 PC = point of curvature, also known as BVC (beginning of vertical curve)

 PT = point of tangency, also known as EVC (end of vertical curve)

 PI = point of intersection of the tangents, also called PVI (point of vertical intersection)
 L = length of parabolic curve, it is the projection of the curve onto a horizontal surface which
corresponds to the plan distance.
 S1 = horizontal distance from PC to the highest (lowest) point of the summit (sag) curve
 S2 = horizontal distance from PT to the highest (lowest) point of the summit (sag) curve
 h1 = vertical distance between PC and the highest (lowest) point of the summit (sag) curve
 h2 = vertical distance between PT and the highest (lowest) point of the summit (sag) curve
 g1 = grade (in percent) of back tangent (tangent through PC)
 g2 = grade (in percent) of forward tangent (tangent through PT)
 A = change in grade from PC to PT
 a = vertical distance between PC and PI
 b = vertical distance between PT and PI
 H = vertical distance between PI and the curve

FORMULAS OF A VERTICAL PARABOLIC CURVE:

Slope = Rise/Run; rise = Run x slope (*it is very important to know these property of a triangle)

Determining values of “a” and “b”:

a= g L b= g L

Determining distance of highest point from PC (S1) and PT (S2)

S = S =

Squared Property of Parabola (SPP) *very important (derived from your analytic geometry)

( )
= Where: H =
A = Algebraic change in slope direction = |g1 – g2| *take absolute value

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Sources: Traffic & Highway Engineering by Garber& Hoel
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