Geometrical Design of

Vertical Curves
What is a Vertical Curve? Lecture
no:

• Vertical Curves:

A vertical curve provides a transition between two sloped

roadways, allowing a vehicle to negotiate the elevation rate
change at a gradual rate rather than a sharp cut.
Objectives Lecture
no:

• Provided at intersection of two gradients

• Safe transition between two grades
• To smoothen the vertical profile
• To ease of the changes from one grade to another
Dependency of vertical curves: Lecture
no:

The design of the curve is dependent on the following factors:

1. Intended design speed for the roadway

2. Drainage
3. Slope
4. acceptable rate of change
5. Friction
1.GRADE: Lecture
no:

• The grade of a highway is a measure of its incline or slope.

• The amount of grade indicates how much the highway is inclined
from the horizontal.
• For example, if a section of road is perfectly flat and level, then
its grade along that section is zero.
• However, if the section is very steep, then the grade along
that section will be expressed as a number, usually a
percentage, such as 10 percent.

The effects of rate and length of grade are more pronounced on

the operating characteristics of trucks than on passenger cars and
thus may introduce undesirable speed differentials between the
vehicle types.
What Is Vertical Alignment ? Lecture
no:

BASIC COMPONENTS OF VERTICAL ALIGNMENT:

The basic element of vertical alignment is Grade.
1. Grade
Types of Vertical Curves Lecture
no:

Two types of vertical curves exist:

(1) Crest Curves or Summit: whose Convexity upward.
• In designing crest vertical curves, it is important that the grades be not too high which
makes it difficult for the motorists to travel upon it.
(2) Sag Curves or Valley: whose Convexity downward.
• In sag vertical curve the length is important as it influences the factors such as headlight
sight distance, rider comfort and drainage requirements.
 Types of Vertical Curve:

Crest Curve

Sag Curve
Types of Vertical Curves Lecture
no:

Both types of curves have three defined points:

• PVC (Point of Vertical Curve)
• PVI (Point of Vertical Intersection)
• PVT (Point of Vertical Tangency).
• PVC is the start point of the curve
• PVT is the end point
Types of Vertical Curves Lecture
no:

• The roadway grade that approaches the PVC is defined as G1 and

the roadway grade that leaves the PVT is defined as G2.
PARABOLIC FORMULATION: Lecture
no:

• Mostly Parabolic curves are used for Vertical Curves

y= ax2 + bx + c

• Mostly parabola curve is used because

– It offers very comfortable riding
– Easy to compute the ordinate
– Constant rate of change of slope
– Involves equal curve tangent
• Comfort of driver not considered in design of summit curve.

• But SSD is obstructed on summit as well as on valley curves,

hence used in design from safety point of view.
General Consideration in design of vertical
Lecture

curves
no:

• Safe
• Comfortable
• Aesthetical
• Should be adequate for Drainage
 SSD on Crest
Vertical Curves
SSD on Crest Vertical Curves Lecture
no:

• Crest vertical curves should be designed to provide at least the

stopping sight distance that is a major design control.

• Minimum lengths of crest vertical curves based on sight distance

criteria generally are satisfactory from the standpoint of
• Safety
• Comfort
• Appearance
 SSD on Crest Vertical Curves
CASE = 01 (SSD L)
• When the height of the eye and the height
L = 2 (SSD) – of object are (3.50 ft and 2.0 ft),
respectively, as used for stopping sight
distance, the equations become:
CASE = 02 (SSD L)
For SSD < L For SSD > L
L=
2158
ASSD
2
L 2SSD 
L  A
L= Minimum length of curve 2158
= Driver’s Eye Height above roadway surface,
• When the height of the eye and the height
(3.5ft) (Car) of object are 1.08 and 0.60 m.
= Object’s Height above roadway surface 0.5ft A S 2 S2
A= Algebraic difference in grade, grade change For S  L L or ( K  )
658 658
in %.
658
SSD= Stopping Sight Distance. For S L L 2 S 
A
after setting :
h1 1.08 m, height of eye above roadway surface,
h2 0.60 m, object height.
SSD on Crest Vertical Curves Lecture
no:

Figure 3 shows the AASHTO parameters used in determining the

length of a crest vertical curve to provide stopping sight distance.
SSD on Crest Vertical Curves Lecture
no:

