CE416 Lecture 8: Vertical Alignment 2

Vertical Alignment 2 Fundamentals of Vertical Curve design

SSD on vertical curves
CE 416 Lecture 8 h1
h2 Height of object
Height of eye Crest
curve

headlight
sight
distance
Design of vertical curves:
Crest/summit curve
End of
1. headlight

Sag/valley curve
illumination
2.

 The sharper the slope, the shorter the sight distance

 the slope needs to be designed based on the
requirement of SSDs of various design speed.

Design of Crest Vertical Curve Design of Crest Vertical Curve

Design criterion: Sight Distance
Design criterion: Sight Distance
Two cases are considered
Design – Minimum curve length (L) for safe stopping
PVI PVI
s
PVI
h1 h1 h
h2 PVC PVT
PVC PVT 2
S L
H2 L
PVC PVT
s
H1
L 𝐴𝑆 2 200 𝐻1 + 𝐻2 2
S<L 𝐿= 2 S>L 𝐿 = 2𝑆 −
Crest curve 200 𝐻1 + 𝐻2 𝐴

S = Sight distance
H1 = height of driver’s eye above roadway surface in m.
H2 = height of object above roadway surface in.

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CE416 Lecture 8: Vertical Alignment 2

Design of Crest Vertical Curve Case 1: S<L Design of Crest Vertical Curve
𝑑2𝑦
= k d1 d2 Same derivation could be done for case 2, S>L , hence
𝑑𝑥2 PVI
ℎ1 = 𝑘𝑑12 𝐴𝑆 2
G1
for S<L 𝐿= 2
e G2 200 ℎ1 + ℎ2
ℎ2 = 𝑘𝑑22
h1
e h2 PVT 2
e = 𝑘(𝐿2)2 200 ℎ1 + ℎ2
PVC
For S > L 𝐿 = 2𝑆 −
𝐴
S
ℎ1 + ℎ2 = 𝑘(𝑑12+𝑑22)
Substituting for H1=1.08 m and H2=0.6 m, we get minimum
L
= 4𝑑1𝐿+24𝑑2 curve length Lm:
2 2
ℎ1 +ℎ2
𝑒
𝐴(𝑑1 + 𝑑2 )2
𝐿=
𝐴×𝑆𝑆𝐷 2
𝑑1 + 𝑑2 = ℎ 1 𝐿2
+ ℎ 2 𝐿2 2ℎ1 + 2ℎ2 2
for S<L 𝐿𝑚 =
4𝑒 4𝑒
𝑨𝑺𝟐 658
But d 1 + d2 = S 𝑳=
e = 𝐿𝐴 𝟐𝟎𝟎 𝒉𝟏 + 𝒉𝟐 𝟐 658
8
𝐴𝑆 2 For S > L 𝐿𝑚 = 2 × 𝑆𝑆𝐷 −
𝐴
ℎ1𝐿2 ℎ2 𝐿2
𝐿=
𝑑1 = 4𝑒 and 𝑑2 = 4𝑒 2ℎ1 + 2ℎ2 2

Design controls of stopping sight distance for

Design of Crest Vertical Curve Crest Vertical Curve

Design speed Stopping sight Rate of vertical curvature, K

In practical, 1) L > SSD is usually warranted, i.e.
(km/h) distance (m) Calculated Design
𝐴 × 𝑆𝑆𝐷2 20 20 0.6 1
𝐿𝑚 =
658 30 35 1.9 2
40 50 3.8 4
applies, the equation is rearranged as:
50 65 6.4 7
𝐿𝑚 = 𝐾𝐴
60 85 11.0 11
70 105 16.8 17
𝑆𝑆𝐷 2
Where, 𝐾= 80 130 25.7 26
658
90 160 38.9 39
100 185 52.0 52
In practical, 2) G is usually ignored in calculation of SSD
110 220 73.6 74
120 250 95.0 95
130 285 123.4 124

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CE416 Lecture 8: Vertical Alignment 2

Design controls of stopping sight distance for Example: Crest curve

Crest Vertical Curve

A highway is being designed to AASHTO guidelines with a 113-km/h

design speed, and at one section, an equal tangent vertical curve
must be designed to connect grades of +1.0% and -2.0%. Determine
K=51
the minimum length of curve necessary to meet SSD requirements.

