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Sight Distance For Vertical Curves

1. The document discusses equations and design standards for determining the length of vertical curves on roads, including summit and sag curves. It provides formulas for calculating length based on sight distance, grade changes, vehicle speed and heights of drivers' eyes and objects. 2. Several example problems are given to demonstrate calculating length, sight distance and radius for different vertical curve scenarios based on the provided equations. Standards from California and the Philippines for minimum curve lengths are also presented. 3. Design criteria include comfort, appearance and providing sufficient sight distances for stopping or passing based on road grade, speed and eye/object heights. Examples show computing curve lengths that meet sight distance needs.

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3K views

Sight Distance For Vertical Curves

1. The document discusses equations and design standards for determining the length of vertical curves on roads, including summit and sag curves. It provides formulas for calculating length based on sight distance, grade changes, vehicle speed and heights of drivers' eyes and objects. 2. Several example problems are given to demonstrate calculating length, sight distance and radius for different vertical curve scenarios based on the provided equations. Standards from California and the Philippines for minimum curve lengths are also presented. 3. Design criteria include comfort, appearance and providing sufficient sight distances for stopping or passing based on road grade, speed and eye/object heights. Examples show computing curve lengths that meet sight distance needs.

Uploaded by

Honestly
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Sight Distance for Vertical

Curves
A. For Summit (Crest) Vertical Curves:

a) When S < L

 𝑔1  𝑔2

 h1  h2
PC

 𝑆 PT
 𝐿

  𝐴 𝑆2
𝐿= 2
200 ( √ h1 + √ h2 )
A. For Summit (Crest) Vertical Curves:

b) When S > L

 𝑔1  𝑔2

PC
h  1  h2
PT
 𝐿

 𝑆

2
 
200 ( √ h1 + √ h2 )
𝐿=2 𝑆 −
𝐴
where,
 
height of eye level from the pavement
height of object
sight distance
length of the curve

length of vertical curve in meters for 1% change in grade


grade change

radius of parabolic curve


1. California Standards Length of Vertical Curves

Sight Distance Type Driver Eye Height (m) Object Height (m)
Car Stopping Sight Distance 1.08 0.60
Truck Stopping Sight Distance 2.33 0.60
Maneuver Sight Distance 1.08 0.60
Passing Sight Distance 1.08 1.08

Car Headlight to Road Surface Sight


0.60 0
Distance

Truck to Car Tail Sight Distance 2.33 0.60


2. Design Standards used in the Philippines

 
a) When design speed V < 60kph
Use L = 60 m
b) When grade breaks is less than 2%
Use L = 60 m
c) When V > 60 kph and grade break > 2%
Use L = 2V
d) When V > 60 kph but grade break < 2%
Use L = 60 m
B. For Sag(Trough) Vertical Curves:

a) When S < L
  𝐴 𝑆2
𝐿=
120+3.5 𝑆

b) When S > L

  120+3.5 𝑆
𝐿=2 𝑆 −
𝐴

 𝐷𝑃𝑊𝐻 h𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑙𝑖𝑔h𝑡 h𝑒𝑖𝑔h𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡=0.60 m


 1. Comfort Criterion:

design speed in kph

 2. Appearance Criterion:


a) When V > 60 kph but A < 2%
L = 60 m
b) When V < 60 kph
L = 60 m
c) When A < 2%
L = 60 m
d) When V > 60 and A > 2%
L = 2V
PROBLEM 1.

A vertical parabolic curve has a sight distance of 130 m. The curve has tangent grades of +2.8%

and -1.6%. If the height of the driver’s eye from the pavement is 1.08 m and the height of the

object is 0.50 m.

a) Compute the max speed of the car that can pass thru this curve.

Ans. 60.69 kph

b) Compute the length of the vertical curve in meters for every 1% change in grade.

Ans. 27.59 m

c) Compute the equivalent radius of the vertical curve.

Ans. 2759 m
PROBLEM 2.

Compute the minimum length of vertical sag curve that will provide 130 m stopping sight

distance for a design speed of 80 kph at the intersection of a -2.30% and a +4.8% grade.

Ans. 115.04 m
PROBLEM 3.

A vertical parabolic curve has a descending grade of -1.70% and an ascending grade of +2.30%.

Find the distance if the length of the curve is 135 m.

a) 165.99 m c) 152.19 m

b) 160.04 m d) 147.11 m

Headlight height = 2 ft.


PROBLEM 4.

A 5% grade intersects a -3.4% grade at station 1+990 of elevation 42.30 m. Design a vertical
summit parabolic curve connecting the two tangent grades to conform with the following safe
stopping sight distance specifications.
Design velocity = 60 kph
Height of driver’s eye from the road pavement = 1.37 m
Height of an object over the pavement ahead = 100 mm
Perception-reaction time = 3/4 sec.
Coefficient of friction between the road pavement and the tires = 0.15
a) Determine the stopping sight distance.

Ans. 83.32 m

b) Determine the length of curve.

Ans. 131.92 m

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