Vertical Curves:

Introduction
While crossing low ridges or valleys, the railways and highways face a change of
gradients. In case of ridge, a rising gradient (i.e. up to 2 gradients) is followed up to the
highest point, the summit and then a down-gradient followed on the other side of the
ridge. In case o of a valley, a down-gradient is followed by an up-gradient. Sometimes
two up-gradients or two down gradients may also follow in quick succession. Movement
of vehicles along such tracks causes great discomfort to the passengers unless the tracks
are smoothened in such a way that there is a gradual change from the up gradient to
down-gradient and vice versa. Sufficient amount of clearance is also provided for safe
driving on the summit. To provide safety, comfort and clearance along such tracks either
circular or parabolic arcs are introduced. A parabolic arc is preferred o a circular one due
to simplicity of calculating offsets for setting out vertical curves. A parabolic curve also
provides the best riding qualities as the rate of change in grade is uniform through along a
parabola having its axis vertical i.e. the rate of change of slope of a parabola is constant.

Proof: The general equation of a parabola having vertical axis, is

y  ax 2  bx …… (1)
The slope of the curve
dy
 2a  b …… (2)
dx

The rate of change of grade or slope

d2 y
 2a …… (3)
dx 2

As the R.H.S of equation (3) does not contain any variable, it is proved that the rate of
change of grade along vertical parabola is always uniform.

The grade of Vertical Curve

The gradient or grade may be defined as proportional rise or fall between two points
along a straight line. It is expressed either as a percentage or as a ratio.

1. As a percentages (%)-Vertical rise or fall per 100 horizontals e.g. 1%, 2%, 5%,
etc.
2. As a ratio-One vertical rise or fall in n horizontal e.g. 1 in 200, 1 in 500 etc.

The grades are further classified into following two categories:

(a) Up-grades or positive grades
(b) Down grades or negative grade

A grade is classified as an upgrade if elevations along it increase whereas it is classified

as downgrade if the elevations decrease. It is important to note that these classifications

1
depend upon the direction of the movement of the vehicles. An up-grade becomes a
down grade if the direction of motion of the vehicle is reversed.

Rate of Change of Grade

From equations (1) and (2) , it is noticed that the gradient (or slope) along a parabolic
curve changes from point to point but the rate of a change of grade remains constant at
every point.

It has been recommended that the rate of change of gradient on the railways should be
0.06% per 20 metre stations are summits and 0.03% per20 metre stations in valleys.
Twice of these values are recommended for branch railway lines.

Types of Vertical Curves

Depending upon the different combinations of different grades, the following six types of
vertical curves are generally met while executing a rail or highway project.

1. an up- grade  g1 %  followed by a downgrade  g 2 % 

 g2 %
 g1 %

B1
A C

2. A downgrade  g1 %  followed by an up-grade  g 2 % 

B
A C

 g1 %  g2 %
B

2
3. An up-grade  g1 %  followed by another up-grade  g 2 % , g 2  g1

 g 2%
 g1 % B1

4. An up-grade  g1 %  followed by another up-grade  g 2 , g1  g 2

 g2 % C
B

 g1% B

5. A downgrade  g1 %  followed by another downgrade  g 2 % , g 2  g1

 g1 %
A B  g2 %

B C

3
 6. A down grade  g1 %  followed by an other downgrade  g 2 % , g1  g 2

A
B

 g1 %
B  g1 % C

Length of Vertical Curves

The length of a vertical curve may be defined as the length from the point of
commencement of the curve i.e., the point of rising to the point of tangency of the curve
i.e., the point where curve meets horizontal straight again.

Let l1 be the length of the curve from the point of commencement to summit; g1% be the
upgrade; r be the rate of change of grade,

percentage of up  grade g1
Then l1  
rate of change of grade r

Similarly, the length of the curve from the summit to the point of tangency.

percentage of down grade g 2

l2  
rate of change of grade r

g1 g 2
 Total length of the vertical curve L   ……………… (4)
r r
As upgrades are treated positive and downgrades negative, equation (4) may be written as

g1   g 2 
L ……………………. (5)
r

4
Hence, the length of the vertical curve may be obtained by dividing the algebraic
difference of the grades by the rate of change of grade with due regard to the sign of each
grade.