• For night driving on highways without lighting, the headlights of

the vehicle directly illuminate the length of visible roadway.
• Thus, stopping sight distance values exceed road-surface
visibility distances afforded by the low-beam headlights
regardless of whether the roadway profile is level or curving
vertically.
• Since the headlight, mounting height (typically about 0.60 m) is
lower than the driver eye height used for design (1.08 m), the
sight distance to an illuminated object is controlled by the height
of the vehicle headlights rather than by the direct line of sight.
• In addition, drivers are aware that visibility at night is less than
during the day, regardless of road features, and they may
therefore be more attentive and alert.
 SSD on Sag
Vertical Curves
SSD on Sag Vertical Curves Lecture
no:

• Design controls for sag vertical curves differ from those for
crests, and separate design values are needed.
• The headlight sight distance is used to determine the length of a
sag vertical curve, and the values determined for stopping sight
distances are within these limits.
• As in the case of crest vertical curves, it is convenient to express
the design control in terms of the K rate for all values of A.
SSD on Sag Vertical Curves Lecture
no:

Figure 4 shows the parameters used in the design of a sag vertical

curve.
• When a vehicle traverses a sag vertical curve at night, the
portion of highway lighted ahead is dependent on the position of
the headlights and the direction of the light beam.
• A headlight height of 0.60 m (2.0 ft) and a 1-degree upward
divergence of the light beam from the longitudinal axis of the
vehicle are assumed in the design.
SSD on Sag Vertical Curves
• For SSD > L
• L = 2 (SSD) –
• CASE 02: For SSD < L
• L=
where,
L: Length of sag vertical curve
A: Algebraic difference in grades, percent
• Assuming h=0.6 m, headlight height; and a 
S: Stopping sight distance (Light beam = 1, upward divergence of the light beam
distance)
The light beam distance is approximately the
same as the stopping sight distance, and it is
appropriate to use stopping sight distances for
different design speeds as the value of S in the
above equations .
SSD on Sag Vertical Curves Lecture
no:

Figure 4 shows the parameters used in the design of a sag vertical

curve.
Sag Vertical Curves Lecture
no:

• Valley / sag curves: whose convexity downward

Three factors considered

• – Safety
• Comfort
• Appearance.
• During day time SSD already available
• But during night SSD is limited to head light
• Hence design based on availability of SSD under head light
Sag Vertical Curves Lecture
no:
Comfort Consideration
• The centrifugal acceleration should not exceed 0.3 m/s2. The
minimum length of the sag curve is:

AV 2
L
395

• where:
• A = change in grade, V = speed in km/h.
• This requirement is only about 50% of the headlight sight
distance.
Sag Vertical Curves Lecture
no:
Appearance Consideration
• The minimum length is

• L=0.6 V
• (as for crest curves)

• In addition, one may consider applying K at least equal to 30 to

small and moderate changes in grade.
• Longer curves on high-type highways seem to be more
appropriate.

• Another way to get min length is 3 x (design speed in mph)

• Minimum lengths are about 100 to 300 ft.
K-Value (defines vertical curvature) Lecture
no:

• Rate of vertical curvature, K, is usually used in the design

calculation, which is the length of curve per percent algebraic
difference in intersecting grades, (i.e. K = L/A).

• The number of horizontal feet or meter needed for a 1% change in slope

L
K
A
high / low pt.  x  K G1
Problem no:01 Calculate the stopping sight distance of a 1500ft
vertical curve with a plus grade of 4.4% and a minus grade of
2.3%.
• 1500 = 2(SSD) – 198.375
• DATA : • SSD = 849.2ft 1500ft
• = 4.4%
• SSD L (Condition 1 not satisfied )
• = -2.3%
• SSD = ?
• L = 1500ft • CASE = 02 (SSD L)
• SOLUTION : • L=
• A=
• = • 1500 =
• 1500 = 5.04x x (
• A = 6.7%
• CASE = 01 (SSD L)
• SSD = 545.5ft 1500ft ANSWER
• L = 2 (SSD) –
• 1500 = 2 (SSD) – • SSD L ( Condition 2 is satisfied )
• 1500 = 2 (SSD) –
Problem no:02 A crest vertical curve is to be designed to from a +2%
gradient with -2% gradient. Determine minimum length of the curve if the
designed speed is 60mph. Assume the f=0.29?
• DATA : • CASE = 01 (SSD L)
• = 2% • L = 2 (SSD) –
• = -2% • L = 2 (664.94) –
• SSD = ?
• L = 997.6ft
• L=?
• SSD L ( Condition 1 not satisfied)
• v = 60mph
• f = 0.29
• CASE = 02 (SSD L)
• A = = = 4%

