VERTICAL CURVES
Vertical curves are used to connect intersecting gradients in the vertical plane. Thus, in route
design they are provided at all changes of gradient. They should be of sufficiently large
curvature to provide comfort to the driver, that is, they should have a low ‘rate of change of
grade’.
In addition, they should afford adequate ‘sight distances’ for safe stopping at a given design
speed.
The type of curve generally used to connect the intersecting gradients g1 and g2 is the simple
parabola. Its use as a sag or crest curve is illustrated in the figure 1 below.
Gradients
In vertical curve design the gradients are expressed as percentages, with a negative for a
downgrade and a positive for an upgrade, e.g.
A downgrade of 1 in 20 = 5 in 100 = −5% = −g1%
An upgrade of 1 in 25 = 4 in 100 = +4% = +g2%
The angle of deflection of the two intersecting gradients is called the grade angle and equals A in
Figure 1. The grade angle simply represents the change of grade through which the vertical curve
deflects and is the algebraic difference of the two gradients:
A% = (g1% − g2%)
In the above example A% = (−5% − 4%) = −9% (negative indicates a sag curve).
1|Page
Notes by Sichangi A.
Figure 1: Sag and crest curves
Note: The desirable maximum gradients for vertical curve design range 3% - 6%.
Approximations used in vertical curve computations
Due to the shallowness of these gradients, the following vertical curve approximations are
permissible, thereby resulting in simplified computation (Figure 2).
(1) Distance T1D = T1BT2 = T1CT2 = (T1I + IT2), without sensible error. This is very
important and means that all distances may be regarded as horizontal in both the
computation and setting out of vertical curves.
(2) The curve is of equal length each side of I. Thus T1C = CT2 = T1I = IT2 = L/2, without
sensible error.
(3) The curve bisects BI at C, thus BC = CI = Y (the mid-offset).
(4) From similar triangles T1BI and T1T2J, if BI = 2Y, then T2J = 4Y. 4Y represents the
vertical divergence of the two gradients over half the curve length (L/2) and therefore
equals AL/200.
(5) The basic equation for a simple parabola is
y = C · l2
2|Page
Notes by Sichangi A.
Figure 2: Vertical curve approximation
Where y is the vertical offset from gradient to curve, distance l from the start of the curve, and C
is a constant. Thus, as the offsets are proportional to distance squared, the following equation is
used to compute them:
(6) From similar triangles, BI = 2Y then T2J = 4Y
𝐴𝐿
T2J represents the vertical divergence of the two gradients 200
𝐴 4𝑌
=
100 𝐿/2
𝐴𝐿
4Y = 200
Design factors in vertical curves
i. Sight distance on the summit curve
ii. Headlight distance on the sag curve
Sight distances on summit curve
3|Page
Notes by Sichangi A.
Sight distance is the length of road ahead that is visible to the driver, is a safety factor, and it is
obvious that the sight distance must be greater than the stopping distance in which the vehicle
can be brought to rest.
Stopping distance is dependent upon:
Speed of the vehicle.
Braking efficiency.
Gradient.
Coefficient of friction between tyre and road.
Road conditions.
Driver’s reaction time.
In order to cater for all the above variables, the height of the driver’s eye above the road surface
is taken as being only 1.05 m; a height applicable to sports cars whose braking efficiency is
usually very high. Thus, other vehicles, such as lorries, with a much greater eye height, would
have a much longer sight distance in which to stop.
Example on vertical curve computation
The computation of a vertical curve will now be demonstrated using an example.
Note:
A ‘2nd difference’ (δ2y/δl2) arithmetical check on the offset computation should automatically
be applied. The check works on the principle that the change of grade of a parabola (y = C · l2) is
constant, i.e. δ2y/δl2 = 2C. Thus, if the first and last chords are sub-chords of lengths different
from the remaining standard chords, then the change of grade will be constant only for the equal-
length chords.
For example, a 100-m curve is to connect a downgrade of 0.75% to an upgrade of 0.25%. If the
level of the intersection point of the two grades is 150 m, calculate:
(1) Curve levels at 20-m intervals, showing the second difference (d2y/dl2), check on the
computations.
(2) The position and level of the lowest point on the curve.
Solution:
(a) Find the value of the central offset Y (referring to figure 2 above).
4|Page
Notes by Sichangi A.
Grade angle A = (−0.75 − 0.25) = −1%.
L/2 = 50 m, thus as the grades IT2, and IJ are diverging at the rate of 1% (1 m per 100 m) in 50
m,
Then T2J = 0.5 m = 4Y and Y = 0.125 m
Alternatively,
(b) Calculate offsets.
The offsets may be calculated from one gradient throughout; i.e. y1, y2, EK, GM, T2J, from the
grade T1J.
NB: The second difference arithmetical check, which works only for equal chords, should be applied before any
further computation.
5|Page
Notes by Sichangi A.
(c) Calculate levels along the gradients.
Distance from I to T1 = 50 m, grade = 0.75% (0.75 m per 100 m)
Level at T1 = 150.000 + 0.375 = 150.375 m
(d) Add/subtract (b) from (c) to get curve levels.
6|Page
Notes by Sichangi A.
