) curve
◂ h1 - vertical distance between PC and the highest (lowest)
point of the summit (sag) curve
◂ h2 - vertical distance between PT and the highest (lowest)
point of the summit (sag) curve
◂ g1 - grade (in percent) of back tangent (tangent through PC)

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ELEMENTS OF V.C.
◂ g2 - grade (in percent) of forward tangent (tangent through PT)
◂ A - change in grade from PC to PT
◂ a - vertical distance between PC and PI
◂ b - vertical distance between PT and PI
◂ H - vertical distance between PI and the curve

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ELEMENTS OF V.C.

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TOPIC 3.3
Properties of Vertical
Curves

PROPERTIES OF V.C.
◂ The vertical offsets from the tangent to the curve are
proportional to the squares of the distances from the P.C. or P.T.
◂ The curve bisects the distance between the vertex and the
midpoint of the long chord.
◂ If the algebraic difference in the rate of grade of the two slopes
is negative, that is (𝑔2 − 𝑔1 ), we have a “summit curve”, but if it is
positive, we have a “sag curve”.
◂ The length of curve of a parabolic vertical curve, refers to the
horizontal distance from P.C. to P.T.

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PROPERTIES OF V.C.
◂ The stationing of vertical parabolic curves is measured not
along the curve but along a horizontal line.
◂ For a symmetrical parabolic curve, “the number of stations to
the left must be equal to the number of stations to the right”, of
the intersection of slopes of forward and backward tangent.
◂ The slope of the parabola varies uniformly along the curve, as
shown by differentiating the equation of the parabolic curve.
◂ The maximum offset H = 1 / 8 the product of the algebraic
difference between the two rates of grade and the length of
curve.
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PROPERTIES OF V.C.
◂ PI is midway between PC and PT.
◂ The curve is midway between PI and the midpoint of the chord
from PC to PT.
◂ The vertical distance between any two points on the curve is
equal to area under the grade diagram. The vertical distance c
= Area.

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TOPIC 3.4
Kinds for Vertical
Curves

KINDS OF VERTICAL C.
◂ Symmetrical Parabolic Curves
◂ A symmetrical vertical parabolic curve occurs when the
horizontal distance from the P.C. to P.I. is equal to the tangent
length from P.I. to P.T.
◂ It allows you to compensate for the changing skew between
horizontal alignments.
◂ Curve is symmetric at the point of intersection of tangent lines
(at the curve).

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KINDS OF VERTICAL C.
◂ Unsymmetrical Parabolic Curves
◂ Unsymmetrical curves are those vertical curves having unequal
tangent and the distance between the P.C. and P.I. is not equal
to the distance between P.I. to P.T.
◂ It is made up of two different parabolas, one on each side of
the P.I.
◂ 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.

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TOPIC 3.4
Formulas for Vertical
Curves

FORMULAS FOR V.E.
◂ Symmetrical Parabolic Curve
𝐿 𝑔1 (𝐿)
𝐻 = (𝑔1 + 𝑔2 ) 𝑠1 =
8 𝑔1 + 𝑔2
𝑦 𝐻 𝑔2 (𝐿)
= 𝑠2 =
𝑥 2 (𝐿Τ2)2 𝑔1 + 𝑔2
1
𝑎 = 𝑔1 (𝐿ൗ2) ℎ1 = (𝑠1 )(𝑔1 )
2
1
𝑏 = 𝑔2 (𝐿ൗ2) ℎ2 = (𝑠2 )(𝑔2 )
2
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FORMULAS FOR V.E.
◂ Unsymmetrical Parabolic Curve
(𝐿1 )(𝐿2 )(𝑔1 + 𝑔2 )
𝐻=
2(𝐿1 + 𝐿2 )
(𝐿1 )(𝑔1 ) (𝐿1 )(𝑔1 )
𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑃𝐶 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 <𝐻 𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑃𝑇 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 >𝐻
2 2
(𝑔1 )(𝐿1 )2 (𝑔2 )(𝐿2 )2

𝑠1 = 𝑠2 =
2𝐻 2𝐻

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TOPIC 3.5
Sample Problem for
Vertical Curves

SAMPLE PROBLEMS
◂ A 6% downgrade meets a 3% upgrade at an elevation of 100m
and at station 10+100. If the length of the parabolic curve is 160
m long, find the stationing of the lowest point of the curve.
Note: Sample problems will be presented and solved through lecture videos.

