Highway and Traffic Engineering

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 Lecture Outlines
 Geometric design of highway
 Design of horizontal curve
 Design of vertical curve

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 Vertical Alignment - Introduction
 The vertical alignment of a highway consists of
straight sections known as grades, (or tangents)
connected by vertical curves
 Vertical curves are used to provide a gradual
change from one tangent grade to another so that
vehicles may run smoothly as they traverse the
highway
 Vertical curves can be broadly classified into crest
vertical curves and sag vertical curves
 These curves are usually parabolic in shape

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Vertical Curve - Types

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Vertical Curve - Layout

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 Vertical Curve – Length Calculation
Crest Vertical Curve
 Provision of a minimum stopping sight distance
(SSD) is the only criterion used for design of a crest
vertical curve
Sag Vertical Curve
 The selection of the minimum length of a sag
vertical curve is controlled by the following three
criteria:
 SSD provided by the headlight
 Comfort while driving on the curve
 General appearance of the curve
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 Vertical Curve – Length Calculation
Crest Vertical Curve
 The possible scenarios that could control the design
length of crest vertical curve are:
 The SSD is greater than the length of the vertical
curve
 The SSD is less than the length of the vertical curve
 For SSD equal to length of curve, any of the above
can be considered, as it does not effect the result

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 Vertical Curve – Length Calculation
Crest Vertical Curve

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 Vertical Curve – Length Calculation
Crest Vertical Curve

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 Vertical Curve – Length Calculation
Crest Vertical Curve – Example I
A crest vertical curve is to be designed to join a +3 %
grade with a -2 % grade at a section of a two-lane
highway. Determine the minimum length of the curve
if the design speed of the highway is 60 mi/h, SSD<L,
and a perception-reaction time of 2.5 sec. The
deceleration rate for braking is 11.2 ft /sec2.

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 Vertical Curve – Length Calculation
Crest Vertical Curve – Example II
A crest vertical curve having length of 2184 ft joining a
+3 percent and a -4 percent grade is to be designed for
75 mi/h. If the tangents intersect at station
(345+60.00) at an elevation of 250 ft, determine the
stations and elevations of the BVC and EVC.

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 Vertical Curve – Length Calculation
Crest Vertical Curve – Example II
A crest vertical curve having length of 2184 ft joining a
+3 percent and a -4 percent grade is to be designed for
75 mi/h. If the tangents intersect at station
(345+60.00) at an elevation of 250 ft, determine the
stations and elevations of the BVC and EVC.

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 Vertical Curve – Length Calculation
Sag Vertical Curve - SSD Provided by the Headlight
 The headlight SSD requirement is based on the fact
that sight distance will be restricted during periods
of darkness whereas during daylight periods, sight
distance is unaffected by the sag curve
 As a vehicle is driven on a sag vertical curve at
night, the position of the headlight and the
direction of the headlight beam will dictate the
stretch of highway ahead that is lighted

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 Vertical Curve – Length Calculation
Sag Vertical Curve - SSD Provided by the Headlight

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 Vertical Curve – Length Calculation
Sag Vertical Curve - Based on Comfort Criterion
 The comfort criterion is based on the fact that
when a vehicle travels on a sag vertical curve, both
the gravitational and centrifugal forces act in
combination, resulting in a greater effect than on a
crest vertical curve where these forces act in
opposition to each other
 It is generally accepted that a comfortable ride will
be provided if the radial acceleration is not greater
than 1 ft /sec-sq.

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 Vertical Curve – Length Calculation
Sag Vertical Curve - Based on Comfort Criterion
 Minimum length of curve

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 Vertical Curve – Length Calculation
Sag Vertical Curve - Based on Appearance Criterion
 The criterion for acceptable appearance is usually
satisfied by assuring that the minimum length of
the sag curve is not less than expressed by the
following equation based on Thumb Rule:

 Longer curves are frequently necessary for major

arterials if the general appearance of these
highways is to be considered to be satisfactory
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 Vertical Curve – Length Calculation
Sag Vertical Curve - Example I
A sag vertical curve is to be designed to join a -5%
grade to a +2% grade. If the design speed is 40 mi/h,
determine the minimum length of the curve that will
satisfy all criteria. Assume a = 11.2 ft/sec2 and
perception-reaction time = 2.5 sec.

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Vertical Curve – Location of Highest/Lowest Point
 The location of the high point (on a crest vertical
curve) or the low point (on a sag vertical curve) is
given by:

Where
L = Curve length in ft
G1 = Initial grade
G2 = Final grade
 Care must be taken to address the sign of the
grade. A negative grade has a minus (-) sign that
must be accounted for in the equation
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Vertical Curve – Location of Highest/Lowest Point
 The offset of any point along the curve from the
tangent is given by:

Where
A = Algebraic difference in grades
x = Offset distance
L = Curve length

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 Vertical Curve – Example I
A 600-ft long equal tangent sag vertical curve has the
PVC at station 170+00 and elevation 1,000 ft. The
initial grade is -3.5 % and the final grade is +0.5 %.
Determine the stationing and elevation of the PVI, the
PVT and the lowest point on the curve

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 Vertical Curve – Example II
A vertical curve of 600 ft. connects a +4 % grade to a
-2 % grade. The elevation of the PVC is 1,250 ft. Find
the elevation of the PVI, PVT and the high point on the
curve

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