Vertical Alignment

Vertical curvature by sight distance criteria and gradient

LoS: Highly affected by change of speed and type traffic using the road

Vertical Curve: required to provide smooth transitions between consecutive gradients. The simple
parabola is specified for these. The parabola provides a constant rate of change of curvature, and
hence acceleration and visibility, along its length and has the form:

r=g2-g1/L
r
y= + g 1 x + Elevation of BVC Where
2x

r = rate of change of grade per section (%)

g1= starting grade (%)
g2= ending grade (%)
L = length of curve (horizontal distance m)
y = elevation of a point on the curve
x = distance in stations from the BVC (meters/100)
BVC = beginning of the vertical curve
EVC = end of the vertical curve
 Compare and Contrast of ASHTO and ERA Manual

AASHTO ERA
 Considers vehicles operating  Didn’t consider vehicles characteristics
characteristics to select design grade. For as an individuals. But, grade selection
examples Passenger Car, Trucks and (Design grade) is forwarded by
Recreational vehicles have different longitudinal terrain type and road design
Operating Characteristics standard(DS)
 Maximum gradient is 12% where design  Maximum gradient 16 for the road DS10
speed is 50kmph and Minimum gradient and minimum gradient which affords
is 0.3%. storm water removal and to drain
pavement surface laterally.
 Didn’t forward direction of design grade
for the three wheel vehicles such as
Bajaj. Since most vehicles in Urban of
Ethiopia is Bajaj

 Both AASHTO and ERA considers Only Symmetric Vertical curve parameters where the
curve length of initial (g1) gradient is the same as final gradient (g2) which is not the same as
asymmetric vertical curve formed due to terrain type.
Classifies terrain types to three types namely ERA classifies into four types by considering
o Level transverse slopes
o Rolling o Flat
o Mountainous but, o Rolling
o Mountainous
o Escarpment