• SOLUTION :
• L=
• SSD = 1.47.v.t + • L=
• =(1.47)x60x(2.5) + • L = 1330.64ft
• SSD = 220.5ft + 444.44ft • SSD L i.e 664 .94ft 1330.64ft
• SSD = 664.94ft • ( Condition 2 is satisfied )
• Hence, Minimum length of curve will be ; L = 1330.64
ANSWER
Problem no:03 An existing vertical curve on a hill join a +4% grade
with -4% grade. If the length of the curve is 250ft. What is the
maximum safe speed on this curve?
• DATA : • CASE = 02 (SSD L)
• = 4% • L=
• = -4%
• SSD = ?
• 250 =
• L = 250ft
• SSD = 203.8ft
• v=?
• A = = = 8%
• SSD L i.e 208.8ft 205ft
• SOLUTION :
• ( Condition 2 is satisfied )

• CASE = 01 (SSD L)
• L = 2 (SSD) – • SSD = 1.47.v.t +
• 250 = 2 (SSD) – • 203.8 = (1.47).v.(2.5) +
• SSD = 208.07ft • 203.8 = 3.767v + 0.1083
• SSD L ( Condition 1 not satisfied) • v = 29.34mph ANSWER
Problem no:04 The eye height for truck is 5ft for car is 3.5ft. If an object on a crest
vertical curve is 0.5ft high. How much additional SSD does the truck have over the car
assuming design speed 60mph and length of vertical curve is 2000ft. G1=4%, G2=-2%.
• DATA : • CASE = 02 (SSD L)
• = 5ft (Truck)
• = 3.5ft (Car) • L=
• = 0.5ft
• 2000 =
• L = 2000ft
• SSD = 759.9ft
• = 4%
• 760ft 2000ft (Condition 2 is satisfied )
• = -2%
• SSD = ?
• (FOR CAR)
• SOLUTION :
• (FOR TRUCK)
• CASE = 01 (SSD L)
• CASE = 01 (SSD L)
• L = 2 (SSD) –
• L = 2 (SSD) – • 2000 = 2 (SSD) –
• 2000 = 2 (SSD) – • SSD = 1110.76ft 2000ft
• SSD = 1144.36ft • SSD L ( Condition 1 not satisfied
• SSD L ( Condition 1 not satisfied)
Problem no:04 Continued

• CASE = 02 (SSD L)

• L=

• 2000 =

• 2000 x 2000 (2.5779 = 6(SSD

• SSD = 665.62f t
• SSD L ( Condition 2 satisfied)
• Additional SSD Will be
• =
• = 760 – 665.62
• SSD = 94.4ft ANSWER
• The SSD of truck is 94.4ft higher than car
Problem no: 05 Design the length of crest curve for a road having a design
speed of 60mph. When ascending gradient of 3% meets with descending
gradient of 1%.
• DATA : • L = 2 (SSD) –
• L=?
• v = 60mph • L = 2 (575.3) –
• A = 4%
• = 3%
• L = 818.3ft
• = -1%
• SSD L ( Condition 1 not satisfied)
• SOLUTION :
• CASE = 01
• SSD = 1.47xvt +
• CASE = 02
• SSD = (1.47)x 60 x(2.5) + • L=
•
• SSD = 575.7ft • L=
•
• L= 996.72 ANSWER
• ( Condition 2 satisfied
Problem no:06 A car is traveling at 25 mph in the country at night on a wet road through a 150 ft long
crest vertical curve. The entering grade is 3.0 percent and the exiting grade is -3.4 percent. A tree has
fallen across the road at approximately the PVT. Is it reasonable to expect the driver to be able to stop
before hitting the tree?
• DATA : • CASE 01 : (SSD L)
• L = 150ft ( Crest Curve )
• v = 25mph
• = 3% • L = 2 (SSD) –
• = -3.4% • 150 = 2 (SSD) –
• SSD = ? • SSD 178.83ft
• SOLUTION :
(Condition 1 satisfied)
• SSD = 1.47.v.t + • The driver will see the tree when it is 178.83 feet in front
of her.

