3.

1 A 520-ft–long equal-tangent crest vertical curve connects tangents that intersect at station 340 +
00 and elevation 1325 ft. The initial grade is +4.0% and the final grade is -2.5%. Determine the
elevation and stationing of the high point, PVC and PVT.

1- Determine the distance between the Initial point of vertical Curve and the point of Tangent Intersection.
The curve is an equal tangent vertical curve. Thus, calculate the distance using the relation:

𝐿
𝐷1 =
2

Here, 𝐷1 is the distance between the station of point of Tangent Intersection and the station of the Initial
point of vertical curve and 𝐿 is the distance of the vertical Curve.

Substitute 520 ft for 𝐿 :

520 ft
𝐷1 = = 260 ft
2

2- Determine the stationing of the Initial Point of Vertical Curve (PVC) using the relation:

𝐷1
Station of 𝑃𝑉𝐶 = Station of 𝑃𝑉𝐼 −
100 ft

Here, Station of PVC is the station of the Initial Point of vertical Curve (PVC), Station of PVI is the
station of point of vertical Intersection of the vertical tangents (PVI), 𝐷1 is the distance between the
Station of point of Tangent Intersection and the station of the Initial Point of Vertical Curve.

Substitute 340 + 00 for Station of PVI and 260 ft for 𝐷1 :

260 ft
Station of 𝑃𝑉𝐶 = 340 + 00 − = 337 + 40 Stations
100 ft

3- Determine the elevation of the PVC.

PVC is 2.6 stations from the PVI, which is at an elevation of 1325 ft.

Elevation of 𝑃𝑉𝐶 + (G𝑖 × 𝑁1 ) = Elevation of 𝑃𝑉𝐼

Elevation of 𝑃𝑉𝐶 = Elevation of 𝑃𝑉𝐼 − (G𝑖 × 𝑁1 )

Here, Elevation of PVC is the elevation of the beginning of the vertical curve, Elevation of PVI is the
elevation of the point of intersection of the tangents, 𝐺𝑖 is the initial grade of the curve, and 𝑁1 is the
number of station in between PVC and PVI

Substitute 1325 ft for Elevation of PVI, + 4.0 % for 𝐺𝑖 , and 2.6 stations for 𝑁1 :
ft
Elevation of 𝑃𝑉𝐶 = 1325 − (+4.0% × 2.6 Stations) = 1314.60 ft
station
4- Determine the distance between the Final point of Vertical Curve and the point of Tangent Intersection.
The curve is an equal tangent vertical curve. Thus, calculate the distance using the relation:

𝐿
𝐷2 =
2

Here, 𝐷2 is the distance between the station of point of Tangent Intersection and the station of the Final
point of vertical Curve and 𝐿 is the distance of the vertical curve.

Substitute 520 ft for 𝐿 :

520 ft
𝐷2 = = 260 ft
2

5- Determine the stationing of the Final Point of Vertical Curve ( PVT) using the relation:

𝐷2
Station of 𝑃𝑉𝑇 = Station of 𝑃𝑉𝐼 +
100 ft
Here, Station of PVT is the station of the Final Point of vertical Curve (PVT), Station of PVI is the station
of point of vertical Intersection of the vertical tangents (PVI), 𝐷2 is the distance between the Station of
point of Tangent Intersection and the station of the Final Point of Vertical Curve.

Substitute 340 + 00 for station of PVI and 260 ft for 𝐷2

260 ft
Station of 𝑃𝑉𝑇 = 340 + 00 + = 342 + 60 Stations
100 ft

6- Determine the elevation of the PVT.

PVT is 2.6 stations from the PVI, which is at an elevation of 1325 ft.
Therefore,

Elevation of 𝑃𝑉𝑇 = Elevation of 𝑃𝑉𝐼 + (G𝑓 × 𝑁2 )

Here, Elevation of PVT is the elevation of the end of the vertical curve, Elevation of PVI is the elevation
of the point of intersection of the tangents, 𝐺𝑓 is the initial grade of the curve, and 𝑁2 is the number of
station in between PVT and PVI

Substitute 1325 ft for Elevation of PVI, -2.5 % for 𝐺𝑓 , and 2.6 stations for 𝑁2 :
ft
Elevation of 𝑃𝑉𝐶 = 1325 + (−2.5% × 2.6 Stations) = 1318.50 ft
station

7- Determine the stationing of the high point on the vertical curve.

Show the equation of the vertical curve:

𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 … (1)

Here, y is the roadway elevation at distance x from the beginning of the vertical curve in stations or feet,
x is the distance from the beginning of the vertical curve in stations or feet, a and b are the coefficients,
and c is the elevation of the PVC.

Differentiate Equation (1):

𝑑𝑦 𝑑(𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐)
=
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
 𝑑𝑦
= 2𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏 … (2)
𝑑𝑥

8- Determine the value of coefficient 𝑏 using the relation:

𝑏 = 𝐺𝑖

Substitute + 4.0 % for G𝑖 :

𝑏 = + 4.0

9- Determine the value of the coefficient 𝑎 using the relation:

𝐺𝑓 − 𝐺𝑖
𝑎=
2𝐿

Substitute + 4.0 % for 𝐺𝑖 , - 2.5 % for 𝐺𝑓 , and 520 ft for L:

−2.5 − (+4.0)
𝑎= = − 0.625
2 × (5.20)

Substitute - 0.625 for a , 4.0 for 𝑏 , in Equation (2):

𝑑𝑦
= (2 × (−0.625) × 𝑥) + (4.0) = −1.25𝑥 + 4.0
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
Substitute = 0 since the initial and final grades are of opposite sign:
𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝑦
= −1.25𝑥 + 4.0
𝑑𝑥

0 = −1.25𝑥 + 4.0
1.25𝑥 = 4.0
4.0
𝑥= = 3.2 Stations
1.25

10- Determine the stationing of the high point from the PVC:

Station of High Point = Station of 𝑃𝑉𝐶 + 𝑥

Substitute 337 + 40 for Station of PVC and 3.2 for X:

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐏𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭 = (337 + 40) + 3.2 = 340 + 60 stations

11- Determine the elevation of the high point:

Substitute 3.2 for 𝑥, -0.625 for 𝑎, 4.0 for 𝑏, and 1314.60 for 𝑐 in Equation (1):

𝑦 = (−0.625 × 3.22 ) + (4 × 3.2) + 1314.60 = 1321 ft