Example 1. Calculate the length of a vertical curve if an upgrade g1  1.4% is followed

by a downgrade g 2  0.6% and the rate of change of the grade is recommended as 0.1%
per 20 m chain.
Solution.
From Eqn. (5),
g  g2
L 1 …………………. (i)
r

Here g1  1.4%, g 2  0.6%

r  0.1% per 20m

Substituting the values in equation (i) we, get

1.4   0.6 

0.1

 20 chains  20  20  400m

Example 2. Calculate the length of a vertical curve if an upgrade g1  2% is followed by

an upgrade g 2  1.5% Assume the recommended rate of change of grade as 0.1 per 30 m
chain.

Solution.
From Equation. (5), we get
g1  g 2
L …………………………………. (i)
r

Substituting the values in equation (i)

2.0  1.5
L
0.1

 5chains
= 5  30  150m

5
Geometrics of Vertical Curves
Assumptions. As vertical curves are generally flat, the distance along the curve are
measured horizontally and the offsets from the tangents to the curve are measured
vertically without introducing any appreciable error. The total length of the vertical curve
without introducing any appreciable error is therefore its horizontal projection.

 g1 %
Y R
h  g2 %

p
y
X X
O x Q B

Y1

Let OX’ and OY be the axes of the Cartesian co-ordinates, passing through the point of
commencement of the vertical curve to be introduced between two grades g1 and g 2

OA is a tangent at 0, having  g1 % slope

AB is a tangent at B, having  g 2 % slop
A is the summit where two grades meet
P is any point on the curve whose coordinates are (x, y).

Construction. Drop a perpendicular RQ through P to axis OX’.

The general equation of a vertical parabola having its axis parallel to Y –axis is

y  ax 2  bx ……………………………. (6)

Differentiating Eqn. (6), we get

dy
 2ax  b …………………………… (7)
dx

dy
At x  0,   g1
dx
Substituting these values in Eqn. (7), we get

6
 g1  2a0  b
g1  b ……………………. (8)
Then
Substituting the value of b in Eqn. (6), we get
y  ax 2  g1 x ……………………. (9)

Let RP = h, the vertical distance from the tangent OA to the curve at P.

h = RQ – PQ

But RQ  x  g1 the rise in x distance and PQ=y

h  xg1  y ………….. (10)

Substituting xg1  y   ax 2 ( Eqn 9), we get

h   ax 2  Cx 2 Where C is a constant
Or h  KN 2 ………….. (11)
Where K is a constant and N is the distance measured from 0, the beginning of curve.
i.e. the difference in elevations of the points between a vertical curve and tangent varies
as the square of their horizontal distances from the point of tangency. This difference in
elevations is known as tangent correction.

The value of the constant ‘K’

A
D

+g1% -g2%
e

l F B
O L=2nl

7
Let 2n be total number of equal chords, each of length -l
g1% and - g 2 % be the upgrade and downgrade respectively.
e1 and e2 be corresponding rise or fall per chord length.

Construction. Produce the tangent OA till it meets the B at C. Drop AD perpendicular to

the vertical BC.

OA  AC
 OAF   ACD
 AF  ne 1  CD
AF   ne 2  BD
BC  BD  DC
 ne 1  ne 2
BC  n e 1  e 2 
But, from equation (11) we get,
BC  KN 2
2
 K 2n 
2
Or K 2n   ne1  e2 
e  e 
K 1 2 ……….(12)
4n

Knowing the values of e1, e2 and n, the value of the constant K can be calculated.
Note. In the equation (12), proper signs of e1and e2 should be used for obtaining he value
of constant K.

Example 3. Calculate the value of the constant K when an upgrade 2.5% is followed by a
downgrade 1.5%. Assume the rate of change of grade is 0.05% per 20m chain.

Solution.

g1  2.5%; g 2  1.5%; r  0.05%

 Length of the vertical curve
g  g2
L 1
r
2.5  1.5
  80chains
0.05

8
 80
n  40
2
2.5  20
e1   0.5
100

1.5
e2    20  0.3
100
e e 0 .5  0 . 3 1
K 1 2  
4n 4  40 200

Setting out Vertical Curves by Tangent Corrections

Principle. Knowing the value of the constant k, the required tangential corrections for
various points on the curve, may be calculated from the h  kn 2

Assumption. The reduced level and chainage at the point of grade separation i.e. the
summit or valley, are generally known.

