Vertical Curve

Design
TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING
ASST. PROF. DR. MOHAMMAD ALI MOSABERPANAH

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Vertical Curve Profile Views

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 Notation
Curve point naming is similar to horizontal curves,
with addition of V for vertical
◦ PVC: Point of Vertical Curvature
◦ PVI: Point of Vertical Intersection
(of initial and final tangents)
◦ PVT: Point of Vertical Tangency
Curve positioning and length usually referenced in
stations

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 Notation (cont.)
G1 is initial roadway grade
◦ Also referred to as initial tangent grade
G2 is final roadway (tangent) grade
A is the absolute value of the difference in grades
(generally expressed in percent)
◦ A = |G2 – G1|
L is the length of the vertical curve measured in a
horizontal plane (not along curve center line, like
horizontal curves)

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 Curve Equation
Parabolic curves are generally used for design
◦ Parabolic function  y = ax 2 + bx + c Eq. 3.1
y = roadway elevation
x = distance from PVC
c = elevation of PVC
◦ Also usually design for equal-length tangents
◦ i.e., half of curve length is before PVI and half after

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 First Derivative of Equation
First derivative gives slope

◦ dy
 2ax  b
dx
dy
At PVC, x = 0, sob   G1 / 100 , by definition
dx

G1 is initial slope as previously defined

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 Second Derivative of Equation
Second derivative gives rate of change of slope
d2y
2
 2a
dx
 However, the average rate of change of
slope, by observation, can also be written as
d 2 y G2  G1 
2

dx L

a
G2  G1 
 Thus, Eq. 3.6
200 L
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 Offsets
Offsets are vertical distances from initial tangent to the curve

Fig. 3.4

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 Offset Formulas
For an equal tangent parabola,
A 2
Y x Eq. 3.7
200 L
◦ Y = offset (in m or ft) at any distance, x, from the PVC
◦ A and L are as previously defined
It follows from the figure that,
AL
Ym  offset at the curve midpoint
800
AL
Yf  offset at the end the curve
200
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SSD and Curve Design
It is necessary, when designing vertical curves, to provide adequate
stopping-sight distance (SSD)

Because curve construction is expensive, we want to minimize curve

length, subject to adequate SSD

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 SSD and Curve Design

SSD = stopping sight distance in (m) ft,

V1 = initial vehicle speed in (m/s) ft/s,
g = gravitational constant, (9.81 m/s2) 32.2 ft/s2,
a = deceleration rate in (m/s2) ft/s2,
G = roadway grade (+ for uphill and - for downhill) in
percent, and
tr = perception/reaction time in s.
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SSD and Crest
Vertical Curve
Design

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SSD Factors
Two different factors are important for crest curves
◦ The driver’s eye height in vehicle, H1
◦ Height of a roadway obstruction object, H2

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 Minimum Curve Length
By using the properties of a parabola for an equal tangent curve, it can
be shown that the minimum length of curve, Lm, for a required SSD is

A  SSD2
Lm  for SSD  L
Eq. 3.13
200  H1  H 2 2

Eq. 3.14 Lm  2  SSD 

200  H1  H 2 
2

for SSD  L
A

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 Minimum Curve Length
For the sight distance required to provide adequate
SSD, current AASHTO design standards use the
following specifications:

◦ H1 (driver’s eye height) = 1080 mm (3.5 ft)

◦ H2 (object height) = 600 mm (2.0 ft)

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K Values for Adequate SSD
Design Controls for Crest Vertical Curves Based on SSD

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Notes about K-values Table
In this table, K values assume G=0 for SSD calculations
◦ If specific grade needs to be accounted for, SSD should be computed directly

On downgrades, for which more stopping distance is required, more sight

distance is generally available
On upgrades, for which less sight distance is available, less stopping
distance is required

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SSD and Sag
Vertical Curve
Design

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Sag Curve Design Factors
Since SSD is unrestricted on sag curves during daylight hours,
nighttime conditions govern design

Thus, the critical concern for sag curves is the headlight sight
distance (i.e., the length of road illuminated by the vehicle’s
headlights),

Which is a function of the height of the headlight above the

roadway, H, and the inclined upward angle of the headlight
beam, relative to the horizontal plane of the car, b

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Sag Curve (Profile View)
Fig. 3.7

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 Minimum Curve Length
Like crest curves, we need expressions for determining the minimum
length of crest curve required for adequate SSD

A  SSD2
Eq. 3.19 Lm  for SSD  L
200 H  SSD tan b 

200 H  SSD tan b 

Eq. 3.20 Lm  2  SSD  for SSD  L
A

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Minimum Curve Length
For the sight distance required to provide adequate
SSD, current AASHTO design standards use the
following specifications:
◦ H (headlight height) = 2.0 ft (600 mm)
◦ b (headlight angle) = 1°

= 2.0 ft

= 1

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K Values for Adequate SSD
Design Controls for Sag Vertical Curves Based on SSD

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