Topic 10 Vertical Curves

Gradients
In the same way that horizontal curves are used to connect intersecting straights in the
horizontal plane, vertical curves are used to connect intersecting straights in the vertical
plane. These straights are usually called gradients and the combination of the of the
gradients and vertical curve is known as vertical alignment.
Gradients are usually expressed as percentages, e.g. 1 in 50 = 2%, 1 in 25% = 4% . As
with transition curves these measurements are directly linked to road design.
In the design calculations the algebraic difference A between the gradients is used. This
requires the introduction of the sign convention that gradients rising in the direction of
increasing chainage are considered to be positive and those falling are considered to he
negative.
This results in six different combinations of gradient. These are shown below.
A = m%(entry gradient) n% (exit gradient)
The sign convention applied is that gradients which rise in the direction of increasing
chainage are considered positive and gradients which fall in the direction of increasing
chainage are considered negative.
A crest curve is defined as one in which the algebraic difference between the
intersecting gradients is positive.
A sag is defined as one in which the algebraic difference between the intersecting
gradients is negative.
Purpose of Vertical Curves
Vertical curves are similar to horizontal curves in that they are designed for a particular
speed. The main functions of a vertical curve are to provide:
Safety and comfort travelling between gradients
Adequate visibility to enable vehicles to stop or overtake safely
Comfort and safety
For vertical curves, vehicles travelling along at the design speed will experience a radial
force which acts to push the vehicle up away from the road surface for a crest curve or
down into the road surface for a sag curve.
Either can be uncomfortable and dangerous for passengers and these forces are
minimised by restricting the gradients on roadways and by choosing an appropriate type
and length of curve for the situation.
Adequate Visibility
In order that vehicles travelling at the design speed can stop or overtake safely they
must be able to see oncoming vehicles or obstruction clearly and in good time.
The length of vertical curve used must ensure that any visibility requirements are met.
This is achieved using sight distances and K values.
Vertical Curves Geometry
Due to restrictions on the maximum gradients, in practice Vertical curves are
categorised as flat curves.
The definition of a flat curve is that if its length is L
v
and radius is R, then:
A vertical curve can be a circular arc, an ellipse or a parabolic curve. In practice a
parabolic curve is often used to achieve a uniform rate of change of gradient and to
gradually introduce the vertical radial force. The equation of the parabola is:
10 / 1
R
L
v
2
cy x =
Assumptions in Vertical Curve Calculations
Choosing a parabola simplifies the calculations of a vertical curve, further
simplifications are also made if certain assumption are used
Vertical curves are generally designed with equal tangent lengths such that PQ = OR.
Assumptions made are:
Chord PWR = Arc PSR = PQ + QR
Length along the tangents = horizontal length, i.e. PQ = PQ
QU = QW, i.e. there is no difference in dimensions measured either in the vertical plane
or perpendicular to the entry tangent length
Let QS = e and the length of the curve = L
v
. The basic equation is modified to give a
general equation including the design terms from:
Level of Q above P = , i.e. slope x length = the rise
Level of R below Q =
200 2 100
v v
mL L m
= |

\
|
|

\
|
200 2 100
v v
nL L n
= |

\
|
|

\
|
Hence, Level of R above P =
From the assumptions, PW = WR, therefore:
Level of W above P =
From the properties of a parabola
Since QW = Level of Q above P Level of W above P
In this case the algebraic gradient A = (+m) (-n) = (m+n)
|

\
|

= |

\
|
|

\
|
200
) (
200 200
v v v
L n m nL mL
|

\
|

400
) (
v
L n m
SW
QW
QS = =
2
800
) (
400
) (
200 2
1
v v v
L n m L n m mL
QS
+
=
(

=
800
v
AL
e QS = =
The basic equation of the parabola was x = cy
2
, So at point Q when y=L
v
/2 and x = e:
this gives =>
Therefore
Since then:
This is the general equation of the parabolic vertical curve and it is used to calculate
reduced levels along the curve.
2
2
|

\
|
=
v
L
c e
( )
2
2 /
v
L
e
c =
( )
2
2
2 /
v
L
ey
x =
800
v
AL
e =
( )
v
L
Ay
x
200
2
=
Reduced Levels on Vertical Curves
The reduced level of any point Z along the vertical curve above is given by the reduced
level of P plus the value of H.
(

=
v
L
Ay my
H
200 100
2
Crest Point and Sag Point
It is often important to know the highest or lowest point on a vertical curve for locating
drainage channels etc. The highest point occurs when H is a maximum. For max or min
value of H, d(H)/dy = 0:
This gives:
And for a maximum of minimum value of H
0
100 100
) (
=
(

v
L
Ay m
dy
H d
V
L
Ay m
100 100
=
A
m L
y
V
=
This gives the point along the curve at which a maximum or minimum value occurs. To
find the reduced level it is necessary to substitute back into the reduced levels formula
as follows:
Sight Distances
The length of vertical curve to be used depends on the sight distance. This is the
distance of visibility from one side of the carriageway on which a vertical curve is
located to the other. There are to categories of sight distance:
Stopping Sight Distance (SSD), which is the theoretical forward sight distance required
by a driver to stop safely and comfortably when faced an unexpected hazard.
|
|