Let
-n be the number of chords on either side of the summit or valley.
-l be the length of each chord.
-Chainage of point of commencement is known.
e1 , e2 be the rise or fall per chord length.
The reduced levels and chainages of various points on the curve may be computed under:

A
 g1 %  g2 %
F

B E C
2n

Procedure: Proceed as under:

(1) Chainage at the point of commencement.

9
 B = chainage of A — nl

(2) Chainage at the point of tangency

C=chainage of A + nl.

(3) R.L. of point of commencement

B = R.L. of A  ne1

(4) R.L. of point of tangency

C = R.L. of A  ne2

(5) In a parabola, AF = EF where AE is the axis of the parabola.

(6) Calculation of tangent corrections.
h  KN 2

Substituting the value of N as 1, 2, 3, n, we get

h1  1.k
h2  4.k
h3  9.k
...................
.....................
hn  2n  .k .
2

Example 4. Calculate the reduced levels of the various station pegs on a parabolic
vertical curve which is to be set to connect two uniform grades 0.6% and  0.7% . The
chainage and required level of the point of intersection 2525m and 335.65m respectively.
Assume the rate of change of grade to be 0.05per 20 m chains.

Solution (from the fig above)

Here g1  0.6%; g 2  0.7%andr  0.05
The total length of the curve

g1  g 2 0.6  0.7 
L   26chains
r 0.05
The length of the curve on either side
 13 chains  13  20  260m
Chainage at point on intersection A =2525 (given)
Chainage at point of commencement
B  2525  260  2265m
Chainage at point of tangency
C  2525  260  2785m
R.L of point of intersection A =335.65m (given)

10
R.L of point of commencement of commencement
0.6
B  335.64   260
100
 335.65  1.56  334.09m
R.L of point tangency
0.7
C  335.65   260
100
 335.65  1.82  333.83m

R.L of the point

R.L of B  R.L of C
E
2

334.09  333.83
  333.96m
2

R.L of the point

R.L of E  R.L of A
F
2

1
 333.96  335.65  334.805m
2

Difference in R.Ls of point of intersection and the apex of the curve

 335.650  334.805  0.845m

g1
Check: e1   20
100

0.6
  20  0.12
100

g2
And e2   20
100
0.7
  20  0.14
100
e e 0.12  0.14
 k 1 2 
4n 4  13
0.26
  0.005
52

11
But AF  kn 2  0.005  13 2  0.845m ok

Tangential elevation of the first peg

= R.L of point of commencement  e1
 334.09  0.12  334.21m

Tangent correction of the first peg

 kn 2  0.005  1  0.005m
 R.Lof the first peg
 334.210  0.005  334.205m

Tangential elevation of the second peg

 334.09  2  0.12  334.33m

Tangent correction of second peg
 kn 2  0.005  2 2  0.020
 R.L of the sec ond peg
 334.33  0.02  334.31m

R.Ls of the remaining pegs may be calculated in a similar manner as tabulated on here
St No. Chainage (m) Tangent Tangent R.L

12
 Elevation(m) Correction(m) (m)
0 2265 334.090 0.000 334.090
1 2285 334.210 0.005 334.205
2 2305 334.330 0.020 334.310
3 2325 334.450 0.045 334.405
4 2345 334.570 0.080 334.490
5 2565 334.690 0.125 334.565
6 2328 334.810 0.180 334.630
7 2405 334.930 0.245 334.685
8 2425 335.050 0.320 334.730
9 2445 335.170 0.405 334.765
10 2465 335.290 0.500 334.790
11 2485 335.410 0.605 334.805
12 2505 335.530 0.720 334.810 Apex
13 2525 335.650 0.845 334.805
14 2545 335.770 0.980 334.790
15 2565 335.890 1.125 334.765
16 2585 336.010 1.280 334.730
17 2605 336.130 1.445 334.685
18 2526 336.250 1.620 334.630
19 2645 336.370 1.805 334.565
20 2665 336.490 2.000 334.490
21 2685 336.610 2.205 334.405
22 2705 336.730 2.420 334.310
23 2725 336.850 2.645 334.205
24 2745 336.970 2.880 334.090
25 2765 337.090 3.125 333.965
26 2785 337.210 3.380 333.830

Example 5 A horizontal grade meets a -2.5% grade at 3035 metre chainage and
218.905m elevation. A vertical curve of 16metre length with 4 metre peg intervals is to
be introduced. Calculate the necessary elevations on the curve.

