Government of Karnataka

Department of Collegiate and Technical Education

Chapter : WEEK 2, DAY 2 AFTERNOON SESSION

Subject : TRANSPORTATION ENGG (20CE53I)
Class : “V” SEMESTER CIVIL
ENGINEERING

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Civil Engineering
DESIGN OF VERTICAL ALIGNMNET
Gradient
Types of gradient
Grade compensation on horizontal curves
Vertical Curves and types
Summit curves
Types of summit curves
Valley curves
Numerical Problems
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 Vertical alignment
The natural ground or the topography may be level at
some places, but may have slopes of varying magnitudes at
other locations. While aligning a highway it is the common
practice to follow the general topography or profile of the land,
keeping in view the drainage and other requirements on each
stretch.
The vertical alignment of a highway influences:
 Vehicle speed
 Acceleration and deceleration
 Stopping distance
 Sight distance
 Comfort while travelling at high speeds and
 Vehicle operation cost.
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 Gradient
Gradient is the rate of rise or fall along the length of the
road with respect to the horizontal. It is expressed as a ratio of 1
in x (1 vertical unit to 100 horizontal units), the gradient is also
expressed as a percentage, such as n %, the slope being n
vertical units to 100 horizontal-units.
Types of gradient:
 Ruling gradient
 Limiting gradient
 Exceptional gradient and
 Minimum gradient.

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The maximum values of ruling, limiting and
exceptional gradients recommended by the IRC in
different terrains are given in Table below

IRC RECOMEMDED GRADES FOR DIFFERENT TERRAINS

Type of Terrain Ruling Gradient Limiting Grading Exceptional Gradient

Plain or rolling 3.3 % ( 1 in 5.0 % ( 1 in 20 ) 6.7 % ( 1 in 15 )

30 )
Mountainous terrain, and steep 5.0 % ( 1 in 6.0 % ( 1 in 7.0 % ( 1 in 14.3 )
terrain having elevation more 00 ) 16.7 )
than 3000m above the mean
sea level
Steep terrain up-to 3000m 6.0 % ( 1 in 7.0 % ( 1 in 8.0 % ( 1 in 12.5 )
height above mean sea level 16.7 ) 14.3 )

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Grade compensation on horizontal curves
 When sharp horizontal curve is to be introduced on a road
which has already the maximum permissible gradient, then
the gradient should be decreased to compensate for the loss
of tractive effort due to the curve. This reduction in gradient
at the horizontal curve is called grade compensation or
compensation in gradient at horizontal curve
 The maximum value of grade compensation is limited to
(75/R), where R is the radius of the circular curve in m.
 According to the IRC the grade compensation is not
necessary for gradients flatter than 4.0 percent and therefore
when applying grade compensation correction, the gradients
need not be eased beyond 4.0 percent. The compensated
gradient is = Ruling gradient minus grade compensation

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 Vertical Curves
Due to changes in grade in the vertical alignment of
highway, it is necessary to introduce vertical curve at the
intersections of different grades to smoothen out thee vertical
profile and thus ease off the changes in gradients for the fast
moving vehicles.

The vertical curves used in highway may be classified into two

categories:

 Summit curves or crest curves with convexity upwards

 Valley curves or sag curves with concavity upwards

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Civil Engineering
 Summit curves

 Summit curves with convexity upwards are formed

in any one of the cases illustrated in Fig.
 The deviation angle, N between the two intersecting
gradients is equal to the algebraic difference
between them of all the cases, the deviation angle
will be maximum when an ascending gradient, (+
n1) meets with a descending gradient, (-n2).
 Therefore deviation angle, N= n1 -(-n2) = (n1 +n2)
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 Length of summit curve:

While designing the length of the parabolic

summit curves, it is necessary to consider the stopping
sight distance (SSD) and overtaking sight distance
(OSD) separately.
Two cases are to be considered in deciding the length:
 When the length of the curve is greater than the
sight distance (L > SSD)
 When the length of the curve is less than the sight
distance (L< SSD)
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When the length of the curve is greater than the
sight distance (L > SSD)
Length L of the parabolic curve is given by:
L= =L=
Here
 L = length of summit curve, m
 S = stopping sight distance SSD, m
 N =deviation angle, equal to algebraic difference in grades,
radians or tangent of the deviation angle
 H = height of eye level of driver above roadway surface, 1.2 m
 h = height of subject above the pavement surface, 0.15 m

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When the length of the curve is less than the
sight distance (L< SSD)
Length L of the parabolic curve is given by:
L = 2S - = = 2S -
Here
 L = length of summit curve, m
 S = stopping sight distance SSD, m
 N =deviation angle, equal to algebraic difference in grades,
radians or tangent of the deviation angle
 H = height of eye level of driver above roadway surface, 1.2 m
 h = height of subject above the pavement surface, 0.15 m

