PARABOLIC CURVES 75

the vertices Vi and F2 of the separate parabolas are at the mid

points of A F and VB, it follows that VM =MC.

The gradients of AB and of the parallel tangent ViVi are

both equal to t*". Consequently, ViM and ViV

diverge, at the rate of 1.' " -- G,; and FAf, the divergence

f1 T 1 sy r

in the distance JL1, equals 1""-gi which re

duces to 200V L1+L2 '

=^1 (4-5)

200L

In the preceding formula the lengths are in feet, gradients

always being in per cent.

Either chord gradients or tangent offsets may be used to

calculate elevations. The curve must be treated as two

separate parabolas having different values of 2a. Tangent

offsets, if used, are calculated from AV for the first parabola

and from BV for the second; they are not symmetrical as in

an equal-tangent vertical curve.

4-7. Lowest or Highest Point on Vertical Carve. The

lowest or highest point on a vertical curve is sometimes needed.

(This point is sometimes called the turning point on the curve.)

For installing a culvert at the low point, the approximate

stationing may be determined quickly by interpolating be

tween calculated elevations. The stationing of a high point

or low point may be computed more accurately either by

applying the chord-gradient principle or from specific formulas.

From the definition of K, the distance Xt in feet from the

beginning of a vertical curve to the turning point (where the

gradient is zero) must be KG\. This may be derived mathe-

dy

matically by setting - equal to zero in the expression

y-aXv+GiX. Thus, 2aX+Gi=0 at the turning point.

The result of solving this equation and expressing X in foot

units is Xt= - , which reduces to

2a

Xt=-=-KCk (4-6)

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