Solution (Fig, (18.10)

C 3035m

3027m F
A B
E 3043m

13
Let C be the point of intersection of two grades having 218.905m elevation. The length
of the curve is 16 metres and peg interval is 4 metres

16
 Number of chords n 4
4

Chainage at the beginning of the curve

 3035  8  3027 m

R.L of B R.L of B = R.L of C-2.5% of 8

2.5
 218.905  8
100
 218.905  0.200  218.705m

R.L of A R.L of C  218.905m (AC being horizontal)

1
R.L of E = 218.705  218.905  218.805m
2

1
R.L of F  R.L ofC  R.L of E 
2
1
 218.905  218.805
2
 218.855m

 CF=R.L of C-R.L of F
 218.905  218.855  0.05m
 2 .5
Now e1  O; e2   4  0.1m
100

And 2n  4 or n2
e e O   0.1
k 1 2 
4n 4 2
0.1
  0.0125m
8

The tangential correction h  kn 2

14
 2
h1  0.0125  1  0.0125m
2
h2  0.0125  2  0.0500m
 2
h3  0.0125  3  0.1125m
2
h4  0.0125  4  0.200m

R.Ls of the various points of the curves, are tabulated under.

S/No Chainage Grade Elevation Tangential Curve Level

(m) (m) Correction (m) (m)
0 3027m 218.905 0.000 219.905
1 3031m 218.905 0.013 218.892
2 3035m 218.905 0.050 218.855
3 3039m 218.905 0.113 218.792
4 3043m 218.905 0.2000 218.705

Setting out Vertical Curves by Chord Gradient

Chord Gradient
-The difference in elevation between the ends of a chord joining two adjacent stations is
known as chord gradient.
In this method, the successive difference in elevations between the points on the curve
are calculated and R.L of each point is obtained by adding the chord gradient to the R.L
of the preceding point.

Let AC and BC be two grades meeting at C, where A and B are the points of tangency.
Consider any two adjacent points L and M on the vertical curve AFB
Construction. Through A draw a horizontal line AL M 
Through L and M draw horizontal lines La and Mb respectively

Let e1 and e2 be the respective rise and fall of the tangents per chord length. Assuming
L to be the first peg at an interval of l then

15
 C
N'

M'
N F
M
b
L' L
a
L" M" N"
A E B

e1  L L 

 Tangent correction
L L  K .N 2  1.k
 R.L of L  e1  k

Chord gradient for the first chord

AL  L L   L L  e1  1.k
e e
Where k 1 2
4.n
Similarly, M M "  2e1
2
Tangent correction M M  2  k  4k
 R.L of M  2e1  4k
Or chord gradient for the second chord
LM  R.L of M  R.L of L
 2e1  4k   e1  k   e1  3k 
Similarly, N N   3e1
2
Tangent correction N N  3 k  9k
R.L of N  3e1  9k

Chord gradient for the chord

MN  R.L or N  R.L of M
 3e1  9k   2e1  4k   e1  5k

16
Hence, nth chord gradient  e1  2n  1k

Knowing the chord gradients for different pegs, their R.L.s may be easily calculated as
under:
The R.L of 1st peg = R.L of tangent point
+ First chord gradient
The R.L of second peg = R.L of 1st peg
+ Second chord gradient
The R.L of chord peg = R.L of second peg
+ Third chord gradient.
And so on.