Solution:
SSD = 229 m (from table)
A = +1-(-2) = 3%
𝐴 × 𝑆𝑆𝐷2 3 × (229)2
Assume L > SSD 𝐿𝑚 = = = 𝟐𝟑𝟗. 𝟎𝟗𝟐 𝒎
658 658

𝑆𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑒 239.092 > 229, 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑚𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝐿 > 𝑆𝑆𝐷 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡

Example: Crest curve

Using Chart: V= 113 km/h A= 3% Passing Sight Distance on crest curve:
Solution:
Using H1 = H2 = 1.08m (AASHTO),

𝑨×𝑷𝑺𝑫𝟐
for S<L 𝑳𝒎 =
𝟖𝟔𝟒

𝟖𝟔𝟒
For S > L 𝑳𝒎 = 𝟐 × 𝑷𝑺𝑫 −
𝑨

V= 113 km/h
PSD: Passing Sight Distance

As was the case for stopping sight distance, it is typically assumed L > PSD
A= 3%
𝐿𝑚 = 𝐾𝐴

𝑃𝑆𝐷2
239 m 𝐾=
864

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CE416 Lecture 8: Vertical Alignment 2

Design Controls for Crest Vertical Curves Based on Passing Sight Distance
Design of Sag Vertical Curve

Design Speed Passing Sight Rate of Vertical Curvature, Ka

(km/h) Distance (m) Design
30 120 17 Design criteria:
40 140 23  Headlight sight distance
50 160 30  Underpass
 Comfort
60 180 38
 Drainage Sag / Valley Curve
70 210 51
80 245 69 PVT
PVC
90 280 91
PVI
100 320 119
L
110 355 146
120 395 181
130 440 224

Design of Sag Vertical Curve Design of Sag Vertical Curve

 Headlight sight distance
The critical concern for sag vertical curve design is the length of Minimum L is given by taking H =0.6 m and β = 1 degree:
roadway illuminated by the vehicle Headlights during nighttime,
because in day light, sight s 𝐴𝑆 2
distance on a sag vertical H 𝐿=
For L > SSD
120 𝐻 + 3.5𝑆
curve is unrestricted.  PVT
PVC
L can be given by properties PVI 120 𝐻 + 3.5𝑆
For L < SSD 𝐿 = 2𝑆 −
of the parabola as follows: 𝐴
L
𝐴𝑆 2
For L > S 𝐿=
200 𝐻 + 𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑛𝛽

200 𝐻 + 𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑛𝛽
For L < S 𝐿 = 2𝑆 −
𝐴

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CE416 Lecture 8: Vertical Alignment 2

Design of Sag Vertical Curve K-value for sag vertical curves

Design Speed Stopping Sight Rate of Vertical Curvature, Ka

In practical calculation of Lm : (as is the case for crest curves)
(km/h) Distance (m)
1. The assumption that L > SSD, is almost always made in practice; Calculated Design
2. When compute SSD, G is always ignored. 20 20 2.1 3
30 35 5.1 6
From 1, 2, the simplified Lm calculation can be given by:
40 50 8.5 9

𝐿𝑚 = 𝐾𝐴 50 65 12.2 13
60 85 17.3 18
Rate of vertical
𝑆2 70 105 22.6 23
For Sag curve: curvature, K, is the
𝐾= length of curve (m) per 80 130 29.4 30
120 + 3.5𝑆
percent algebraic 90 160 37.6 38
difference intersecting
Where, K as defined before, is the horizontal distance in m required to grades (A). K= L/A 100 185 44.6 45
effect a 1% change in the slope 110 220 54.4 55
120 250 62.8 63
130 285 72.7 73

Design controls for sag vertical curves Underpass distance on sag vertical curve

Clearance height of overpass Structure above roadway in m

Sight distance (S)

Overpass structure
Line of sight

H1
H2 G2
G1 C
PVT
PVC

H1 = height of driver’s eye

H2 = height of obstacle
PVI
C = clearance height
L/2 L/2
between overpass and
road surface L

Derive formula for Lm in terms of A, S, H1, H2 and C

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CE416 Lecture 8: Vertical Alignment 2

Underpass distance on sag vertical curve Passenger comfort

𝐴𝑆 2  The effect on passenger comfort of the change in vertical direction is
For L > S: 𝐿𝑚 = greater on sag than on crest vertical curves because gravitational and
800 𝐶 − 𝐻1 +𝐻
2
2
centripetal forces are combining rather than opposing forces.
 Affected appreciably by vehicle body suspension, vehicle body weight,
800 𝐶 − 𝐻1 +𝐻
2
2
tire flexibility, and other factors.
For L < S: 𝐿𝑚 = 2𝑆 −
𝐴  riding is comfortable on sag vertical curves when the centripetal
acceleration does not exceed 0.3 m/s2 .
Take H1 = 2.4 m for truck driver, H2 = 0.6 m for the taillight of a vehicle  The general expression for such a criterion is: 𝐴𝑉 2
𝐿=
L = length of sag vertical curve 395
𝐴𝑆 2 A = algebraic difference in grades
For L > S: 𝐿𝑚 =
800 𝐶 − 1.5 V = design speed in km/h

800 𝐶 − 1.5  The length of vertical curve needed to satisfy this comfort factor at the
For L < S: 𝐿𝑚 = 2𝑆 − various design speeds is only about 50 percent of that needed to satisfy the
𝐴
headlight sight distance criterion for the normal range of design conditions.

