TPG3700

Discussion Class – 05 of 7

Vertical Alignment
Class no Date Time Topic

#1 21 February 17:00 to 18:30 Course Admin & Introduction

#2 22 Feb 17:00 to 18:30 Design of pretimed intersections

#3 23 Feb 17:00 to 18:30 Intro to GDs & Horizontal alignment

#4 06 March 19:00 to 20:30 Horizontal alignment
#5 07 March 19:00 to 20:30 Vertical alignment
#6 12 March 19:00 to 20:30 Vertical alignment
#7 16 March 19:00 to 20:30 Pavement structure design: TRH4

Hussiwam@unisa.ac.za
Senior Lecturer of Civil Engineering
7 March 2024
 Background
G2 = (637-625)/(1620 – 1145)
= 0.025 (2.5%)

0 MSL

What is elevation?
tan θ = G/100 = y/x
y: difference in elevation
x: difference in chainage G1 = +3,656%

Example:
tan θ = G/100 = y/x y
G/100 = (645 – 628)/ (915 – 450)
G/100 = 17/465 = 0,03659 θ x
G = 3,656%
 Background
Sign Convention
 The vertical alignment, which consists of a series of straight
profile lines connected by vertical parabolic curves, is known as
the profile grade line.

 When the profile grade line is increasing from a level or flat

alignment, this condition is referred to as a positive or "plus
grade," and when the grade is decreasing from a level
alignment, the grade is termed a negative or "minus grade“.
 Parabola Curve Types Y = ax2 + bx + C

 The primary reasons for the use of parabolic curve in vertical

alignment is the convenient manner in which the vertical offsets
can be computed.
Summit curve This is not precisely correct!!
 Crest curve connects a positive grade with a negative grade !.
Sag curve connects a negative grade with a positive grade!.
Valley curve
 Symmetrical curve: a curve in which the tangents are of equal
length in the horizontal plane.
 Unsymmetrical vertical curve is warranted only where a
symmetrical curve cannot meet imposed alignment conditions, such
as vertical clearance requirements.
The discussion and formulas presented
here apply only for symmetrical curves.
 Cont. Curves Types

G1 = -3% and G2 -4%

Types of Vertical Curves

 Grades
 Maximum grades specified by design standards typically range
from 7 to 12%, depending on the roadway classification and the
surrounding topography (TRH17 max. gradient is 8% depending
on speed and topography).

 Minimum grades are governed by drainage conditions. It is

preferred that the profile grade be designed to have a
minimum grade of at least 0.5% under most conditions in
order to secure adequate drainage.
 Elements of Parabola

G1
x
PVI
PI
x
y
y

PC
BVC
+G1 PT
EVC
L/2 L/2 - G2
L
 Equations

BVC

BVC

A = Algebraic difference in grade between G1 and G2

K = Vertical curve coefficient
Xm = Location of High (low) point of the curve
Ex = Elevation of a point at x distance
 Cont. Equations

General equation Y = ax2 + bx + C

C = BVC elevation

Crest Curve Sag Curve

Y = −1.84x10−4x2 + 0.04x + 626.2 Y = +1.84x10−4x2 − 0.04x + 626.2

 Worked Example
A plus 3.0 percent grade intersects a minus 2.0 percent grade at station 1+200.000 and
at an elevation of 320.400 m. Given that a 120 m length of curve is utilized, determine
the station and elevation of the BVC and EVC. Calculate elevations at every 20- m
station and locate the station and elevation of the high point of the curve.

G/100 = h/60
h = G/100 * L/2
Elev BVC = 320.4 – (3/100)*(120/2)
PI chainage = 1+200
PVI
PI
PVI
x PI elevation = 320.40 m
PVI
y
320.4 – (2/100)*(60
PC
BVC
G1 = +3% EVC
PT
L/2 L/2 G2 = -2%
L = 120 m
 T = tan θ = G = (3/100) = ʎ / (L/2)

ʎ = 0,01 G* (L/2) Cont. Example 1

G =3% PVI
PVI
ʎ PVI
G =2%
ʎ
θ
BVC θ
L/2 EVC
L/2

BVC chainage = PVI chainage – L/2

BVC chainage = 1200 – 120/2 = 1140 m (1+140)
EVC chainage = BVC chainage + L OR ( PVI ch + L/2_
Explain how this
EVC chainage = 1140 + 120 = 1260 m (1+260)
equation is obtained
BVC elevation = PVI elevation – (G1/100)* (L/2)
BVC elevation = 320.40 – (0.03)*(60) = 318.60 m
EVC elevation = PVI elevation – (G2/100)*(L/2)
EVC elevation = 320.40 – (0.02)*(60) = 319.20 m
G2 – G1) = -2 – 3 = -5 but we take the absolute value which is 5
Cont. Worked Example

BVC

Distance to high point

3 *120
Xm = = 72 m
-3- 2
Elevation of the high point
 3   -3-2  2
Ex = 318.6 +   * 72 +   * 72 = 319.68 m
 100   200 *120  Evaluate
your answer

High point chainage (BVC ch + Xm) =1140 +72 = 1212 m (1+212)

 Cont. Worked Example
Chainage x (m) Elev. On Initial y Elev. on
Tangent Curve (m)
1+140 (BVC) 0 318.60
1+160 20 319.2 -0.083 319.12
1+180 40 319.8 -0.333 319.45
1+200 60 320.4 -0.750 319.65
1+220 80 321.0 -1.333 319.67
1+240 100 321.6 -2.083 319.52
1+260 (EVC) 120 319.20
 G1 
Elevation on Initial tangent =BVC
PC elevation +  * x
 100 
 3 
at x = 20 m : elev on initial tangent = 318.6 +   * 20 = 319.20
High point
 100 
 -3- 2 
Chainage = 1+212
2
y=
 200 * 120
 * 20 = 0.0833 m
 Elevation = 319.68 m
Elev. on curve = 319.2 - 0.0833 = 319.1167 m
Example 3
A plus 4% grade intersects a minus
3% at chainage 2 230.105 m and
elevation of 630 m. Given that 190 m
length symmetrical parabola is used,
Y = ax2 + bx + C
determine the chainage and
−3 −4
elevation of BVC, EVC and high a= = -1.84x10-4
200 x 190

point. Also generate the parabola b = G1 = 0.04

Point on the crest curve Chainage (m) Elevation (m)
equation C = BVC Elev
BVC 2135.105 626.200

High point 2243.676 628.371 Y = −1.84x10−4x2 + 0.04x + 626.2

EVC 2325.105 627.150
 Example 4

A crest curve is to be fitted between two grades of G1 = + 4% grade & G2 = - 3%. The
design speed is 100 km/h. Use TRH17 guidelines and determine the length of the curve
if no passing restriction is to be imposed.
Solution

TRH17, Table 4.2.1 on page 34

k = 60 for 100 km/h speed.
𝐴𝐴 = −3 − 4 = 7%
Lmin = 60 x 7 = 420 m

K = L/A, L = K*A
Thank You