Example 6: A  1.0% grade meets a  2.0% grade at a station C whose chainage is

1550m and elevation is 555.555m. A vertical curve of length 100m is required to be
introduced with pegs at 10 intervals. Calculate the elevations of the points on the curve
by
(a)Tangent corrections
(b) Chord grades

A E
B

-1% +2%

Reduced Levels by Tangent Correction Method

Total number of stations at 10n interval

100
  10
10

Chainage at A  1550  50  1500m

Chainage at B  1550  50  1600m

17
Number of stations to each side of apex = 5
g 1
Again e1  1  10   10  0.10m
100 100
g 2
e2  2  10   10  0.20m
100 100

R.L of A  R.L of C  1% of 50m

 555.555  0.500  556.055m

R.L of B  555.555  2% of 50m

 555.555  1.000  556.555m

1
R.L of E 556.055  556.555  556.305m
2

1
R.L of F 556.305  555.555  555.930m
2
CF  555.555  555.930  0.375m

e1  e2  0.10  0.20
Again k 
4n 45
 0.3
  0.015
20

CF  0.375
Or K   0.015
n2 52

Tangent corrections:
h1  0.015  1  0.015m h6  0.015  16   0.540m
2 2

h2  0.015  2   0.060m h7  0.015  7   0.735m

2 2

h3  0.015  3  0.135m

2
h8  0.015  8  0.960m
2

h4  0.015  4  0.240m

2
h9  0.015  9   1.215m
2

h5  0.015  5  0.375m h10  0.015  10   1.500m

2 2

18
Necessary data is tabulated here under:
Sl No. Chainage Tangent grade Tangent Correction Curve Levels
(m) (m) +(m) (m)
0 1500 556.055 0.000 556.055
1 1510 555.955 0.015 555.970
2 1520 555.855 0.060 555.915
3 1530 555.755 0.135 555.890
4 1540 555.655 0.240 555.895
5 1550 555.555 0.375 555.930
6 1560 555.455 0.540 555.995
7 1570 555.355 0.735 556.090
8 1580 555.255 0.960 556.215
9 1590 555.155 1.215 556.370
10 2600 555.055 1.500 556.555

(b)Reduced Levels by Chord Gradient Method

From
Chord gradient  e1  2n  1K
Here e1  0.10; K  0.015 n=1, 2, 3,4,5,6,7,8,9 and 10

(1) for the first point, chord gradient

 0.10  2  1   0.015
 0.10  0.015  0.085
R.L of first point = R.L of A+chord gradient
556.055  0.085  555.970m
(2) For the second point, chord gradient
 0.10  4  1   0.15
 0.1  0.45  0.055

 R.L of the second point = R.L of first point+ chord gradient

 555.90  0.055  555.915m

(3) For the third point, chord gradient

19
  0.10  6  1 0.015
 0.1  0.075  0.025m
 R.L of the third point = R.L of second point + chord gradient

 555.915  0.025  555.890m

(4) For the fourth point, chord gradient

 0.1  8  1   0.15
 0.1  0.105  0.005m
 R.L of the forth point = R.L of 3rd point + chord gradient
 555.890  0.005  555.895m

(5) For the firth point, chord gradient

 0.100  10  1   0.015
 0.100  0.135  0.035m
 R.L of the firth point = R.L of 4th point + chord gradient
 555.895  0.035  55.930m

(6) For the sixth point,, chord gradient

 0.100  12  1   0.015
 0.0100  0.165  0.065m
 R.L of the sixth point=R.L of 5th point +chord gradient
 555.930  0.065  555.995m

(7) For the seventh point, chord gradient

 0.100  14  1   0.015
 0.100  0195  0.095m
 R.L of the seventh point = R.L of 6th point +chord gradient
 555.995  0.095  556.090m

(8) For the eight point, chord gradient

 0.100  16  1   0.015
 0.100  0.225  0.125m
 R.L of the eighth point = R.L of 7th point+ chord gradient
 556.215  0.155  556.215m

(9) For the ninth point, chord gradient

 0100  18  1   0.015
 0.100  0.255  0.155m
 R.L of the ninth point = R.L of 8th point + chord gradient

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  556.215  0.155  556.370m

(10) For the tenth point, chord gradient

 0.100  20  1   0.015
 0.100  0.285  0.185
 R.L of the tenth point = R.L of 9th point+ chord gradient
 556.370  0.185  556.555m

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