Drainage on sag vertical curves

Appearance of sag vertical curve
Low point
PVT
PVC

PVI
 For improved appearance of sag vertical curves, previous
guidance used a rule-of-thumb for minimum curve length
 Drainage affects design of vertical curves of Type III where
of 30A or, K = 30 m per percent change in grade.
curbed sections are used.
 This approximation is a generalized control for small or
 An approximate criterion for sag vertical curves is the same
intermediate values of A.
as that expressed for the crest conditions (i.e., a minimum
grade of 0.30 percent should be provided within 15 m of  Compared with headlight sight distance, it corresponds
the level point). This criterion corresponds to K of 51 m per to a design speed of approximately 80 km/h.
percent change in grade.  On high-type highways, longer curves are appropriate to
 The drainage criterion differs from other criteria in that the improve appearance.
length of sag vertical curve determined for it is a maximum,
whereas, the length for any other criterion is a minimum.
 The maximum length of the drainage criterion is greater
than the minimum length for other criteria up to 100 km/h.

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CE416 Lecture 8: Vertical Alignment 2

Example: Minimum length of a sag vertical curve Example: Minimum length of a sag vertical curve Solution:

A sag vertical curve is to be designed to join a -3% grade to a minimum curve length for headlight sight distance:
+3% grade. If the design speed is 65 kmph, determine the Assume S>L
minimum length of the curve that will satisfy all criteria. Take (120  3.5 S ) (120  3.5  97.48)
a=3.414 m/s2 and tp.r.=2.5 sec. L  2S‫ـ‬  2  97.48 ‫ـ‬  118.097 m
A 6
(S= 97.48 m is not greater than L=118.097 m), try case S<L
Solution:
2 AS 2 6  (97.48) 2
Determine the SSD: SSD  0.278Vt 
V L   123.627 m S<L ok.
a 120  3.5 S 120  3.5  97.48
254( G‫) ـ‬ minimum length for the comfort criterion:
9.81 AV 2 6  (65) 2
L   64.13 m
400 400
(65) 2 minimum length for general appearance criterion:
SSD  0.278  65  2.5  = 97.48 m
3.414 L= 30 A
254( ‫ ـ‬0.03) L= 30 x 6 = 180 m
9.81
The minimum length to satisfy all criteria is 180 m

Vertical Curves - Examples

It is required to design a crest vertical curve that will connect a
For both crest and sag vertical curves: highway segment with a 3% grade to an adjoining segment with
a -1% grade. Assume that the minimum stopping sight distance
𝑳𝒎 = 𝑲𝑨 for the highway is 200 m. If the elevation of the VPC is 750 m,
what will the elevation of the curve be at L/2 ?
For crest curve:
𝑆2 E=750 m
𝐾= PVI
658 SSD= 200 m PVT
-1%
PVC

For sag curve: 3%

L
𝑆2
𝐾=
120 + 3.5𝑆

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CE416 Lecture 8: Vertical Alignment 2

E=750 m
PVI
SSD= 165 m PVT
-1%
PVC

Solution: 3%
L
Solution:
PVI
The first step in the analysis is to find the length of the crest vertical curve. Elevation of the curve be at L/2 E=750 m
PVT
-1%
The grade changes from 3% to -1%, which is a change of -4% or A = |-4%|. PVC
In addition, for the stopping sight distance h1 = 1.08 m and h2 = 0.6 m. L/2= 121.58 m
Since we know S = 200 m, we can go ahead and solve for the length of the y = ax2 + bx + c 3%
L= 243.163 m
crest vertical curve.
2 200 1.08 + 0.6 2
200 ℎ1 + ℎ2 (𝑮𝟐 − 𝑮𝟏 ) −𝟏 − (+𝟑)
Assume S > L 𝐿 = 2𝑆 − = 2(200) − 𝒂= = = −0.000082
𝐴 4 𝟐𝑳 𝟐𝟎𝟎(𝟐𝟒𝟑. 𝟏𝟔𝟑)
L = 235.502 m
𝒃 = 𝑮𝟏 = +𝟑. 𝟎% = 0.03
(invalid because L > S)
y = -0.000082(121.58)2 + 0.03(121.58) + 750
𝐴𝑆 2 4(200)2
If S < L then 𝐿= = 2
= 243.163 m
200 ℎ1 + ℎ2 2 200 1.08 + 0.6
y =752.43 m
OK