Tanta University  Sheet No 3 
Faculty of Engineering 
Vertical Alignment  
Public Works Dept. 
 

ª Problem (1):

A plus 5.1% grade intersects a minus 2.8% grade at station (365+85) at an

elevation 427.5ft. Calculate the centerline elevations for even 100ft for a
600 ft vertical curve.

ª Problem (2):

A 500 ft long crest vertical curve connects tangent that intersect at station
(340+00) and elevation 1322ft. the initial grade is +4% and the final grade
is -2.5%. Determine the elevation and stationing of the highest point, PVC
and PVT.

ª Problem (3):

Calculate the SSD over a crest curve of 1500ft length with a plus grade of
4.4% and minus grade of 2.3%.

ª Problem (4):

A vertical curve connecting upward grade +2% with other down-ward

grade -4% passes through points D,E these points has station of (13 + 50)
and (14 + 70) and elevation of (49.8)and (51.0) respectively knowing that
the station of PVC is (12 + 80). Find the length of the curve.

ª Problem (5):

A sag vertical curve joins -3% and +3% grades. If the PVI on the grades is at
station (435+50) and has an elevation of 235ft. Determine the station and
elevation of PVC and PVT for a design speed of 70mph, also compute the
elevation on the curve at 100 ft intervals.

ª Problem (6):

Vertical curve is used to connect a +4% grade tangent with a -2% grade
tangent. Given the station of p.c. is 180+15 and the elevation of P.I. and H.P.
is 36.5 m. and 35.9 m. respectively (station = 30 m).
a) Find the station of the highest point H.P.
b) Determine the maximum safe operating speed on the curve assuming
perception and reaction time 2.0 sec and coefficient of friction f = 0.32
ª Problem (7):

Determine the minimum vertical curve length to provide a safe sight

distance in the following cases:

Case Design speed (km/hr) Approaching grade Leaving grade

1 50 +5% -5%
2 65 -2% +4%
3 80 +2% -3%
4 100 -3% +3%
5 115 +3% 0.0%

Best Wishes……. Dr Ragaa Abd El-Hakim