\
|
=
|
|

\
|
|
|

\
|

\
|
|

\
|
=
A
m L
A
m L
L
A
A
m L m
H
v
V
V
V
200
200 100
2
2
2 2
min max/
- Full Overtaking Sight Distance (FOSD), which is the length of visibility required by
drivers of vehicles to enable them to overtake other vehicles on the road ahead in safety
and comfort. (FOSD values are greater than SSD values)
It is usually only necessary to design for FOSD at the crest of vertical curves on single
carriageways, as overtaking is not an issue on dual carriageways and on sag curve there
is usually adequate visibility.
For SSD drivers eye level height is taken as 1.05m, tall vehicles are taken as 2.00m and
small objects are taken at 0.26m (i.e. the height of tail lights of a car) which gives the
envelope of visibility below
Typical Sight Distances and K Values
K values
The minimum length of a vertical curve (min L
V
) for any given road is obtained from the
equation:
Min L
V
= KA metres
K is a constant obtained from the previous table which are derived from sight distances
and the design speed of the road.
A is the algebraic difference of gradients (the absolute value is used).
K values ensure that the minimum length of a vertical curve, obtained from the
equation above, contains adequate visibility and provides sufficient comfort.
Vertical Curves Example 1: Designing a Vertical Curve
The reduced level of an intersection of a rising gradient of 1.5% and a falling
gradient of 1.0% on a proposed motorway is 93.60m. Given the K value for this
particular road is 55, the through chainage of the intersection is 671.34m and the
vertical curve is to have equal tangent lengths, calculate:
The through chainages of the tangent points of the vertical curve if the minimum
required length is to be used
The reduced level of the tangent points and the reduced levels at exact 20m
multiples of through chainage
The position and reduced level of the highest point on the curve.
Solution:
Through chainage of tangent points:
A = (entry gradient %) (exist gradient % = (+1.5) (-1.0) = +2.5%
Min L
V
= KA = 55 x 2.5 = 137.5 m
Since the minimum length of the curve is to be used and using the assumptions
that the length of the curve along the gradients is the same as along the
horizontal
Through chainage of P
Through chainage of R
Reduced levels of Tangent points and reduced levels at exact 20m multiples of
through chainage along the curve:
Reduced level of P
Reduced level of R
To keep to exact multiples of through chainage there will be the need for an initial
short value of y of 620 - 602.59 = 17.41m. All other values of Y will increase in
steps of 20m until as last short section.
m 59 . 602
2
5 . 137
34 . 671 =
|

\
|
=
m 09 . 740
2
5 . 137
34 . 671 =
|

\
|
+ =
m
mL
V
57 . 92 03 . 1 60 . 93
200
60 . 93 = = |

\
|
=
m
nL
V
91 . 92 69 . 0 60 . 93
200
60 . 93 = = |

\
|
=
Working from P towards R the RLs of the points on the curve are as follows:
(

+ = + =
V
L
y y
H RL
200
5 . 2
100
5 . 1
57 . 92 57 . 92
2
Reduced level and position of highest point
The highest point along the curve occurs when:
The highest RL is then obtained from:
Highest RL
m
A
m L
y
V
50 . 82
5 . 2
5 . 1 5 . 137
=
|

\
|

= =
m
A
m L
RL
V
P
19 . 93
5 . 2 200
5 . 1 5 . 137
57 . 92
200
2 2
=
|
|

\
|

+ =
|
|

\
|
+ =
Vertical Curves Example 2: Designing a Vertical curve to pass through a
particular Point.
A parabolic vertical curve having equal tangent lengths is to connect a falling
gradient of 2.40% to a rising gradient of 2.10% on a road designed for a speed of
100 kph. The length of the curve used must at least be enough to ensure that the
minimum K value is 26.
In order to ensure there will be sufficient clearance, the curve must pass through
point Z of through chainage 2781.92m and RL 113.56m. The RL and through
chainage of the intersection point Q are 110.98m and 2815.63m.
Calculate the length of the curve that will meet these requirements.
Solution
the point Z is shown above located a horizontal distance y from the entry point P
and a height x above the entry gradient.
A = (-2.40) (+2.10) = - 4.50
Since the point Z has a larger through chainage than Q, it must lie beyond the
intersection point. This distance y is given by:
Since x is the vertical offset from the entry gradient to Z:
58 . 112 2
29 . 56
2
) 63 . 2815 92 . 2871 (
2
=
+ = + =
y L
therefore
m
L L
y
V
V V
m
L y m
RL RL x
V
Q Z
931 . 3 100
) 29 . 56 40 . 2 (
98 . 110 56 . 113
100
) 2 / (
=

+ =
|

\
|

+ =
But
= 3.931m
Substituting for L
V
:
Solving this quadratic gives
( )
v v
L
y
L
Ay
x
200
50 . 4
200
2 2
= =
0 98 . 19668 42 . 349
) 58 . 112 2 ( 200
50 . 4
931 . 3
2
2
= + =

=
y y
y
y
m y
or
m y
y
524 . 70
895 . 278
) 1 ( 2
) 98 . 19668 )( 1 ( 4 42 . 349 [ 42 . 349
2
=
=

=
Substituting into the L
V
equation:
L
V
= 455.21m or 28.47m
The minimum L
V
required is = KA = 26 x 4.50 = 117.00m
Therefore L
V
= 445.21m