• SSD = (1.47)x25 x(2.5) +

• Available SSD is 178.83 ft.
• SSD = 158.25ft Required

• Required SSD = 158.25 ft.

• Therefore, She will be able to stop in time.
Problem no:07 A car is traveling at 30 mph in the country at night on a wet road through a 150 ft.
long sag vertical curve. The entering grade is -2.4 percent and the exiting grade is 4.0 percent. A tree
has fallen across the road at approximately the PVT. Assuming the driver cannot see the tree until it is
lit by his headlights, is it reasonable to expect the driver to be able to stop before hitting the tree?
• DATA :
• = -2.4%
• = 4% • CASE 02 : (SSD L) ( Sag Curve )
• v = 30mph
• L=
• L = 150ft
• SOLUTION : • 150 =
• SSD = 1.47.v.t +
• SSD = (1.47)x30x(2.5) + • SSD = 146.17ft
• SSD =196.6ft Required

• CASE 01 : (SSD L) ( Sag Curve )

• SSD = 146.17 150ft

• SSD L ( Condition 2, satisfied)

• 150 = 2 (SSD) –
• 150 = 2 (SSD) – • The driver will see the tree when it is at the distance

• SSD = 146.23ft of146.17 feet form tree.

• SSD L ( Condition 1 not satisfied) • Available SSD is 146.17 ft.

• Required SSD = 196.69 ft.

Problem no: 08 A car is traveling at 30 mph in the country at night on a wet road through a 150 ft.
long sag vertical curve. The entering grade is -3 percent and the exiting grade is 3 percent. A tree has
fallen across the road at approximately the PVT. Assuming the driver cannot see the tree until it is lit by
his headlights, is it reasonable to expect the driver to be able to stop before hitting the tree?
• DATA : • CASE 01 : (SSD L)
• L = 150ft ( Sag Curve )
• v = 30mph
• = -3% • L = 2 (SSD) –
• = 3%
• SSD = ? • 150 = 2 (SSD) –
• SOLUTION : •
• SSD 167.86ft
• SSD = 1.47.v.t + • (Condition 1 satisfied)
• The driver will see the tree when it is at the
distance of167.86 feet form tree
• SSD = (1.47)x3 x(2.5) +
• Available SSD is 167.86 ft.
• SSD = 204.64ft Required

• Required SSD = 204.64 ft.

• Therefore, he’s not going to stop in time.
Problem no: 09 A sag curve is to be designed to join -3% grade with a + 3%
grade. If designed speed is 40mph determine the minimum length of the
curve that will satisfying all criteria?
• DATA :
• = -3%
• CASE 02 :
• = 3%
• L=
• v = 40mph
• L=
• L=?
• SOLUTION :
• L = 1473.66ft
• SSD = 1.47.v.t +
• SSD = (1.47)x40x(2.5) + • SSD = 314.66ft
• SSD = 314.8ft • SSD L ( Condition 2, satisfied)
• CASE 01 : ( Sag Curve ) • CASE 03 :
• L= (Comfort)
• L=
• L = 2 (SSD) –
• L = 8258.06ft
• L = 2 (314.8) – • CASE 04 :
• L = 380.35ft • L = 100 x A (Appearance)
• SSD = 314.8ft • L = 100 x 6
• L = 600ft
• SSD L ( Condition 1 not satisfied)
• Hence,
• Length of Curve is ,
SSD at Under Crossings Lecture
no:

Sag vertical curves under passing a structure should be designed

to provide the minimum recommended stopping sight distance for
sag curves. The general equations for sag vertical curve length at
under crossings are
SSD at Under Crossings Lecture
no:

Where
L: Length of Sag Vertical Curve
S: Stopping Sight Distance
C: Vertical Clearance
h1: height of eye, m;
h2: height of object
A: Algebraic difference in grades, percent.
AASHTO uses an eye height of 2.4 m (8.0 ft) for a truck driver and an object height of 0.6 m
(2.0 ft) for the taillights of a vehicle. Substituting these values, the above equations become:
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