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Civil Engineering
Length of summit curve for overtaking sight
distance (OSD) or intermediate sight distance
(ISD)
Two cases to be considered in deciding
the length are:

When the length of curve, L is greater than

the OSD or ISD (L> S)
When the length of the curve is less than the
OSD or ISD (L<S)

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Civil Engineering
When the length of curve, L is greater than the
OSD or ISD (L> S)
L= =
The height of the eye level of the driver as well as the height of
the approaching object are taken as 1.2 m. Substituting the value
of H, the height of eye level of driver above the pavement
surface equal to 1.2 m.
Here,
 L = the length of parabolic summit curve, m
 N = deviation angle, radians or tangent of the deviation angle,
 S = overtaking or intermediate sight distance, m

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When the length of the curve is less than the
OSD or ISD (L<S)
• When L is less than OSD/ISD:
L = 2S -
• Here again substituting the value of H as 1.2 m,
the equation reduces to:
L = 2S -

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Civil Engineering
While aligning a hill road with a ruling gradient of 6%, a
horizontal curve of radius 60m is encountered. Find the grade
compensation and the compensated gradient at the curve.

Given: Ruling Gradient = 6% , Radius of curve R = 60m

Grade compensation % = = = 1.5%

Maximum limit of grade compensation = 75/R = 75/60 = 1.25%

Therefore provide a grade compensation = 1.25%

Compensation gradient = (Ruling gradient – grade

compensation)
= 6.0 – 1.25 = 4.75%

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Civil Engineering
A vertical summit curve is formed at the intersection of two gradients, +3.0
and -5.0 percent. Design the length of summit curve to provide a stopping
sight distance foe a design speed of 80 kmph. Assume other data.

Given: Design speed V= 80 kmph, Gradient’s n1 = +3.0 % and n2 = -5.0%

Determination of safe stopping sight distance, SSD
As there is ascending gradient on one side of the summit and descending gradient on
the other side, the effect of gradient on SSD is assumed to get compensated and hence ignored
in the calculations.
SSD = 0.278 Vt +
Assuming t = 2.5sec & f = 0.35 for V= 80 kmph
SSD = 0.278 x 80 x 2.5 + = 127.6m say 128m.
Determination of length of summit curve
Deviation angle N = 0.03 – ( - 0.05) = 0.08 Assuming L > SSD,
Therefore L =
= = 297.9m say 298m.
This value of summit curve length L is greater than SSD of 128m as per the assumption and
therefore the calculated length may be accepted for design.

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Civil Engineering
An ascending gradient of 1 in 100 meets a descending gradient
of 1 in 120. A summit curve is to be designed for a speed of 80
kmph so as to have an overtaking sight distance of 470m.
Given: ascending gradient 1 in 100 = + 1/100, descending gradient 1 in 120
= -1/120, designed speed 80 kmph,
overtaking sight distance as 470m
Soln: Deviation angle, N =
Assuming L> SSD
Therefor L =
As this value of L == 422m
is less than OSD of 470m, the assumption is not
correct.
Now assuming L > SSD
Therefore L = 2S -
As this value of L = 417m is less than OSD of 470m, the assumption is
= 2 * 470 - = 416.4m say 417m.
correct.

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Civil Engineering
A valley curve is formed by descending grade of 1 in 25 meeting an ascending grade
of 1 in 30. Design the length of valley curve to fulfil both comfort condition and head
light sight distance requirement for a design speed of 80 kmph. Assume allowable
rate of change of centrifugal acceleration C = 0.6 m/sec.

Given: Design speed V = 80 kmph, gradient n1 = -1/25 & n2 = +1/30

Soln: Deviation angle, N = V = 80 kmph,
Valley curve length, L for comfort condition
L = 2[ v = = 22.2 m/sec.
= 2[ = 73.1m
Valley curve length for head light sight distance. Neglecting the ascending and
descending gradients at the valley curve using equation by assuming t= 2.5sec, f =
0.35
SSD = vt + =( 22.2 * 2.5) + = 127.3m.
Assuming L > SSD = 127.3m, and using equation
L = = = 199.5m
As this value of L is higher than the SSD of 127.3m, the assumption is correct.

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________ is formed when 2 different
gradients meet.
a) Summit
b) Sag
c) Summit or Sag

d) Another gradient

Answer is c) Summit or Sag

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The maximum rate of change of gradient in
case of Summit curve ________

a) 0.1%
b) 0.5%
c) 0.3%
d) 0.8%

Answer is a) 0.1%

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The maximum value of grade compensation is
limited to ______________
a) 35/R
b) 75 R
c) 75/R
d) All of above

Answer is c) 75/R

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 Length of summit curve for stopping sight distance
(SSD), When L > SSD is given by ______

a) L=
b) L = 2S -
c) L = 2S -
d) L = 2S -

Answer is a) L =

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