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Vertical Curves - Solved Examples

This document contains solutions to 3 questions about calculating elevations and lengths for roadway vertical curves. The first question calculates the elevation of the first quarter point of a parabolic vertical curve connecting grades of -6% and 2%. The second question calculates the station and invert elevation of a drainage pipe located at the low point of a 260m vertical curve connecting grades of -4.2% and 3%. The third question calculates the minimum length of a vertical curve required to provide 0.8m of clearance over a drainage pipe located at station 75+40 with a top elevation of 51.1m, connecting grades of -1.2% and 0.8% with a P.I. at

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Shikhin Garg
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9K views6 pages

Vertical Curves - Solved Examples

This document contains solutions to 3 questions about calculating elevations and lengths for roadway vertical curves. The first question calculates the elevation of the first quarter point of a parabolic vertical curve connecting grades of -6% and 2%. The second question calculates the station and invert elevation of a drainage pipe located at the low point of a 260m vertical curve connecting grades of -4.2% and 3%. The third question calculates the minimum length of a vertical curve required to provide 0.8m of clearance over a drainage pipe located at station 75+40 with a top elevation of 51.1m, connecting grades of -1.2% and 0.8% with a P.I. at

Uploaded by

Shikhin Garg
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Q1.

A descending grade of 6% and an ascending grade of 2% intersect at Sta 12 +


200 km whose elevation is at 14.375 m. The two grades are to be connected by
a parabolic curve, 160 m long. Find the elevation of the first quarter point on the
curve?
Ans:

From the grade diagram:

S1=120 m
Horizontal distance from the lowest point to point Q
SQ = S140 =12040
SQ = 80 m
Grade at point Q by ratio and proportion of triangles:
=

gQ =

gQ = 0.04
Elevation of PC:
Elev PC=Elev V+80*(0.06)
Elev PC=14.375+80*(0.06)
Elev PC=19.175 m

Difference in elevation between PC and Q:

DEPCQ = shaded area in the grade diagram


DEPCQ =
DEPCQ =

*(gQ+0.06)*(40)
(0.04+0.06)*(40)

DEPCQ = 2 m
Elevation of the first quarter point Q:
Elev Q=Elev PCDEPCQ
Elev Q=19.1752
Elev Q=17.175 m
Q2.A grade of -4.2% grade intersects a grade of +3.0% at Station 11 + 488.00 of
elevations 20.80 meters. These two center grade lines are to be connected by a
260 meter vertical parabolic curve.
a). At what station is the cross-drainage pipes be situated?
b). If the overall outside dimensions of the reinforced concrete pipe to be installed
is 95 cm, and the top of the culvert is 30 cm below the subgrade, what will be
the invert elevation at the center?
Ans:

From the grade diagram:

S1=151.67 m
d = S1130 = 151.67- 130
d = 21.67 m
The cross-drainage pipe should be at the lowest point of the curve. Stationing of
the lowest point indicated as point A in the figure:
Sta A=Sta PI+d
Sta A=11488+21.67=11509.67
Sta A=11+509.67 km
Vertical distance between PC and PI:
a = 130 * (0.042)
a = 5.46 m
Vertical distance between PC and the lowest point A:

A1=

S1 * (0.042) =

(151.67) * (0.042)

A1=3.18 m
Elevation of the lowest point A:
Elev A=Elev PI+a A1
Elev A=20.80 + 5.46 3.18
Elev A=23.08 m

Elev of invert =Elev A0.300.95


Elev of invert =23.080.300.95
Elev of invert =21.83 m
Q3. A vertical curve joins a -1.2% grade to a +0.8% grade. The P.I. of the vertical
curve is at station 75+00 and elevation 50.90 m above sea level. The centerline
of the roadway must clear a pipe located at station 75+40 by 0.80 m. The
elevation of the top of the pipe is 51.10 m above sea level. What is the
minimum length of the vertical curve that can be used?
Hint:

y = the offset between the critical point and the tangent passing through

the PC.
z = the horizontal distance from the P.I. to the critical point.
C = 0.8m (Given) = Critical clearance.
Using the below equations
y =

, r is given as

---------------------(1)

x=

+z

From (1)
y =

------------------------------(2)

From (2)
AL2 + (4Az - 8 y)L + 4Az2 = 0--------------------------(3)
For simplicity of equation put w =

and equating (3) we get two roots

the smaller is discarded as it gives vertical curve i.e. tangent between PI and
Critical point. After simplification larger root gives an expression for
maximum or minimum vertical curve length.
L = 4w 2z + 4

-----------------------(4)

Ans:

Determine z:
z = (75 + 40) - (75 + 00) = 0.40 sta.
Determine y :
Elevation of tangent = 50.90 - (-1.2)*(0.4) = 50.42 m
Elevation of roadway = 51.10 - 0.80 = 51.90 m
y = 51.90 - 50.42 = 1.48 m
Determine w :
A = g1 g2 = (0.8) (-1.2) = 2.0

w=

= 0.74

Determine L :
L = 4w 2z + 4
= 4*(0.74) 2*(0.40) + 4
= 4.17 sta. = 417 m

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