VERTICAL PARABOLIC CURVES

I] SYMMETRICAL Parabolic Curve

• Rate of Change per “d”-m station:

g1 − g2
Rate of Change = ; n = number of stations
n

NOTE: ***Common value of d = 20 ( rate of change per 20-m station)

• Length of Curve:

L = dn

(L)(B)
• H= ; where: B = /g1 – g2/
8

(g1 )(L) (g2 )(L)

• xm1 = ; xm2 =
B B

• Using Squared Property of Parabola (SPP):

(L⁄2)2 (xm2)
2
=
H Y

L v
• Sta. PC = Sta. PI – g2= ; v = (g2)(h)
2 h

• Sta. PT = Sta. PC + L
ELEMENTS:
PC = Point of Curvature/Deviation; point where the curve leaves the first tangent
PT = Point of Tangency; point where the curve joins the second tangent
PI = Point of Intersection; intersection of the two tangents meeting at a vertex
g1 = Grade of the Back Tangent in decimal
g2 = Grade of the Forward Tangent in decimal
H = Vertical Tangent offset through the vertex (PI)
H = the Vertical Distance from the vertex (PI) to a point on the curve above it (sag curve) or to a point
below it (summit curve)

ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEMS:

E1] A symmetrical vertical curve has tangents of +4% and -2%. The allowable rate of change of
grade is 0.3% per 20 m. station. Stationing and elevation of PT is at 10+028 and 142.63m
respectively.

Compute the following:

A] Length of Curve
B] Distance of the highest point of curve from PC
C] Elevation of the highest point of curve

Figure (Given):

SOLUTION:

A] For Length of Curve (L):

Using: L = dn
Where: d = 20 m
g1 − g2
• Rate of Change =
n
4−(−2)
0.3 =
n
n = 20 stations

Then; L = (20)(20) = 400 m

B] For Distance of the highest point of curve from PC (Xm1):
(g1 )(L)
Using: Xm1 =
B
Where: g1 = 4%
L = 400 m
B = 4% – (-2%) = 6%

(4)(400)
Then; Xm1 = = 266.66667 m
6

C] For Elevation of the Highest Point of Curve:

Using: el. ZENITH = el. PT + P – v – Y

Where:
• For P:
* Slope = RISE⁄RUN
P
0.02 =
200

P = 4 m.

• For v:
* Slope = RISE⁄RUN
v
0.02 =
h

But; h = Xm1 – 200

= 266.66667 – 200
h = 66.66667 m
Then;
v
0.02 =
66.66667

v = 1.33333 m.

• For Y:
* using SPP (Squared-Property of Parabola):

(L⁄2)2 2
(xm2)
=
H Y
 (L)(B) (400)(6%)
But; H= = =3m
8 8

And; Xm2 = L – Xm1 = 400 – 266.66667 = 133.33333 m

Then;
(200)2 (133.33333)
2
=
3 Y

Y = 1.33333 m

Thus; el. ZENITH = el. PT + P – v – Y

= 142.63 + 4 – 1.33333 -1.33333

el. ZENITH = 143.96334 m

E2] A 3% ascending grade meets a descending grade at the vertex at sta. 20+100 and at
elevation 120 m. The symmetrical parabolic curve connecting the tangents passes thru a point
at sta. 20+130 having a curve elevation 117.525 m. If the highest point on the curve is
located 84 m from PT, what is the length of the curve connecting the tangents? Determine also
the grade of the descending tangent and the elevation of the highest point on the curve.

Figure (Given)

SOLUTION:

A] For Length of Curve (L):

Using: Square-Property of Parabola (SPP)
2
(L⁄2)2 (L2 + 30)
• =
H Ya
But;
(L)(B)
H=
8
And;
(g1 )(L) (g1 )(L) 0.03L
xm1 = = L – Xm2 ; B= =
B L − Xm2 L − 84
Subst;
0.03L
(L)( ) 0.03L2
L − 84
H= =
8 8L − 672
 Also;
Ya = elev a’ – elev a
And;
elev a’ = elev V + g1 (30)
= 120 + 0.03 (30)
elev a’ = 120.90 m
Subst;
Ya = 120.90 – 117.525 = 3.375 m

Then;

2
(L⁄2)2 (L + 30)
0.03L2
= 2
3.375
( )
8L−672

2
L2 (8L − 672) L
+ 30L + 900
= 4
0.12L2 3.375

L2
3.375(8L – 672) = 0.12( + 30L + 900)
4

27L – 2268 = 0.03L2 + 3.60L + 108

0.03L2 – 23.40L + 2376 = 0

L1 = 120 m (ACCEPT)
L2 = 660 m (REJECT)
Thus;
L = 120 m

B] For Grade of Descending Tangent (g2):

Using: Square-Property of Parabola (SPP)
2
(L⁄2)2 (L2 + 30)
• =
H Ya
But;
(L)(B)
H=
8
Then:
2
(L⁄2)2 (L2 + 30)
(L)(B) = Ya
8
Where:
L = 120 m
Ya = 3.375 m
Subst.:
2
(120⁄2)2 (120 + 30)
(120)(B) =
2
3.375
8
B = 0.10 = 10% = /g1 – g2/ = /+0.03 – g2/
Thus;
g2 = -0.07 = -7% = 7% (decreasing slope)
C] Elevation of the highest point (elev.z):

Using:
• el. z = el. z' – Yz
Where:
el. z' = el. a’ – g1 [30 + (84 – 60)]
= 120.90 – 0.03(54)
el. z' = 119.28 m
And;
(L⁄2)2 (L − 84)
2
=
H YZ
But;
(L)(B)
H=
8
Then:
(L⁄2)2 (L − 84)
2
(L)(B) = YZ
8
Where:
L = 120 m
B = 10%
Subst.:
(120⁄2)2 (120 − 84)
2
(120)(0.10) = YZ
8
YZ = 0.54 m

Thus;
el. z = el. z' – Yz
= 119.28 – 0.54
el. z = 118.74 m