Vertical Curves

• Vertical curves are introduced between the two different slopes for
obtaining the gradual change of gradient
• Vertical curves lie entirely in vertical plane. That’s why they are called
vertical curves.
• Vertical curve may be circular or parabolic although latter is more
common because of simplicity of its calculations
Representation of a grade:
• As a percentage e.g., 2% or 1.5%
• I in n e.g., 1 in 200 ft
• An ascending up grade raising to the right is called positive grade
where as a falling grade to the right is called negative grade
 Types of Vertical Curves
• An upgrade followed by downgrade:

• A downgrade followed by upgrade:

 Types of Vertical Curves
• An upgrade followed by upgrade:

• A downgrade followed by downgrade:

 Parabolic Vertical Curve
• Let us consider a parabolic vertical curve shown in the adjoining figure.
• OX and OY are the coordinate axes
• O is the origin as well as the beginning of vertical curve
• OA and BA are the tangents to the vertical curve at its beginning and end
representing grade of the curve at those points
• Any point M having coordinates x
and y
General equation of the parabola is:
y = ax2+bx+c
At x = 0, y = 0 so we get
c=0
Differentiating wrt x, we get
dy/dx = 2ax+b
At x = 0, dy/dx = g1, so we get
b = g1
 Parabolic Vertical Curve
• So equation of parabolic vertical curve is
y = ax2+g1x
• The vertical distance from the tangent to any point on the curve is called
tangent correction. In the figure, the tangent correction is:
MN = KN – KM
MN = g1x – y = g1x – (ax2+g1x ) = - ax2
• As vertical curve is mostly set out w.r.t. the tangent in which case the tangent
correction is (approximately) given by
y = ax2
• The offsets in the vertical curve are theoretically parallel to the x and y axes but
for ease of calculations they are assumed vertical. If both up and down grades
are equal then the theoretical condition is fulfilled and offsets are vertical as
well as parallel to the axes but if the two grades are not equal then there is a
small error in assuming the ordinates vertical but for all practical purposes the
difference is negligible.
 Parabolic Vertical Curve
• As
y = ax2

At x = 2l, y = a(4l2)

Also, at x = 2l, y = (g1 - g1 )l/100 so

a(4l2) = (g1 - g2 )l/100  a = (g1 - g2 )/400l
Finally the equation for tangent correction or tangent offset is:
y = (g1 - g2 )/400l x2
The expression g1 - g2 denotes the algebraic difference of two grades
Knowing c, the tangent corrections or tangents offsets may be calculated in the
following ways:
1. By Tangent Corrections
2. By Chord Gradients
Tangent Corrections Method
Tangent Corrections Method
 Chord Gradients Method
• In this method the difference of elevations between the successive points on
the curve, called chord gradient is calculated
• The chord gradient is then added to the elevation of the previous point to get
the elevation of the following point on curve
• Due regard to be paid to the sign of the chord gradient
• To understand the method let us consider the following figure:
 Chord Gradients Method
• K1K2 is the vertical line through point K and M1M2 is the vertical line through point M.
• A horizontal line through point k is drawn cutting line M1M2 at point M3
• Now difference of elevation between A and K is:
KK2 = K1K2 -K1K = = 1st chord gradient
Where Cg =
• Likewise, the chord gradient between K and M is:
• MM3 = M1M2-M1M-M2M3= 2- () = = 2nd Chord gradient
• Similar, nth chord gradient =

M1
 Chord Gradients Method
• Now
• Elevation of point K = Elevation of point A + 1st chord gradient
= Elevation of point A + ()
• Elevation of point M = Elevation of point K + 2nd chord gradient
= Elevation of point A + ()

M1
 Length of vertical curve
• Length of a parabolic curve made to pass through a point p distance above or below
the point of intersection is calculated as follows:
• Let g1 and g2 be two grades and p be the distance above or below the apex
• Let l be the length of the vertical curve on either side of the apex
• From the equation of the parabola y = cx2 , we have
Tangent offset at the mid-length = yl = cl2= = p
or half length of curve = l =
And length of the parabolic curve= 2l =

M1
 Location of highest or lowest point on vertical curve
• The general equation of the parabolic equation (as we have derived earlier) is
y = ax2+g1x
• The slope of the equation is
2ax+g1
• At the point of highest and lowest elevation the slope is:
0 2ax+g1 = 0 x = -
• Here, x is the distance from the beginning of the curve to the point of highest or lowest
elevation
• Knowing the distance x, the tangent correction at point P can be calculated and then the
elevation of the point P may be calculated rom as follows:
• Elevation of point P = Elevation of Tangent at point P  Tangent correction at point P
• Length of the curve is influence by the centrifugal force and visibility of the
M1
 Example Problem
• Problem: Calculate the reduced levels of various station pegs on a vertical curve
connecting two uniform grades of 5% and -7%. The chainage and RL of the point of
intersection are 500m and 330.750 m, respectively. The rate of change of grade is 1%
per 30m.
• Solution:
Length of Curve:
The length of vertical curve is given by
Length of curve=

= g1-g2 = 5-(-7) = 12%

= 1% per 30 m or
So, length of curve= L = = x30 = 360 m
And length of curve on either side of the apex = = 180 m
 Example Problem
• Chainages of the tangent points:
Chainage of the Beginning of Curve or 1st tangent point= Chainage of
point of intersection – = 500-180 = 320m
Chainage of the end of Curve or 2nd tangent point= Chainage of point
of intersection + = 500+180 = 680m
• Reduced levels of various points:
• RL of point of intersection = 330.750m
• RL of 1st tangent point = 330.750 - x180 = 321.75m
• RL of 2nd tangent point = 330.750 - x180 = 318.15m
 Example Problem
• RL of mid-point of the chord joining 1st and 2nd tangent points (point E)= (RL of
1st tangent point + RL of 2nd tangent point )=(321.75+ 318.15)= 319.95m
• RL of vertex of the curve (point F) = (RL of E+ RL of A) =(319.95+ 330.75)= 325.35m
• Distance between A and F = AF = 330.75 -325.35 = 5.4m
• Also from the formula,
• At x = l, y = AF = = = 5.4m

• RLs of points on the curve:

• Assuming pegs to be staked at 30m intervals
• Chainage of 1st peg on curve = 350m
• RL of 1st point on tangent = RL of 1st tangent point + = 321.75 + 1.5 = 323.25m
• Tangent correction for 1st point = cx2= = = =0.15m
• RL of 1st point on curve= RL of 1st point on tangent-tangent correction for the
point
• = 323.25m-0.15m = 323.10m
 Example Problem
• Chainage of 2nd peg on curve = 380m
• RL of 2nd point on tangent = RL of 1st tangent point + = 321.75 + 3 = 324.75m
• Tangent correction for 2nd point = cx2= = = =0.6m
• RL of 2nd point on curve= RL of 1st point on tangent-tangent correction for the point
• = 324.75m-0.6m = 324.15m
• The RL for remaining peg stations on the curve can be calculated the same way and
tabulated as follows:

Station Chainage Grade Tangent Curve Remarks

Elevation correction elevation

0 320 321.75 0 321.75 Beginning

of curve
1 350 323.25 0.15 323.10 `

2 380 324.75 0.6 324.15