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SAMPLE PROBLEMS
◂ The slope of the back tangent of a parabolic curve is 4.2%, while
the slope of the forward tangent is -3.6%. The length of curve is
120 m long with elevation of the PC equal to 82.77m. Determine
the elevation of the curve directly below the PI.

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SAMPLE PROBLEMS
◂ An unsymmetrical curve has a forward tangent of -8% and a
back tangent of +5%. The length of the curve on the left side
(PC) is 60m, what is the elevation of PC if the vertex is at
elevation of 100m.

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SAMPLE PROBLEMS
◂ A -3% grade meets a +5% grade near an underpass. In order to
maintain the minimum clearance allowed under the bridge and at the
same time introduce a vertical transition curve in the grade line, it is
necessary to use a curve that lies 200m on one side of the vertex of the
straight grade and 100m on the other. The station of the beginning of
the curve (200m side) is 10+000 and its elevation is 228m.
1. Determine the elevation at station 10+040.
2. If the uphill edge of the under side of the bridge is at station 10+220
and at elevation 229.206m, what is the vertical clearance under the
bridge at this point?
3. Determine the stationing of the lowest point of the curve.

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“ othing is less productive than to
make more efficient what should
”
not be done at all
Peter Drucker
THANK YOU
F O R L I S T E N I N G

36

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LECTURE NOTES IN GE 104: ENGINEERING SURVEYS

LECTURE NOTES IN GE 104: ENGINEERING SURVEYS

LECTURE NOTES IN GE 104: ENGINEERING SURVEYS

LECTURE NOTES IN GE 104: ENGINEERING SURVEYS

LECTURE NOTES IN GE 104: ENGINEERING SURVEYS

LECTURE NOTES IN GE 104: ENGINEERING SURVEYS

LECTURE NOTES IN GE 104: ENGINEERING SURVEYS

LECTURE NOTES IN GE 104: ENGINEERING SURVEYS

LECTURE NOTES IN GE 104: ENGINEERING SURVEYS

LECTURE NOTES IN GE 104: ENGINEERING SURVEYS

LECTURE NOTES IN GE 104: ENGINEERING SURVEYS

LECTURE NOTES IN GE 104: ENGINEERING SURVEYS

LECTURE NOTES IN GE 104: ENGINEERING SURVEYS

LECTURE NOTES IN GE 104: ENGINEERING SURVEYS

LECTURE NOTES IN GE 104: ENGINEERING SURVEYS

LECTURE NOTES IN GE 104: ENGINEERING SURVEYS

LECTURE NOTES IN GE 104: ENGINEERING SURVEYS

LECTURE NOTES IN GE 104: ENGINEERING SURVEYS

LECTURE NOTES IN GE 104: ENGINEERING SURVEYS

LECTURE NOTES IN GE 104: ENGINEERING SURVEYS

(𝑔1 )(𝐿1 )2 (𝑔2 )(𝐿2 )2

LECTURE NOTES IN GE 104: ENGINEERING SURVEYS

LECTURE NOTES IN GE 104: ENGINEERING SURVEYS

LECTURE NOTES IN GE 104: ENGINEERING SURVEYS

LECTURE NOTES IN GE 104: ENGINEERING SURVEYS

LECTURE NOTES IN GE 104: ENGINEERING SURVEYS

LECTURE NOTES IN GE 104: ENGINEERING SURVEYS

LECTURE NOTES IN GE 104: ENGINEERING SURVEYS

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